Also from the March 14th Savannah Morning News.
1850-- Joseph L. McAllister inherits Genesis Point, where the fort was later built.
1861-- He allows construction of the fort to guard the entrance of the Ogeechee River and Savannah's southern defenses.
1862-- The Blockade-Runner Nashville makes its third voyage to the Ogeechee. The US Navy unsuccessfully tries to get upriver to sink it.
1863-- Monitors now augment the US Navy blockading force. The Nashville is now a privateer named the Rattlesnake. On February 27, the Rattlesnake makes an unsuccessful attempt to break out.
On February 28th, the USS Montauk, a monitor, sinks her. Several days later, three monitors attack Fort McAllister, but the sand walls withstand the pounding.
December 1864-- Sherman's army quickly overwhelms the fort's defenders. After the war, the fort is abandoned and largely forgotten.
1930s-- Henry Ford, who had a nearby house, gets interested in the fort and commences its reconstruction. The property eventually passes to the International Paper Company who turns it over to the State of Georgia.
1963-- Fort McAllister State Park opens.
See http://www.fortmcallister.org/ or www.civilwarfortifications.com/fortifications_FortMcAllister This one will say it's not available online, but you can click the mainpage and go to it.
April 5th, there will be a Park Volunteer Day for an annual cleanup of the fort property.
Hold Da Fort, Hold Da Fort. --Old Blockade-Runner
No comments:
Post a Comment