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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076-S2-L3-127.005
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Chipped metal rod - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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077-S2-L3-127.001
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Rusted tent stake - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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078-S2-L2-127.003
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Femur bone from a small animal - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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079-S2-L3-127.003
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Elevation screw box - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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080-S2-L4-128.005
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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081-S2-L4-128.006
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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082-S2-L4-128.004
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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083-S2-L4-128.003
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery, possible base piece - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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084-S2-L4-128.001
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Worm tool for a cannon - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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085-S2-L4-128.008
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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086-S2-L4-128.007
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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086-S2-L5-129.014
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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087-S2-L4-128.002
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Triangular piece of glass - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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088-S2-L5-129.030
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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089-S2-L5-129.022
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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090-S2-L5-129.015
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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091-S2-L5-129.016
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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092-S2-L5-129.017
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Red clay - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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093-S2-L5-129.018
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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094-S2-L5-129.019
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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095-S2-L5-129.021
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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096-S2-L5-129.023
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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097-S2-L5-129.007
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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098-S2-L5-129.026
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Charcoal - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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099-S2-L5-129.005
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025