Fort McAllister -Earthen fortification from Civil War

Fort McAllister embankments

protecting the harbor.  When the fort was bombed, it could be
quickly rebuilt overnight with sand and mud.

In 1861 McAllister donated the land and used 100 slaves to build this best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. This was a boring confederate camp to protect Savannah and keep shipping lines open with not much action most of the war.  The earthworks were attacked seven times by Union ironclads  but did not fall until 1864 -- ending Gen. William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea.”  They were invincible by sea but 4000  union attacked by land in Dec.,1864.  The 285 confederates put in these palisades to deter the union in the day's notice of their advance.  Problem is, it was low tide when they arrived so the union just scrambled through and bettle ended in 15 minutes.  Sherman watched from across the bay, but after it fell, soldiers evacuated Savannah, so Sherman give Lincoln a gift of Savannah for Christmas.  Thankfully, he didn't burn Savannah like he did Atlanta and most of GA.  Folks her call it the War of Northern Agression cuz there was nothing "civil" about it. 

This is like going back in time, although I've never seen such a dirt moving project  complete with cannons, a furnace, bombproof, barracks, palisades and more build without big equipment, Great Civil War museum and video and you could get wifi at the office, a mile from our campsite.

 
Nestled among giant live oaks, Spanish moss and salt marsh, this park and campground is a beautiful location at the entrance to the Ogeechee River.  The campground had only 30 amp service and with the cold, the 110 heaters couldn't keep up and sparks were coming out of the outlet.  We changed to the generator.

campsite pier.  If warmer, would be fun to canoe.