Galveston Bay
Fortifications
The United States began an ambitious seacoast fortification program in
1888, the first major defense expenditure undertaken since the end of
the Civil War nearly 25 years earlier. Under this program (the Endicott
Program) three forts were built in the Galveston Bay area between 1897
and 1899. Fort Crockett on Galveston Beach served as the headquarters
for the entire harbor defense system. The Galveston seawall was built
around it in 1906 and it now exists as Fort Crockett Seawall Park. Fort
San Jacinto was on the far eastern tip of Galveston Island, directly
across the channel from Fort Travis. Four Batteries remain intact at
Fort Travis.
Battery
Davis
Built in 1898, this battery was named for Lieutenant Thomas Davis of
the United States Mounted Rifles, who was killed in the Mexican War
(1847). It contained two eight-inch, breech loading guns of the
“disappearing” type. These guns were the most
advanced of
their day. They could be elevated higher than comparable naval weapons,
thus outranging them. The structure is reinforced concrete which was
originally built on a series of wooden pilings in
the sand. The seawall was not built around it until 1903. Because
Battery Davis is in an advanced state of deterioration, its gallery
collapsed some years ago and visitors are no longer permitted to
enter.
Battery
Davis on FortWiki
Battery
Ernst
This battery was built in 1898, and named after Second Lieutenant
Rudolph Ernst, United States Sixth Infantry, who was killed in the
Mexican War (1847). It contained three small caliber “rapid
fire” pedestal guns with searchlights, and casemented
ammunition
magazines below. Its purpose was to defend the harbor entrance against
torpedo boats and raiding parties in small boats. The date of
abandonment is unknown, but the military usefulness of such a battery
would have ended well before World War II.
Battery
Ernst on FortWiki
Battery
Kimble
Construction on the battery began in August of 1917 and was completed
October 1922. It was named for Major Edwin R. Kimble of Galveston, who
died in 1918 during World War I. Its twelve inch guns could be elevated
to gain a range of 17 miles, which was more than twice the range of the
guns at Battery Davis (1898). Shortly after the end of World War Ii,
the battery was made vulnerable by the advent of accurate aerial
bombing; the circular gun platforms providing a perfect aiming point.
Battery Kimble was then abandoned and its guns sold for scrap. It is
one of more than a dozen similar batteries built in the United States
and on Corrigedor Island in the Philippines, and may be the only
surviving example of its kind.
Battery Kimble on FortWiki
Battery
236
By 1941, the Coast artillery no longer named its smaller installations.
They were simply designated by their construction numbers. Battery 236
contained by an earth and concrete casement which contained a power
plant, magazines, fire control facilities and crew quarters. This
Battery was designed primarily to defend the approaches to Galveston
harbor from minelayers and submarines which had to surface in order to
lay mines. Ironically, by the time the battery was completed, almost
all
mine laying was done with aircraft, making the battery obsolete as soon
as it was built. It was abandoned shortly after the end of World War
II.
Battery 236 on FortWiki
