Fort McAllister, Georgia — History & Visitor Guide

Fort McAllister (Bryan County, Georgia)

Bryan County · Georgia · Civil War

Quick BriefFort McAllister was a Confederate earthen-work fort used to defend Savannah, Georgia during the American Civil War, located on the Ogeechee River in Bryan County. The fort never fell to Union naval forces because of its unique earthen construction, withstanding seven Union naval attacks during 1862 and 1863 before General William T. Sherman reached the fort on his March to the Sea on December 13, 1864, when General William B. Hazen's infantry division attacked and overpowered the fort's defenders in about 15 minutes of battle.

Civil WarCoastal defenseOpen to visitors

History & Significance

Built in 1861 at Genesis Point, the fort was constructed on the plantation of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Longworth McAllister, for whom it was named. Fort McAllister provided protection from the U.S. Navy for the southern flank of Savannah, about fifteen miles to the north, during the Civil War, and also afforded defense for the productive rice plantations of the lower Ogeechee River basin, and for the Savannah, Albany & Gulf Railroad Bridge, a key transportation link, farther upriver.

The fort's earthworks were engineered to absorb cannon fire through their composition of dirt and marsh mud, making them uniquely resilient against naval bombardment. During 1862 and 1863, Fort McAllister repelled seven Union naval attacks by elements of the blockading forces offshore and in nearby Ossabaw Sound, including attacks made by the latest in naval warship technology, the ironclad monitors USS Montauk and USS Passaic.

Fort McAllister would not be subdued by naval bombardment, but would succumb to an infantry assault at the end of Sherman's March to the Sea in December 1864. After the war, the fort served as a prison for Confederate soldiers captured on the upper Georgia coast.

After the war, the fort fell into ruin and remained so until the late 1930s, when it was restored as a historic site for the public through funding provided by Henry Ford, who owned the property at that time. The International Paper Company purchased the property from Ford's estate and gave it to the State of Georgia in 1958.

The fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Fort McAllister is now maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as a state historic park, with a museum, guided tours, and interpretive programming.

Key Facts

StateGeorgia

LocationBryan County

Established1861

Decommissioned1864

War / eraCivil War

Current statusState or National Park

Coordinates31.89111111, -81.19611111

NRHP reference70000197

Map

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🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

Restored Confederate earthwork fortification with reconstructed gun emplacements and defensive structures
Civil War museum exhibits and interpretation of Savannah's coastal defense strategy
Ogeechee River setting with restored barracks, powder magazine, and period structures
Sherman's December 1864 assault and final Confederate defense role explained on-site

Best time to visitOctober through April offers comfortable temperatures; Georgia's coastal lowlands are humid and warm May through September.

Getting thereSavannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SVN) is 14 km away; the fort is located in Bryan County near Savannah, Georgia.

From the nearest major airportSavannah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)🚗 28 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 48 min drive

Fort McAllister (Bryan County, Georgia)

History & Significance

Key Facts

Map

🧳 Visiting

Sources

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