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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100-S2-L5-129.008
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Oyster shell - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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101-S2-L5-129.028
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Red clay - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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102-S2-L5-129.012
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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103-S2-L5-129.010
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Charcoal - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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104-S2-L5-129.031
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Charcoal - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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105-S2-L5-129.029
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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106-S2-L5-129.001
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Red clay - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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107-S2-L5-129.025
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Charcoal - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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108-S2-L5-129.020
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Charcoal - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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109-S2-L5-129.027
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Red clay - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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110-S2-L5-129.013
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Oyster shell - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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111-S2-L5-129.024
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Charcoal - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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112-S2-L5-129.032
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Red clay - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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113-S2-L5-129.009
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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114-S2-L5-129.004
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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115-S2-L5-129.003
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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116-S2-L5-129.002
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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117-S2-L5-129.006
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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118-S2-L5-129.011
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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119-S2-L7-131.007
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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120-S2-L7-131.005
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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121-S2-L7-131.011
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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122-S2-L7-131.004
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Oyster shell - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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123-S2-L7-131.013
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Pottery - excavated between March 17-19, 2025
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124-S2-L7-131.001
Morehead State University History Department (Morehead, KY)
Oyster shell - excavated between March 17-19, 2025