Battery Lincoln (1)

Battery Lincoln (1) (1896-1942) - Battery Lincoln was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 12 inch coastal mortar battery on Fort Banks (2), Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904 after Major General Benjamin Lincoln, Continental Army, who twice received the thanks of Congress for his services during the Revolutionary War and who was the first Secretary of War of the Continental Government from 30 Oct 1781, to November 1783, and who died 9 May 1810. Battery construction started 1892, was completed 1896 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 2 Sep 1896 at a cost of $ 78,394.86 (half of total cost of Battery Lincoln & Battery Kellogg). Deactivated in 1942.

Battery Lincoln Magazine Entrance	Battery Lincoln Mortar Pit B, Now a Parking Lot
Battery Lincoln Mortar Pit A, Now a Parking Lot

Endicott Period

Part of the Harbor Defense of Boston, Massachusetts.

Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal mortar battery with eight 12" M1886 mortars mounted on M1891 mortar carriages. This was a single level mortar battery with the magazines on the same level as the mortar loading platforms. Shells and powder are wheeled from the magazines to the mortars on shot carts. No shell or powder hoists were provided. Electricity was furnished by an emplacement power plant.

This battery was originally constructed with Rosendale cement and had to be reconstructed using Portland cement in 1912-1913. Cost of the rebuild was $ 96,620.00. All of the mortars and carriages were transferred to Fort Caswell, Battery Bagley, on 6 Nov 1911. Fort Caswell, Battery Bagley, transferred a different set of mortars back to Battery Lincoln on 12 Jun 1912.

**Battery Lincoln Armament** (edit list)
Empl No	Caliber Type	Barrel Length	Model	Serial No	Manufacturer	Carriage	Service Dates	Notes
1909 Armament List
A1	12" Mortar	120"	M1886	61	Builders	Mortar, M1891, #18, Builders	1896-1911	See note 1
A2	12" Mortar	120"	M1886	72	Builders	Mortar, M1891, #20, Builders	1896-1911	See note 1
A3	12" Mortar	120"	M1886	41	Builders	Mortar, M1891, #19, Builders	1896-1911	See note 1
A4	12" Mortar	120"	M1886	63	Builders	Mortar, M1891, #17, Builders	1896-1911	See note 1
B1	12" Mortar	120"	M1886	23	Builders	Mortar, M1891, #29, Builders	1896-1911	See note 1
B2	12" Mortar	120"	M1886	26	Builders	Mortar, M1891, #27, Builders	1896-1911	See note 1
B3	12" Mortar	120"	M1886-1890MI	9	Watervliet	Mortar, M1891, #30, Builders	1896-1911	See note 1
B4	12" Mortar	120"	M1886	16	Builders	Mortar, M1891, #28, Builders	1896-1911	See note 1
1929 Armament List
A1	12" Mortar	141.12"	M1890MI	3	Watervliet	Mortar, M1896MI, #216, Midvale	1912-1942	See note 2
A2	12" Mortar	141.12"	M1890MI	41	Builders	Mortar, M1896MI, #218, Rarig	1912-1942	See note 2
A3	12" Mortar	141.12"	M1890MI	39	Builders	Mortar, M1896MI, #217, Midvale	1912-1942	See note 2
A4	12" Mortar	141.12"	M1890MI	37	Bethlehem	Mortar, M1896MI, #219, Rarig	1912-1942	See note 2
B1	12" Mortar	141.12"	M1890MI	8	Niles	Mortar, M1896MI, #213, Midvale	1912-1942	See note 2
B2	12" Mortar	141.12"	M1890MI	9	Niles	Mortar, M1896MI, #212, Midvale	1912-1942	See note 2
Source: RCW Form 1, 1 May 1921, 21 Jun 1929, RCB, 31 Dec 1909 CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 134-135 Note 1: Mortars and carriages transferred to Fort Caswell, Battery Bagley, 6 Nov 1911. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Note 2: Mortars and carriages transferred from Fort Caswell, Battery Bagley, 12 Jun 1912. Mortars and carriages ordered salvaged 15 Dec 1942. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA

World War I

The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere.

World War II

The six remaining 12" mortars of Battery Lincoln were obsolete at the beginning of the war and they were ordered scrapped 15 Dec 1942.

Current Status

Private property. Both mortar pits have been covered by sloping parking lots but the central structure appears intact, with entrances blocked. No period guns or mounts in place.

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Location: Fort Banks, Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Maps & Images

Lat: 42.3840431 Long: -70.9813115

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: 26.5'

Sources:

U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Boston, Massachusetts, (HDB-AN-45), 31 Jan 1945, CDSG

Links:

CDSG

Visited: 10 Jun 2012