Defending Savannah: History and Archaeology of the Gibson's Point Battery

The Gibson's Point Battery Database includes the artifacts recovered during the course of two archaeological surveys conducted by the faculty, staff, and students of Morehead State University and Georgia Southern University - Armstrong Campus in 2025 and 2026, and the documents collected as part of the Gibson's Point Battery Public History Project. The following on-line catalogue shares the artifacts and historical documents associated with this battery on Whitemarsh Island, Georgia.

The Confederate Battery built on Gibson's Point was named after the landowner, Richard T. Gibson, who acquired the property from his father Robert S. Gibson in 1834. Constructed in early 1864 to protect the Confederate held city of Savannah, Georgia, the Battery was built by enslaved labor to protect Whitemarsh Island, which was a battleground between Union and Rebel forces over the last two years of the war.

Gibson's Point Battery consisted of two gun implacements closer to Richardson Creek and a central redoubt. The battery was armed with two 8-inch siege howitzers and two 32-pounder cannons. The redoubt has been preserved and was the subject of an archaeological survey in 2025 and 2026.

Photographs by Serenity Jo Baughman
Metadata for artifacts and research materials by Emma McClure and Joan Rose

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025-S2-L1-125.032

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Bottom corner of amber glass bottle - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
026-S2-L1-125.037

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Small amber glass piece, slightly curved - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
027-S2-L1-125.044

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Small clear glass - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
028-S2-L1-125.009

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Top and partial neck of amber beer bottle - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
029-S2-L1-125.039

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Curved amber glass - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
030-S2-L1-125.038

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Thin amber glass with two curves - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
032-S2-L1-125.040

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Curved clear glass piece - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
033-S2-L1-125.031

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Curved amber glass - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
034-S2-L1-125.010

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Quarter of a bottle neck - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
035-S2-L1-125.005

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Curved amber glass, likely close to neck of bottle - excavated between March 17-19, March
036-S2-L1-125.002

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

The Christian Bros brandy bottle bottom - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
037-S2-L1-125.024

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Clear glass with two small divots and three bumps - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
038-S2-L1-125.034

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Budweiser amber glass bottle neck piece - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
039-S2-L1-125.006

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Amber glass body with parts of bottom of bottle - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
040-S2-L1-125.030

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Clear curved glass piece - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
041-S2-L1-125.008

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Bottom of liquor bottle - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
042-S2-L1-125.033

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Clear greenish glass piece - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
043-S2-L1-125.017

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Clear rim from a jar - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
044-S2-L1-125.043

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

1996 X-Men trading cards wrapper - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
045-S2-L2-126.006

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Oyster shell - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
046-S2-L2-126.007

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Clear, slightly curved glass - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
047-S2-L2-126.002

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Triangular, rusted piece - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
048-S2-L2-126.028

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Corroded nail - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
049-S2-L2-126.015

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Unidentified glass stem - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
050-S2-L2-126.008

Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)

Rusted wire - excavated between March 17-19, 2025