Georgia
Fort McAllister State Historic Park
Confederate Cannon
A wartime photograph of Fort
McAllister shows Union soldiers
inspecting a captured cannon.
A wartime photograph of Fort
McAllister shows Union soldiers
inspecting a captured cannon.
Fort McAllister, 1864
A view of the river face of the fort
as it appeared in 1864. The
Confederates here held back
repeated attacks from the Union
navy.
A view of the river face of the fort
as it appeared in 1864. The
Confederates here held back
repeated attacks from the Union
navy.
| Fort McAllister State Historic Park Richmond Hill, Georgia |
General William Tecumseh
Sherman's "March to the Sea" came
to an end on the ramparts of Fort
McAllister.
For two years the fort had defied the
Union navy. On January 27 and
February 1, 1863, the Confederate
guns at Fort McAllister drove back
determined attacks by Federal
warships. By December 13, 1864, in
fact, this powerful earthwork on the
banks of the Ogeechee River was all
that stood between General Sherman
and the sea.
After surveying the situation, Sherman
ordered an overwhelming force of
Union infantrymen to storm the works.
The Confederates, numbering only
230 men, put up a valiant fight. In fact,
they never surrendered. Union
officers later recorded that the
Confederates at McAllister fought until
the last man of the garrison was
overwhelmed and captured.
The historic fort was once owned by
American automobile innovator Henry
Ford, who took interest in the site and
undertook an extensive restoration of
the works.
Sherman's "March to the Sea" came
to an end on the ramparts of Fort
McAllister.
For two years the fort had defied the
Union navy. On January 27 and
February 1, 1863, the Confederate
guns at Fort McAllister drove back
determined attacks by Federal
warships. By December 13, 1864, in
fact, this powerful earthwork on the
banks of the Ogeechee River was all
that stood between General Sherman
and the sea.
After surveying the situation, Sherman
ordered an overwhelming force of
Union infantrymen to storm the works.
The Confederates, numbering only
230 men, put up a valiant fight. In fact,
they never surrendered. Union
officers later recorded that the
Confederates at McAllister fought until
the last man of the garrison was
overwhelmed and captured.
The historic fort was once owned by
American automobile innovator Henry
Ford, who took interest in the site and
undertook an extensive restoration of
the works.
Fort McAllister State Historic Park is located
10 miles east of I-95 in Richmond Hill,
Georgia. Take Exit #15 off the interstate and
follow Georgia Spur 144 o the park.
The historic site itself is part of a larger park
that offers a variety of outdoor activities along
the banks of the Ogeechee.
The fort includes restored earthworks,
bombproofs, magazines and artillery
emplacements. Cannon once again line the
works and a self-guided tour takes visitors
through the fort and its outlying works.
A museum/visitor center provides orientation
and exhibits on the fort and its history.
10 miles east of I-95 in Richmond Hill,
Georgia. Take Exit #15 off the interstate and
follow Georgia Spur 144 o the park.
The historic site itself is part of a larger park
that offers a variety of outdoor activities along
the banks of the Ogeechee.
The fort includes restored earthworks,
bombproofs, magazines and artillery
emplacements. Cannon once again line the
works and a self-guided tour takes visitors
through the fort and its outlying works.
A museum/visitor center provides orientation
and exhibits on the fort and its history.
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