Savannah river yields cannons from US war for independence
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Workers dredging the Savannah River in Georgia, USA, discovered 19 cannons dating back to the American Revolutionary War.
In 2021 and 2022, dredging crews found the cannons in an area called Five Fathom Hole, near old Fort Jackson. British troops deliberately sank ships in this location in September 1779 to block the approach of a French fleet supporting the American colonists.
Archaeologists from the US Army Corps of Engineers examined 17 of the cannons and found wooden plugs, paper wadding, and cannonballs inside the barrels. The analysis, which took over three years and cost $325,000, confirmed the cannons were made in the mid-to-late 18th century, with at least four likely manufactured in France. The remaining two cannons were left in their original condition after being recovered.
The cannons were part of a larger fleet attempting to prevent the French from assisting the Americans in retaking Savannah. A battle followed on October 9th, resulting in approximately 800 casualties, with over 700 American and French soldiers lost. Though the Americans and their French allies were ultimately unsuccessful in retaking Savannah at that time, the British eventually left the city in July 1782.
As of July 2026, all 19 cannons are on display at the Savannah History Museum as part of the “Loyalists and Liberty” exhibit.
