Battery Duportail: A Glimpse into Coastal Defense History

Battery Duportail, situated inside Fort Morgan, stands as a testament to America's coastal defense strategies during the Endicott Period. Constructed between 1898 and 1900, this concrete battery was strategically positioned to protect Mobile Bay from potential naval threats. Named in honor of Major General Louis Lebègue Duportail, a French military engineer who served in the American Revolutionary War, the battery offers a unique glimpse into military engineering and strategic planning.The battery was armed with two 12-inch M1888MII rifles mounted on M1896 disappearing carriages. This marvel of engineering allowed the guns to be raised above the parapet to fire and then lowered for reloading and protection. The two-story structure housed the gun loading platform on the upper level and magazines for ammunition storage on the lower level. Electrical power was supplied from the outset for lighting, shell hoists, and the retracting motors on the gun carriages.In 1916, the Navy tested the fort's defenses by having two battleships shell the battery for two days. The battery survived with remarkably little damage, a testament to its robust construction. Decommissioned in 1923, the guns were later scrapped in the early 1940s. Today, visitors can explore the battery's interior, examine the disappearing carriage pits, and learn about the soldiers who served there.