Jekyll Island Battery Site
The earthworks of the cannon
battery placed on Jekyll Island
can still be seen.
The earthworks of the cannon
battery placed on Jekyll Island
can still be seen.
Confederate Battery, Civil War Site on Jekyll Island, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Confederate Battery on Jekyll Island, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Confederate Battery on Jekyll Island, Georgia
| Civil War on Jekyll Island A marker on North River View points out the surviving earthworks of the Confederate batteries that once defended Jekyll Island. |
Civil War on the Georgia Coast
Best known as a resort area of great
historical significance, beautiful Jekyll Island
on the Georgia Coast was also once a focus
of military efforts in anticipation of an
amphibious assault on Brunswick and the
Golden Isles.
When the Civil War erupted in 1861 and
President Abraham Lincoln ordered a
blockade of the Southern coast, Confederate
forces responded by fortifying the entrances
to the port of Brunswick. Fortifications and
batteries were built on both St. Simons and
Jekyll Islands.
On Jekyll Island, Southern troops placed a
42-pounder and four 32-pounder cannon in
earthwork battery positions. The strong walls
of the batteries were built of palmetto logs,
heavy timbers, sandbags and then faced with
iron removed from railroad lines.
As the war continued and Confederate forces
faced attacks on multiple fronts, the defense
of the Georgia coast was placed under the
supervision of General Robert E. Lee, who
had not yet risen to the command of the Army
of Northern Virginia. After considering the
situation, Lee on February 10, 1862,
recommended that the cannon be removed
from Jekyll Island and the fortifications
abandoned.
With an insufficient number of troops and
cannon to properly defend the coast, Lee
recommended a concentration on strong
points such as Savannah.
As a result, the cannon were removed from
Jekyll Island by Major Edward G. Anderson
and taken to Savannah. It is strange that the
railroad iron, however, was left behind on the
island. Iron was a desperately needed war
material in the Confederacy, particularly for
the C.S. Navy which was trying to build
ironclads at numerous points for use in
attempts to break the Union blockade.
The railroad iron proved to be a valuable
prize to Union troops, who landed on Jekyll
Island without opposition in January of 1863.
Retrieving the iron rails for use in their efforts
to strengthen the batteries at Port Royal,
historical significance, beautiful Jekyll Island
on the Georgia Coast was also once a focus
of military efforts in anticipation of an
amphibious assault on Brunswick and the
Golden Isles.
When the Civil War erupted in 1861 and
President Abraham Lincoln ordered a
blockade of the Southern coast, Confederate
forces responded by fortifying the entrances
to the port of Brunswick. Fortifications and
batteries were built on both St. Simons and
Jekyll Islands.
On Jekyll Island, Southern troops placed a
42-pounder and four 32-pounder cannon in
earthwork battery positions. The strong walls
of the batteries were built of palmetto logs,
heavy timbers, sandbags and then faced with
iron removed from railroad lines.
As the war continued and Confederate forces
faced attacks on multiple fronts, the defense
of the Georgia coast was placed under the
supervision of General Robert E. Lee, who
had not yet risen to the command of the Army
of Northern Virginia. After considering the
situation, Lee on February 10, 1862,
recommended that the cannon be removed
from Jekyll Island and the fortifications
abandoned.
With an insufficient number of troops and
cannon to properly defend the coast, Lee
recommended a concentration on strong
points such as Savannah.
As a result, the cannon were removed from
Jekyll Island by Major Edward G. Anderson
and taken to Savannah. It is strange that the
railroad iron, however, was left behind on the
island. Iron was a desperately needed war
material in the Confederacy, particularly for
the C.S. Navy which was trying to build
ironclads at numerous points for use in
attempts to break the Union blockade.
The railroad iron proved to be a valuable
prize to Union troops, who landed on Jekyll
Island without opposition in January of 1863.
Retrieving the iron rails for use in their efforts
to strengthen the batteries at Port Royal,
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
South Carolina, the Federals also
demolished as much of the Confederate
installations as possible. In time, only the
overgrown mounds of the earthworks
remained.
A marker at the Jekyll Island Airport points out
the site of one of the batteries. Because they
border the runways, the earthworks can not
be visited, but can be easily viewed from the
small picnic area by the marker.
To reach the viewing point, simply follow
North River View from the historic district. The
marker is on the left just past Captain Wylly
Road and adjacent to the fence by the airport
runway.
demolished as much of the Confederate
installations as possible. In time, only the
overgrown mounds of the earthworks
remained.
A marker at the Jekyll Island Airport points out
the site of one of the batteries. Because they
border the runways, the earthworks can not
be visited, but can be easily viewed from the
small picnic area by the marker.
To reach the viewing point, simply follow
North River View from the historic district. The
marker is on the left just past Captain Wylly
Road and adjacent to the fence by the airport
runway.
Where Centuries Collide
Aircraft now take off and land
at the site once protected by
Confederate cannon.
Aircraft now take off and land
at the site once protected by
Confederate cannon.
Confederate Earthworks
The earthworks overlook the
runways at the Jekyll Island
Airport and can be seen from
a distance.
The earthworks overlook the
runways at the Jekyll Island
Airport and can be seen from
a distance.
Jekyll Island Historic District
Horton House Historic Site
Historic Sites on Jekyll Island
Historic Sites on St. Simons Island
The Golden Isles of Georgia
Historic Sites in Georgia
Historic Sites in the South
Horton House Historic Site
Historic Sites on Jekyll Island
Historic Sites on St. Simons Island
The Golden Isles of Georgia
Historic Sites in Georgia
Historic Sites in the South
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| Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |