Battery Payne

Named in honor of Colonel Matthew M. Payne, who served the U.S. Army from 1812 to 1861, construction of Battery Payne was completed in 1904.

It was intended to cover the outer channel and the entrance to Pensacola Bay, but like all of the batteries at Fort Pickens, Battery Payne saw no combat.

The battery was, however, the scene of a fatality. Private Hugo W. Paap was killed in 1922 during practice by one of the battery's rapid-fire rifles. The gun's recoil tore it from its frame, slamming it backwards and down the steps, knocking down Private Paap, who later died at the Fort Barrancas hospital.

The battery was declared surplus and retired from use in 1946.

Information Provided by the National Park Service

Battery Payne

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