The resting place of the USS Westfield is being disturbed to retrieve what's left of the Civil War-era vessel from a Texas ship channel.

Archaeologists seek to recover the remains to allow deepening of the Texas City channel by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Experts say a cannon is believed to be the largest remnant of the USS Westfield, a Union ship scuttled by the crew to avoid capture during the 1863 Battle of Galveston.

The cannon search began Wednesday as part of the $71 million ship channel upgrade.

The artifacts will go to the Texas A&M Conservation Research Laboratory, in an effort that could land some items at museums.

Project manager Sharon Tirpak says the Corps and Navy salvage experts will help remove the historic items, as required by federal law.

Source: The Associated Press