Originally all four pits were named Battery Rodney - named after Caesar Rodney,
signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Major General of the Delaware Militia.
Prior to WWI, the rear pits were named Battery Best - after Major Clermont L. Best
of the Artillery Corps. who died in 1903. Battery Best initially consisted of eight
M1890 12-inch mortars on M1896 carriages but four were removed by 1921. The same was
true for Battery Rodney. In the rear of Best is a Mine Casemate and a switchboard
room. Two mortars from each of the four pits served until 1942.
{see "American Seacoast Defenses" 2nd Ed. page 140}
 Mine Casemate N 39°34.349 W075°34.920 |
 Switchboard Room |
 Rodney mortar pit B |
 Rodney mortar pit A |
 Entrance to Rodney pit A (note the control booth) |
 Entrance into Best pit A |
 Best pit B |
 Best pit A |
 A newer Battery Commander's station |
 Inside the BC station |
 Original Rodney BC station |
 Original Best BC station |
 Generator room entrance and stairs to Best BC |
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