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 The following on-line catalogue shares the artifacts and historical documents associated with this battery on Whitemarsh Island, Georgia.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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Map of Savannah 1861

Library of the Department of War (Washington, D.C.)

A map of Chatham County, Georgia and Beaufort county, South Carolina, published by the Library of the Department of War in 1925.

“Map of Savannah, Georgia 1861.” 1925. Map. Library of the Department of War.
Map of Savannah Defenses December 1864

Orlando M. Poe

A map detailing defensive points around Savannah, Georgia and Whitemarsh Island, featuring specific illustrations of how certain defensive points were laid out, published by the Library of Congress in 1942.

Orlando M. Poe, Map Illustrating the Defence of Savannah, Ga. and the Operations Resulting in its Capture by the Army Commanded by Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman, compiled 1880–1881, map, 55 x 50 cm, Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, Washington, DC
Map of Savannah, Ga. and Vicinity, 1864

Confederate Publishing Company.

A map of Savannah, Georgia and vacinity from 1864 found in Confederate Military History - Georgia, vol. 6, published in 1899.
Map of the Siege and Investment of Savannah, Georgia

United States Army, Corps of Engineers (Washington, D.C.)

A copy of a map detailing General William T. Sherman's military investments and siege of Savannah, Georgia, created in 1864.

United States Army, Corps of Engineers. Map showing the investment and siege of Savannah, Georgia, by Genl. Sherman's army, Decr. 1864. [Washington, D.C.]: U.S. Coast Survey, 1864. Map.
Map Showing the Defences of Savannah, On the Approaches of Wilmington and Savannah Rivers, Georgia

Bowen & Company (Philadelphia, PA)

A map showing the defences of Savannah, Georgia during the Civil War published by Bowen & Company of Philidelphia, Pennsylvania on February 8, 1865.
Memoirs of Charles H. Olmstead

Charles H. Olmstead

Excerpt from the The Memoirs of Charles H. Olstead publised by the Georgia Historical Society in 1964.

Olmstead, Charles H. The Memoirs of Charles H. Olmstead. Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, (Savannah, Ga.: Georgia Histroical Society, 1964). Vol. XIV, p. 117.
Memoirs of the Fort and Fannin Families

John Porter Fort

A historical account of the First Georgia Regular's December 1864 defense and subsequent retreat from Savannah, Georgia, published by the Press of MacGowan & Cooke Co. in 1903.

Fort, John Porter. "History of the Last Campaign of the First Georgia Regulars of the Confederate States Army in the Civil War 1864-65." In Memoirs of the Fort and Fannin Families, 146–150. Chattanooga, Tennessee: Press of MacGowan and Cooke Co., 1903.
Michigan in the War

John Robertson

A history of the 8th Michigan Infantry which mentions an expedition to Whitemarsh Island and skirmish at "Gibson's Plantation" in April of 1862.

Robertson, Jno., comp. Michigan in the War. Rev. ed. Lansing, MI: W. S. George & Co., 1882.
Military Operations of General Beauregard in the War Between the States, 1861 to 1865

Alfred Roman

Alfred Roman, The Military Operations of General Beauregard in the War Between the States, 1861 to 1865. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 2:27-29, 188, 443-449.
Miscellaneous Reports for the Military Districts in Georgia, 1864

Lafayette McLaws

Miscellaneous reports from military districts in Georgia from Confederate officers on the defences at Savannah from the spring and summer of 1864.

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. 35, pt. 2, multiple entries.
M. L. Gordon's Experiences in the Civil War

Marquis L. Gordon

The 1922 memoirs of M. L. Gordon of his service in the Union Army during the Civil War.

M. L. Gordon's. Experiences in the Civil War: From His Narrative, Letters and Diary. (Boston: Privately Printed, 1922), p. 18.
Old Fort Jackson Still Stands at Five Fathom Hole on the Savannah River

Bob Ruegsegger

An article on the flags and signals used by the Confederate Signal Corps along the Savannah River during the American Civil War, written by Bob Ruegsegger on December 7, 2021.

Ruegsegger, Bob. "Old Fort Jackson Still Stands at Five Fathom Hole on the Savannah River." Last modified January 25, 2024.
Prisoners Transferred to Savannah

Lafayatte McClaws

Correspondence from General Layafette McLaws and General Sam Jones responding to orders of Union prisoners being sent to Savannah, Georgia from September 8, 1864.

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 II, Vol. 7, pp. 782, 788.
Property Development Plans - Battery Point

Wilcox & Seaman Co.

The property development plans of Whitemarsh Island and Gibson's Point Battery from the 1920s to 1977.
Rebellion Record Vol 4.

Frank Moore

A record of events and documents regarding the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, published by G.P. Putnam in 1862.

Frank Moore, ed., The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, etc., vol. 4 (New York: G. P. Putnam, 1862), p. 81, 501-502.
Report on the Works that Defended Savannah

John A. Dahlgren

A report submitted by Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren on January 31, 1865 related to the defenses of Savannah, Georgia.

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, 30 vols. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1894–1922), Series I, Vol. 16, p. 208-210.
Richard T. Gibson - 1832-10-11 The Georgian

Georgian (Savannah, Ga.)

An article mentioning a land transaction with Richard Gibson in The Georgian from October 11, 1832.

"Administration Sale." The Georgian (Savannah, Ga.), October 11, 1832.
Richard T. Gibson - 1834 Property Tax Records for the State of Georgia

State of Georgia. Treasury Department.

1834 tax records from the State of Georgia that documents Richard T. Gibson's land holdings in the State of Georgia.
Richard T. Gibson - 1849-03-08 Savannah Georgian

Savannah Georgian (Savannah, Ga.)

An article mentioning Richard Gibson in Savannah Georgian from March 8, 1849.

"The Inferior Court." Savannah Georgian (Savannah, Ga.), March 8, 1849.
Richard T. Gibson - 1850-10-30 Savannah Morning News

Savannah Morning News (Savannah, GA)

An article mentioning Richard Gibson in Savannah Morning News from October 29, 1850.

"Union Southern Rights Meeting." Savannah Morning News (Savannah, Ga.), October 29, 1850.
Richard T. Gibson - 1850-11-05 Savannah Morning News

Savannah Morning News (Savannah, GA)

An article mentioning Richard Gibson in Savannah Morning News from November 5, 1850.

"Savannah, Nov. 5, 1850." Savannah Morning News (Savannah, Ga.), November 5, 1850.
Richard T. Gibson - 1850 Census of Chatham County, Georgia

United States Bureau of the Census.

1850 United State census records for Chatham County, Georgia which documented Richard T. Gibson as a resident of Whitemarsh Island.

United States Bureau of the Census. "1850 United States Census - Chatham County, Georgia." 1860.
Richard T. Gibson - 1854-06-16 Savannah Morning News

Savannah Morning News (Savannah, GA)

An article mentioning Richard T. Gibson in the Savannah Morning News from June 16, 1854.

“Roll of the Milledgeville Greys.” Savannah Morning News (Savannah, Ga.). June 16, 1854.
Richard T. Gibson - 1860 Census of Chatham County, Georgia

United States Bureau of the Census.

1860 United State census records for Chatham County, Georgia which documented Richard T. Gibson as a resident of Whitemarsh Island.

United States Bureau of the Census. "1860 United States Census - Chatham County, Georgia." 1860.
Richard T. Gibson - 1860 Slave Schedule (Chatham County, Ga.)

United States Bureau of the Census.

1860 Chatham County, Georgia Slave Schedule which lists Richard T. Gibson.

United States Bureau of the Census. "1860 Federal Slave Schedule - Chatham County, Georgia." 1860.