Payne City in Macon in Bibb County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Confederate States Central Laboratory
Photographed by David Seibert, May 5, 2002
1. Confederate States Central Laboratory Marker
Approximately 100 feet south of this point stood the Confederate States Central Laboratory. Erected between 1862 and 1865, this laboratory-factory complex spread over 145 acres purchased December 2, 1862. It was intended as permanent facility and center of Confederate States Ordnance testing and production. Its main building was a two storied brick and granite structure 600 feet long. Superintendent of all C.S. Laboratories Lt. Col. John W. Mallet selected this site and had his headquarters here. Machinery and equipment for the facility were fabricated in Macon, Atlanta, Richmond and Leeds, England. After contributing much to the southern war effort, the site was surrendered on April 20, 1865, to Union Gen. James H. Wilson. A law suit followed over the title of the property which was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 'Titus v. U.S.' (1874), a decision which recognized the existence of the Confederate States.
Erected 1994 by Georgia Department of Natural Resources. (Marker Number 011-24.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in
this page online
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 32° 50.979′ N, 83° 40.397′ W. Marker was in Macon, Georgia, in Bibb County. It was in Payne City. It was at the intersection of Vineville Avenue (U.S. 41) and Vista Circle, on the right when traveling north on Vineville Avenue. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 3051 Vineville Avenue, Macon GA 31204, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Georgia’s Piedmont. It was also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Confederate States Central Laboratory
Photographed by David Seibert, July 4, 2011
2. Confederate States Central Laboratory Marker
Looking northwest on Vineville Avenue (US 41)
Regarding Confederate States Central Laboratory. "The Ordnance of the Confederacy" from Shotgun's Home of the American Civil War.
In a postwar Report, the laboratory was described: "Another permanent work erected was a central ordnance laboratory for the production of artillery and small-arms ammunition and miscellaneous articles of ordnance stores. This was decided on in September, 1861, placed in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Mallet, and located at Macon, Georgia. It was designed to be an elaborate establishment, especially for the fabrication of percussion-caps, friction-primers, and pressed bullets, in addition to heavier ordnance supplies. Special machinery was made in England and shipped, but did not reach its destination in time for use. A large instalment including a most powerful pair of engines, had reached Bermuda when blockade running practically came to an end, near the close of the war."
Also see . . . Macon Arsenal. FortWiki website entry (Submitted on December 7, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 3,597 times since then and 77 times this year. Last updated on March 25, 2025, by James Wagner of Roberta, Georgia. Photos: 1. submitted on October 9, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 2. submitted on July 13, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
