CSS Georgia (ironclad) facts for kids
The CSS Georgia, also known as the State of Georgia or the Ladies' Ram, was a special kind of warship called an ironclad. It was built in Savannah, Georgia in 1862 during the American Civil War. A group called the Ladies' Gunboat Association helped raise a lot of money – $115,000 – to build this ship. Their goal was to protect the important port city of Savannah.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Confederate States of America |
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| Name | Georgia |
| Laid down | 1862 |
| Launched | 1863 |
| Commissioned | 1863 |
| Decommissioned | December 21, 1864 |
| Fate | Scuttled to prevent capture. Currently undergoing salvage. |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 250 ft (76 m) |
| Beam | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Complement | 200 officers and men |
| Armament | 4 to 9 heavy cannons |
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CSS GEORGIA (ironclad)
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| Nearest city | Savannah, Georgia |
| Area | 1.6 acres (0.65 ha) |
| Built | 1862 |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003746 |
| Added to NRHP | February 10, 1987 |
Contents
The Georgia's Job During the War
The CSS Georgia was led by Lieutenant Washington Gwathmey. Her main job was to guard the river channels near Savannah. She used her powerful cannons to stop the Union army from attacking the city from the sea.
At first, the Georgia's steam engines were not strong enough. This meant she couldn't move around much for battles. So, the ship was anchored in the Savannah River. She became a floating battery, which is like a floating fort. From this spot, she protected both the city and Fort Jackson.
The Georgia served for about 20 months. But then, the Union army, led by General Sherman, captured Savannah by land. This happened on December 21, 1864. To stop the Union from taking and using the ship, her Confederate crew decided to sink her on purpose. This act is called scuttling.
The Discovery of the Wreck
After the war, in 1866, some of the ship's iron armor was taken off. The wooden hull was broken apart by underwater explosions used to remove the armor. After that, the wreck was forgotten for a long time.
In 1968, the Georgia was found again. This happened during a project to make the Savannah River deeper. The wreck was left alone, but it might have been damaged. This damage could have come from dredging equipment or anchors marking the site.
By 1992, only parts of the front and back of her casemates (the armored sections) were left. Some parts of her engines, like the boilers, shafts, and propellers, also survived. Several of her cannons and other military equipment were found nearby.
Bringing the Georgia Back Up
In May 2012, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) planned to spend $14 million. This money was for raising the remains of the ironclad. This would allow them to make the river even deeper.
Archaeologists from the USACE Savannah District worked with the United States Navy. On November 12, 2013, they successfully raised a large section of the Georgia. This piece was about 64 square feet.
More parts of the ship were recovered in 2015. This was part of a big nine-month project. The river needed to be dredged to 47 feet deep for larger ships. As of April 2015, the USACE and archaeologists from Texas A&M University had found over 1000 artifacts.
The team removed old military explosives and lifted the main parts of the ship. This included the large casemates and machinery. This work happened between June and August 2015.
In the 1980s, a photograph was found that people thought showed the Georgia. However, it was later proven to be a fake picture.
The Georgia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it's an important historical site.
Cool Things Found in 2015
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A brass artifact. It was part of a wood and rope system to move a cannon.
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An iron artifact that is very rusty.
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A brass screw used to aim a cannon up or down. It still turns!
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Another rusty iron artifact before it was cleaned.
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A model made from resin of an iron artifact.
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A cannonball and a holder for grapeshot, which is like a giant shotgun shell.
Images for kids
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This photograph was once believed to be of the CSS Georgia, but it was later found to be a forgery made in the 1980s.
