Fort Pulaski

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Probably the mightiest fort in 19th century America was Fort Pulaski, located on Cockspur Island at the mouth of the Savannah River, where it could protect the city farther inland. . It was named after Casimir Pulaski, the great Polish cavalry officer and hero of the American Revolution who was killed in 1779 at the Siege of Savannah.

It was one of more than thirty forts built along the East Coast of the US in the years following the War of 1812, as a safeguard against future attacks by foreign powers. It was completed in 1847 after 18 years of construction at a cost of $1 million, an astronomical figure at the time. It was built on wooden pilings driven deep into the mud, and its walls were up to 11 feet (3.4 m) thick and 32 feet (9.75 m) high, built of mortar and 25 million bricks. It was considered impossible to capture because the snake-infested part of the Island surrounding it was too soft and spongy for the cannons of the day to approach within striking distance.

In January 1861, before Georgia seceded, state troops seized it to keep it out of the hands of Union forces. Foreign troops had never besieged it , so it had long been neglected and the Fort's condition had deteriorated considerably. Georgia soldiers and local slaves were pressed into service clearing the moat and mounting guns along the walls. By the time Confederate Colonel Charles H. Olmstead took command by the end of the year, its defenses had greatly improved. Things didn't always go as planned, though.

Because of its location, the strength of its walls, and its inhospitable surroundings Fort Pulaski had been considered impregnable. To everyone’s astonishment, when besieged at long range from nearby Tybee Island by means of a new type of rifled Union artillery, it was forced to surrender after only three days, amid terrible destruction but with minimal loss of life. That event changed forever the world’s view of the role of artillery, and spelled the end of brick-and-mortar forts and traditional sieges. Fort Pulaski was decommissioned in 1873 and became a National Monument in 1924. It was gradually refurbished, and opened to the public in 1964. Today it is a major tourist attraction, managed and maintained by the National Parks Service, and it's definitely not to be missed when visiting Savannah.

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Comments

[Rainyb]

Not surprised LOL

[Rainyb]

Love it! Great pic ;o)

[Rainyb]

Another great photo Fred ;o)

[Rainyb]

These great old brick walls remind me of Mexico ;o) Great shot!

[Rainyb]

Good timing, good shot!

[Misty]

Wow!! Incredible what a million dollars could do; that amount must have been almost mythical back then!! Kind of sad that after their decades of hard work, 11 foot thick and 32 foot tall walls that it was all for naught in the end :( Very cool historical landmark today though!