Fifty-two thousand seven hundred dollars. That’s how much Battery Mills cost to build. Can you believe it? Right here before us stands a silent testament to a bygone era of coastal defense.
Battery Mills isn’t just a name. It’s the legacy of Bvt Col Charles J Mills a Civil War hero. He served with distinction. He gave his life at Hatcher’s Run near Petersburg Virginia. This impressive reinforced concrete structure a two-story Endicott Period battery was built in his honor. Construction started in 1898. It was completed in 1900 and became operational October 26 1900.
Initially Battery Mills boasted two mighty six-inch M1897MI guns. These were mounted on M1898 disappearing carriages. Imagine the thunderous roar as these behemoths unleashed their power. The guns sat on the upper level. The magazines were safely tucked away below. Clever manual Hodges back delivery shell hoists transported ammunition. No powder hoists were needed.
World War I changed everything. Many large caliber coastal defense guns were sent to Europe. Battery Mills was no exception. One of its six-inch guns was shipped to the Sand Hook Proving Ground July 18 1918. Another gun followed February 20 1918.
By World War II Battery Mills’ remaining gun was deemed obsolete. It was transferred to Watervliet December 18 1943. The carriage met a different fate. It was scrapped December 3 1943.
Today Battery Mills stands silent. It is a ghost of its former self. There are no original guns or mounts remaining. Yet its sturdy concrete structure continues to stand strong. A somber reminder of a time when coastal defense was paramount. A tribute to a brave soldier a symbol of a nation’s past. The story of Battery Mills is one of power sacrifice and the relentless march of time.