Archeological and historical investigations of Battery Hamilton, a Civil War (Federal) gun emplacement, were undertaken in the early part of 2002. The site was first recorded in 2001, but the survey data were insufficient to determine if the site had intact deposits or if it was being adversely affected by natural forces. The current study was sponsored by the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration in order to answer these questions and to develop a preservation and stabilization plan for the site. The archeological site is located in the Savannah River on Bird Island about three miles upstream from Fort Pulaski. The environmental setting is unique: Bird Island is composed entirely of marsh mud and several times a year it is inundated by high tides. Battery Hamilton directly participated in the siege and capture of Fort Pulaski in April of 1862 by preventing Confederate supply boats, reinforcements, or gunboats from descending the river. The investigations demonstrated that intact wooden gun platforms and other structural remains are preserved beneath 40 - 60 cm of marsh mud. Investigation of old aerial photographs, maps, and a Civil War sketch of the gun battery shows there has been minimal shoreline erosion over the past 140 years. In summary, the site is stable, despite its location in such a dynamic setting.
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