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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1862-05-23 Athens Post
Athens Post (Athens, GA)
An excerpt from the Athens Post detailing the capture of fifteen Federal navy officers by the 13th Regiment Georgia Volunteers, published on May 23, 1862.
“Federal Officers Captured.” Athens Post. May 23, 1862.
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1862-06-27 The Savannah Republican
The Savannah Republican (Savannah, GA)
An letter from The Savannah Republican detailing a request to give recognition to the Phoenix Battalion from Thunderbolt for their actions of scouting Fort Pulaski and Wilmington Island, published on June 27, 1862.
The Savannah Republican. June 27, 1862.
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1863-04-20 Memphis Daily Appeal
Memphis Daily Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.)
An excerpt from the Memphis Daily Appeal detailing a Federal Gunboat going aground near Gibson's house on Whitemarsh Island, published on April 20, 1863.
“A Brush with the Federals.” Memphis Daily Appeal. April 20, 1863.
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1864-02-05 Columbus Daily Times
Columbus Daily Times (Columbus, GA)
An excerpt from the Columbus Daily Times detailing a potential attack on Savannah Georgia and the attack on the picket at Whitemarsh Island by the Union forces, published on February 5, 1864.
“The Movements Below Savannah.” Columbus Daily Times. February 5, 1864.
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1864-02-05 Daily Evening Bulletin
Daily Evening Bulletin (Philadelphia, PA)
An excerpt from the Daily Evening Bulletin detailing the advance of Union forces up the Savannah River towards Savannah, Georgia, published on February 5, 1864.
“An Advance Toward Savannah” Daily Evening Bulletin. February 5, 1864.
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1864-02-23 Savannah Daily News
Savannah Daily News (Savannah, GA)
An excerpt from the Savannah Daily News detailing news from Whitemarsh island about the landing of Union forces on the island, published on February 23, 1864.
“Latest from Whitmarsh.” Savannah Daily News. February 23, 1864.
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1864-02-25 Columbus Daily Sun
Columbus Daily Sun (Columbus, GA)
An excerpt from the Columbus Daily Sun detailing a skirmish between Federal Troops and Confederate troops that occurred on Whitemarsh Island, published on February 25, 1864.
“A Brush with the Federals.” Columbus Daily Sun. February 25, 1864.
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1864-02-25 Columbus Daily Times
Columbus Daily Times (Columbus, Ga.)
An excerpt from the Columbus Daily Times detailing a skirmish between Federal and Confederate troops that occurred on Whitemarsh Island, published on February 25, 1864.
“Latest from Whitmarsh.” Columbus Daily Times. February 25, 1864.
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1864-03-09 Washington Reporter Tribune
Washington Reporter Tribune (Washington, D.C.)
An article on the actions on Whitemarsh Island and Gibson Point Battery, published by the Washington Reporter Tribune in 1864.
From the 85th Regiment. (1864, March 9). Washington Reporter Tribune.
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1864-03-09 Washington Reporter Tribune
Washington Reporter Tribune (Washington, D.C.)
An excerpt from the Washington Reporter Tribune detailing a report from Hilton Head, South Carolina about actions on and around Whitemarsh Island, published on March 8, 1864.
“From the 85th Regiment.” Washington Reporter Tribune. March 9, 1864.
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1864-03-24 Wilmington Journal
Wilmington Journal (Wilmington N.C.)
An excerpt from the Wilmington Journal detailing a Federal expedition to Whitemarsh Island by the combined forces of the 85th Pennsylvania, a detachment of the 67th Ohio, and the 4th New Hampshire regiments, published on March 24, 1864.
“The Expedition to Whitemarsh Island.” Wilmington Journal. March, 24.1864
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1864-04-22 Columbus Daily Sun
Columbus Daily Sun (Columbus, GA)
A short excerpt from the Columbus Daily Sun discussing the regiment station at Causton's Bluff just outside of Savannah, Georgia, published on April 22, 1864.
“Thirteenth Georgia Regiment.” Columbus Daily Sun. April 22, 1864.
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1864-06-13 Columbus Times
Columbus Times (Columbus, GA)
An excerpt from the Columbus Times detailing suspicious actions taken by the Union forces on and around Whitemarsh Island, published on June 13, 1864.
“Suspicious” Columbus Times. June 13, 1864.
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1864-10-19 Early County News
Early County News (Blakely, GA)
An excerpt from the Early County News detailing a letter sent to the news describing living conditions on Whitemarsh Island and the nearby Wilmington Island, published on October 19, 1864.
“Whitemarsh Island, Near Savannah, Oct. 8, 1864” Early County News. October 19, 1864.
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1878-01-03 Savannah Morning News
Savannah Morning News (Savannah, GA)
An excerpt from the Savannah Morning News detailing Confederate fortifications along the Georgia cost, published on January 3, 1878.
“Confederate Fortifications.” Savanna Morning News. January 3, 1878.
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Affairs on Wilmington and Whitemarsh Islands, Ga.
Quincy A. Gillmore, Rudolph Rosa, and Alexander R. Lawton
Reports submitted from General Quincy A. Gillmore (USA), Colonel Rudolph Rosa (USA), and General Alexander R. Lawson (CSA), related to military actions on Wilmington and Whitemarsh Islands, Georgia from March 30-31, 1862.
U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 128 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1880–1901), Series I, Vol. 6, p. 120-123.
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Affairs on Wilmington and Whitemarsh Islands, Ga.
Rudolph Rosa
A report submitted by Colonel Rudolph Rosa, of the 46th New York Volunteer Infantry, from Tybee Island, Georgia on April 3, 1862 describing military actions on Wilmington and Whitemarsh Islands on March 30-31, 1862.
U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 128 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1880–1901), Series I, Vol. 53, p. 2-3.
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An Address Delivered Before The Confederate Survivors Association
Charles C. Jones Jr.
A historical address by Colonel Charles C. Jones jr. discussing the military actions around Fort McAllister and Fort Pulaski.
Jones, Charles C., Jr. Military Lessons Inculcated on the Coast of Georgia During the Confederate War: An Address Delivered Before the Confederate Survivors' Association, Augusta, Georgia, at its Fifth Annual Meeting, on Memorial Day, April 26, 1883. Augusta, GA: Chronicle Printing Establishment, 1883.
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Archaeological Investigations at Causton's Bluff
Lawrence E. Babits
A report on Causton's Bluff in Chatham County, Georgia, published by Lawrence E. Babits in collaboration with Armstrong State College in April of 1987.
Babits, Lawrence E. 1987. Archaeological Investigations at Causton’s Bluff, Chatham County, Georgia. Report prepared for the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Savannah, GA.
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A Regimental History of The 13th Georgia Infantry Regiment
Kenneth C. Collier
A regimental history of The 13th Georgia regiment with a focus on the Early Guards, Company G, written and published by Kenneth C. Collier in June 1997.
Kenneth C. Collier, The 13th Georgia: A Regimental History of the 13th Georgia Infantry Regiment, a Part of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans Georgia Brigade (Self-published, 1997),
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Battery Gibson Field Notes - March 14-20, 2025
Sean Norman
The transcribed field notes of Sean Norman while at Gibson's Point Battery, and surrounding Civil War sites in Savannah and Whitemarsh Island, Georgia from March 14 to April 3, 2025.
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Battery Halleck Report
David G. Anderson
A report on the test excavation at Battery Helleck in Chatham County, Georgia, published by Interagency Archeological Services Division in 1995.
Anderson, David G. Test Excavations at Civil War Period Battery Halleck, Fort Pulaski National Monument, Chatham County, Georgia. Technical Reports No. 2. Atlanta, GA: Interagency Archeological Services Division, National Park Service, 1995.
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Battery Wimberly Report
Lawrence E. Babits
A preliminary topographical and documentary survey of Battery Wimberly at Wormsloe State Historic Site, published by Armstrong State College in 1992.
Babits, L. E. Battery Wimberly: A Preliminary Topographical and Documentary Survey, Wormsloe State Historic Site, Savannah, Georgia. Savannah, GA: Armstrong State College, 1992.
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Chatham County – Savannah Comprehensive Plan
Chatham County - Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission.
Community Assessment Report published by the Chatham County - Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission in March of 2006.
Chatham County - Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission. Chatham County – Savannah Comprehensive Plan: Community Assessment Report. (Savannah, Ga: Chatham County - Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission, 2006).
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Confederate Military History, Georgia: Chapter Related to Whitemarsh Island
Joseph T. Derry
A chapter found in Volume 6 from the series Confederate Militart History describing the skirmish on Whitemarsh Island in April of 1862. Includes a brief history of the 13th Georgia Infantry. Derry, Joseph T. Georgia. Vol. 6 of Confederate Military History: A Library of Confederate States History, edited by Clement Anselm Evans. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899. Pages 35 and 82-93.