Posted on 06/04/2005 6:06:13 PM PDT by Crackingham
Archaeologists, with an assist from 21st-century technology, have gotten their first detailed look at Georgia's most notorious shipwreck — the best view since the Confederate forces scuttled the ironclad CSS Georgia in 1864 as Union Gen. William Sherman's army entered Savannah. Detailed sonar scans of the wreck — the only way to "see" anything in the murky, 40-foot depths of the Savannah River — show sections of the ship's armor, as well as cannons, engines, boilers and propellers scattered across the river bottom off Fort Jackson, where it went down 141 years ago. To everyone's surprise, however, there is no sign of the ship's wooden hull, which has apparently either rotted away or been eaten by shipworms. Maritime history buffs lament the loss, but the missing hull is actually good news for those seeking ways to save what's left of the historic hulk.
"We have the first definitive picture of what is left of the CSS Georgia and it's clear that the scale of the project is more finite than we expected," says Scott Smith, executive director of Savannah's Coastal Heritage Society.
"There's just not as much of the ship down there as we thought," agrees Jason Burns, underwater archaeologist for the state Department of Natural Resources. "There's a feeling that maybe we can bring up what's left of it."
Several developments, in fact, have aligned to improve the chances that the remains of the CSS Georgia will see daylight again and eventually be placed on public exhibition. Because the wreck, which is officially designated as both a national historic place and a hazard to navigation, lies in the path of the planned $262 million Savannah harbor expansion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must consider ways to preserve it.
The harbor expansion calls for dredging a passing channel for ships in the very spot where the CSS Georgia now lies. Earlier dredging, which gouged 3-foot grooves at the site, is already blamed for some of the wreck's deterioration, so officials say leaving the remaining wreckage on the bottom in harm's way is unacceptable.
"It's very clear that the dredging in the past has damaged the wreck and that it is now undergoing demolition by neglect," says Smith. "If they build the passing channel, the Georgia will have to go. It's inevitable that the vessel needs to be recovered."
Original estimates of the cost of salvaging and conserving the ironclad ranged as high as $13.5 million. Now that it is clear there is less of the wreck than once thought, Smith says raising the key components — armor, cannons and propulsion system — might cost only $4 million or so.
"It will still be a very expensive project, but we are recommending archaeological salvage," says Stephen James of Pan American Consultants, the Memphis firm that headed a $375,000 survey of the site for the Corps.
Hope for the recovery of the remains of the Georgia — known as the "savior of Savannah" for its role in keeping the Union Navy away from the city in 1863 and 1864 — has prompted the city of Savannah to reserve a place for its exhibition in its new 25-acre Battlefield Park Heritage Center.
Smith says Civil War buffs eager to see something as rare as a Confederate ironclad — one of four built in Savannah — will bring an estimated $4 million in tourist expenditures to the city annually.
It will take years to salvage and preserve the massive artifacts. But Smith says that if the Georgia can be conserved at the Charleston Navy Yard laboratory currently caring for the previously salvaged Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, the artifacts could be ready for exhibition in six or seven years.
I went down to the Newport news museum and looked at the ruins of the Monitor. It is underwater in tanks that are supposedly supposed to remove the rust and protect it from further damage. It isnt recognisable as a ship or much else,It seems like a lot of money for what little will remain when its all done. I am all for retoring historical items when they are restorable , but sometimes these things are better left where they are. Especially when they are the graves of Seaman. Just think someday someone may get the bright idea to raise the Arizona.
I dunno, I always kind of lumped "eaten by worms" and "rotted away" as synonymous.
I think that anything that can be saved ought to be. If you have ever been to Vicksburg and seen the Union ironclad Cairo; that was raised from the Yazoo River by Ed Bearss, you would know what I mean. The ship is virtual time machine. The knowledge gained would be huge. There are always surprises from what they think they will find.
Somebody had to say it...
CSS Georgia was scuttled, not sunk in battle. None of her crew were aboard when she sank. It should be raised and preserved.
The U.S.S. Arizona is a war grave, as such, it can never be raised from the bottom.
Just a minor difference between the two ships.
The Hunley was a war grave too, I also remember when they said they would never loot the Titanic.
They did say the South shall rise again! :-)
They did say the South shall rise again! :-)
I have been there to see it. It's most impressive. It's also a lot bigger than I would have thought.
never,ever go to FREECREDITREPORT.COM, trust me on this. ol' hoghead
The CSS Georgia is a Confederate Ironclad that was scuttled in the Savannah River during General Sherman's Union army advance into the City of Savannah. Originally built by the citizens of Savannah, it was designed to defend the city from the Union Navy and is thought to have delayed the captured of Savannah.
Georgia: Built at Savannah GA. Launched 20 May 62. Commissioned Jul 62. Called the "Ladies' Ram," as she was partially built through funds collected by the women of Savannah. Fitted with weak engines; additionally, a beam from the ways may have adhered to the hull at launch, causing too much drag for the ship to be handled. Served as floating battery, stationed for a time at Elba Island, then at Fort James Jackson in a special crib to allow warping to bring the broadside to bear. Provided boats and men for capture of USS Water Witch 4 Jun 64. Scuttled to prevent capture 20 Dec 64; went down very rapidly. Superstructure broken by dredging in 1868. Remains located 1969 about 200 yards off of Old Fort Jackson near the ship channel. Two cannons, 75 shells, crockery, and tools recovered by divers, on display at Old Fort Jackson and the Savannah History Museum. Her casemate is more or less intact in the river below the city, though it is in danger of sliding into the main shipping lane and the Army Corps of Engineers is threatening to destroy the wreck unless salvaged. The wreckage extending above the sediments is comprised of bent and twisted railroad rails (two layers) and rusted pieces of casemate which once formed her iron shell.
Specs:
Iron Clad type: Casemate ram
Dimensions: length 250', beam 60', draft 12'
Displacement: 1,000 +- tons
Speed: immobile
Crew: 12 officers, 82 men. muster
Armor: two layers of T-rails, about 4"
Armament: Varied; ten guns planned, but usually only two 9" and three 32# smoothbores
Authorized: early 1862
ping
Amen!
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