Earthworks at Shaw's Dam

The Battle of Shaw’s Dam occurred in December of 1864. It was one of the final engagements before the evacuation of Savannah was ordered by Confederate Lieutenant General William J. Hardee. Fierce fighting took place on this sight. The earthworks are located on Savannah Christian Preparatory School property. The union earthworks include an old artillery emplacement noted by a dip in the mounds called an embrasure. The embrasure provided an opening between mounds for the cannon to fire. The confederate works are closer to the school near the ball field. They are still visible, but erosion has taken a significant toll on them.

These are Union earthworks at Shaw's Dam. The view is across a pond facing towards Chatham Parkway. The pond may have been a result of the Confederate forces flooding the rice fields to obstruct the advance of the Federal troops. The depression in these mound most likely represent embrasures. An embrasure is an opening in a position for a weapon to be fired. These mound are what is left of the Federal artillery positions from 1864.

These depressions represent Union rifle pits or breast works just North of the artillery position