The CSS Georgia was an ironclad warship constructed in Savannah, Georgia, in 1862 during the American Civil War. Built with the financial support of the Ladies' Gunboat Association, which raised $115,000 for her construction, the vessel was designed to defend the strategic port city of Savannah. Commanded by Lieutenant Washington Gwathmey of the Confederate States Navy, Georgia's primary role was to protect the river channels below Savannah and prevent Union advances from the sea. Constructed as an iron-hulled vessel, Georgia was equipped with cannons intended for defense and was anchored in the Savannah River, functioning effectively as a floating battery. Her steam engines, however, proved insufficient for offensive operations. As a result, she was primarily employed in a defensive capacity, shielding both the city and Fort Jackson from Union naval forces. Georgia's service lasted approximately 20 months. Her career ended when Union forces, led by Sherman's March to the Sea, captured Savannah on December 21, 1864. To prevent her capture and potential reuse against the Confederacy, her Confederate crew scuttled the vessel. Post-war, her remains were partially salvaged, with her iron rail armor and parts of her wooden hull damaged by underwater charges used for removal. The wreck was subsequently forgotten until its rediscovery in 1968 during dredging operations in the Savannah River. Over the years, archaeological efforts have recovered parts of her structure, including sections of her casemates, engines, boilers, shafts, propellers, and assorted ordnance. Notably, in 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allocated $14 million to raise her remains, leading to the partial recovery of her structure in 2013 and ongoing salvage operations in 2015, which have yielded over 1,000 artifacts. The CSS Georgia was recognized for her historical significance by being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Today, her remains serve as a tangible link to Civil War naval history and the Confederate defense of Savannah.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.