Fort McAllister (1)

Fort McAllister (1) (1861-1865) - A Confederate U.S. Civil War Coastal Fort established in 1861 by Captain John McCrady, Confederate Engineers to protect Savannah, Georgia. Named after the family of Colonel Joseph L. McAllister. Captured by Union forces in 1864 by the forces of Union General William T. Sherman in his march to the sea. Maintained as a Union prison until the end of the war.

Fort McAllister (1) History

Established by Confederate forces as a part of the Confederate U.S. Civil War Harbor Defense of Savannah.

This was an earthworks fortification built in 1861 on the plantation of Confederate Lieutenant Colonel Joseph L. McAllister. The fort was built to prevent access to Savannah by Union naval forces and successfully held off Union bombardments from seaward. The earthworks construction enabled quick repair of damage caused by the bombardments. Fort McAllister was armed with 11 large caliber siege cannons, 12 field pieces and one 10" mortar. The fort successfully held off seven Union attacks until an assault was mounted from the land side on 13 Dec 1864 by the forces of Union General William T. Sherman in his march to the sea. The fort had not been constructed to hold off a full scale attack from the land side and it fell after a 15 minute battle.

The fort was maintained as a prison by Union forces for captured Confederate troops until the end of the war.

Current Status

Now a part of Fort McAllister Historic State Park, Bryan County, Georgia. Period guns and carriages in place.

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Location: Fort McAllister Historic State Park, Bryan County, Georgia.

Maps & Images

Lat: 31.890756 Long: -81.195926

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: 8'

Sources:

Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 228.

Links:

Visited: 18 Jan 2010