Near Pensacola Beach in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Battery Cullum, Battery Sevier
Artillery Ballet
— Fort Pickens —
Gun crews performed a carefully choreographed ballet every time they loaded and fired an artillery piece. One slip-up in the teamwork could cause serious injuries or death. Crews practiced aiming at a target, opening the breech, loading and ramming the projectile into the barrel, inserting the primer charge, and firing—all in 30 seconds. After drilling again and again, the soldiers were given a little time to relax, occasionally even to go crabbing or fishing along the beach.
Erected by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, World I • War, World II.
Location. 30° 19.627′ N, 87° 17.623′ W. Marker is near Pensacola Beach, Florida, in Escambia County. Marker is on Fort Pickens Road, 11 miles west of Pensacola Beach Boulevard (State Road 399), on the right when traveling east. This marker is located at the very end of a one-way portion of Fort Pickens Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Fort Pickens Road, Gulf Breeze FL 32561, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battery Van Swearingen (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battery Payne (about 700 feet away); Colonial Power Struggle (about 700 feet away); Massive Smoothbore (about 800 feet away); Hurricane Ivan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Apache Prisoners (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort within a Fort (approx. 0.2 miles away); Converting a Cannon (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola Beach.
Regarding Battery Cullum, Battery Sevier. Although these structures appear to be one large complex, they are two separate structures; Battery Cullum and Battery Sevier, completed by 1898, housed four 10- inch rifles on disappearing carriages.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Wiki article on Battery Cullum. (Submitted on January 2, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Fort Wiki article on Battery Sevier. (Submitted on January 2, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 412 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 2, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.