Fort Pulaski changed war and made forts obsolete

Fort Pulaski was named after Polish Count who fought in the revolutionary war and is credited withstarting the cavalry. This fort was part of the security of the coast after the war of 1812, ordered by Pres. Madison.  This fort of 25 million bricks cost $1,000,000 in 1847.  The marshy land was bermed up and drained by LT. Robert E. Lee, his first job after West Point. 
t was built by the US Army but Georgia took it over in 1860 and the confederates took it over after the Civil War started.  The volunteer guide did an awesome bringing the fort to life.  The war changed when the union for weeks were building

up cannons at night on Tybee Island 1 mile away.  Lee said no worries when he visited cuz Columbiad cannons can only go a half mile.  When the union started bombing in April, 1862, they could not only reach the fort, but could concentrate on hitting one corner so the bricks rained down taking away 4' of the 7' thick wall.  Once they broke an opening through, they could lob a cannon right to the powder magazine.  Remember the US Army built this so they knew exactly where the powder magazine was. The union was using new technology - the rifled cannon with spiraling grooves inside that increased the speed and accuracy along with using a cartridge filled with powder or shrapnel rather than a cannonball.  When one landed in front of the magazine, Commander Olmstead surrendered with only 1 dead and 383 prisoners who  all came back after spending the war up north as POWs.