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Fort Winfield Scott: Battery Saffold
 
Loading gun number 2.
 
Construction on this battery started in 1896 and completed in 1898 when the battery's second rifle was mounted. The two 12-inch guns, one a model 1888 # 3 and one model 1888 MII # 19, manufactured at the Watervliet Arsenal. One gun was received in 1897 and was mounted, the other was received in early 1898. A unique feature of Battery Saffold was that its guns could fire both seaward and in the bay. Later, with the growth of the neighboring trees, and the building of more structures at the Presidio of San Francisco, it became impossible to train the guns on the bay. These guns were mounted on barbette (nondisappearing) carriages model 1892; # 7 and # 8, manufactured at Watertown Arsenal.
 
The battery was named in War Department General Order 16, dated February 14 1902, in honor of Capt. Marion M. Saffold, Regimental Quartermaster of the 13th Infantry Regiment, who was killed in action at Cavite, Island of Luzon Philippine island, on October 8th 1899.
 
Battery Saffold was abandoned and it armament removed in 1943. Today the site is a storage site for the Presidio Trust.
 
 
 
For more information concerning Battery Saffold, CLICK HERE
 
 
Layout of Battery Saffold, 1919
 
Drawings Courtesy of Mark Berhow
 
Battery Saffold Today
Battery Saffold, October 2000
 
Emplacement for gun 2. October 2000
 
Emplacement for gun 1, October 2000
 
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