Near Fort Washington in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Mortar Battery

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

1. The Mortar Battery Marker

Inscription. Named Battery Meigs, these two pits contained eight large 12-inch mortars. Each huge mortar was capable of hurling a 700-pound projectile in a high arc. The simultaneous firing of all eight would insure a clustered group of shells falling on the decks of an attacking battleship.

The rate of fire of these weapons depended upon the speed and skill of the 12 men needed to serve each mortar. The practiced teamwork of 96 men rushing to load, aim, fire, and reload these eight heavy weapons reflected the log hours devoted to gun drills. Men of the 17th and 37th Company Coast Artillery Corps, served this battery from 1900 to 1913.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 38° 42.582′ N, 77° 1.527′ W. Marker is near Fort Washington, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker can be reached from Fort Washington Road, on the right when traveling south. Located in Fort Washington Park, beside Battery Meigs. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13551 Fort Washington Road, Fort Washington MD 20744, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Firepower on the Potomac (approx. 0.2 miles away); “Warburton Manor” (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Washington Park (approx. 0.4 miles

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away); Battery Decatur and Disappearing Guns (approx. 0.4 miles away); Capital Guardian (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Capital Guardian (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Capital Guardian (approx. 0.4 miles away); Main Gateway (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Washington.

More about this marker. The upper portion of the marker is a photograph of a mortar battery during drills. Below the text is a depiction of a mortar crew loading a weapon.

Also see . . . Fort Washington. National Park Service site. (Submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Battery Meigs Wayside image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

2. Battery Meigs Wayside

Battery Meigs image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

3. Battery Meigs

The battery housed two, four mortar firing pits.

One of the Mortar Pits image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

4. One of the Mortar Pits

Earth Mound in front of the Mortar Battery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

5. Earth Mound in front of the Mortar Battery

The Mortar Battery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 12, 2014

6. The Mortar Battery

Four 12-inch Seacoast MortarsClose-up of photo on marker

Serving the Battery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 12, 2014

7. Serving the Battery

Men of the 17th and 37th Company Coast Artillery Corps serving the mortar battery.Close-up of image on marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,032 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on July 26, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.