 It was named after Samuel J. Tilden, one-term Governor of New York State and Democratic Presidential candidate in 1876.An unnamed battery from the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps was the first unit deployed to the fort.This battery had four 12-inch coast defense mortars, and was soon joined by two batteries of two 6-inch M1900 guns on pedestal mounts, Battery Kessler and Battery East (renamed Battery Fergusson in 1939).