South Coastal Georgia

Last Update: 19/APRIL/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2008 American Forts Network

Fort Frederica (National Monument)
(1736 - 1749), St. Simons Island *1755 MAP*
Built by the British in 1736 - 1739 as a defense against the Spanish in Florida. Frederica Town was enclosed within moated palisades and earthen redans. An inner bastion or citadel was located by the river to fend off water-born attacks. Attacked by the Spanish in July 1742 (Battle of Bloody Marsh), and rebuilt with stronger works in 1743. This was part of the Anglo-Spanish "War of Jenkin's Ear". The town burned in 1758 and was not resettled, the fort having already fallen into ruin by then. Only tabby ruins remain today. The 250-acre National Monument was established in 1945.

Delegal's Fort
(1736 - 1742), St. Simons Island
A marker and small monument locates the site of this 13-gun colonial militia fort on Ocean Blvd. and Demere Road. Also known as Sea-Point Battery.

Pike's Post
(1739 - 1743), St. Simons Island
A British outpost on the northern tip of the island.

Fort St. Simons
(1736 - 1742), St. Simons Island
This British fort, also known as the Soldiers Fort, was captured by the Spanish to be used as a base for attacking Fort Frederica in July 1742. It was burned as they retreated after the attack. No trace remains except for a stone marker.

Another British or Patriot fort was here sometime before the first lighthouse was built. A second lighthouse was built in 1810, destroyed by Confederates in 1862. The present light was built in 1872.

Fort Brown (1)
(1861 - 1862), St. Simons Island
A Confederate fort once located on the site of Fort St. Simons. No trace remains except for a stone marker. It was built of sand covered with scrap rail iron. It was abandoned after Port Royal, SC fell to the Union in 1862.

St. Simons Island Post
(1862 - 1865), St. Simons Island
The Union occupied the island beginning in 1862.

St. Simons Island Batteries
(1898 - 1899), St. Simons Island
Two temporary Spanish-American War batteries were built here, one on the south-end of the island, and one on the east-end. An artesian well was sunk in 1899. Possibly damaged in the same 1899 storm that damaged the two batteries on Jekyll Island.

Capt. Mark Carr's Fort (1)
(1739 - 1741), Brunswick
A settlers' fortified tabby plantation complex. Attacked by the Spanish in 1741. A marker is at Union Street and First Ave.

Bachelor's Redoubt
(1739 - 1743), near Brunswick
A British battery on the mainland, serving as an outpost to Fort Frederica.

Fort Wayne (2)
(1821 - 1823), Brunswick
A temporary Federal fort.

Jekyll Island Post (1)
(1742), Jekyll Island
A British fortified garrison was on the island during the July 1742 Spanish attack. After the Spanish destroyed Fort St. Simons, they destroyed the post here and moved south to Cumberland Island. No trace remains.

Jekyll Island Battery (1)
(1861 - 1862), Jekyll Island
Two Confederate batteries were once located here. Site is marked on Horton Road.

Jekyll Island Post (2)
(1862 - 1865), Jekyll Island
The Union occupied the island beginning in 1862.

Jekyll Island Batteries (2)
(1898 - 1899), Jekyll Island
Two temporary Spanish-American War batteries were built here, one on the north-end of the island, and one on the south-end. An artesian well was sunk in 1899. Damaged by a storm in 1899, then abandoned.

Fort McIntosh
(1776 - 1777), near Tarboro
A Patriot stockade, 100-feet square with a center blockhouse, located on the Satilla River west or northwest of town, somewhere near the Brantley - Camden County line. Attacked and captured by the British in February 1777.

Burnt Fort
(1750's ?), Burnt Fort Station
A state marker once located the site of this settlers' fort on the Satilla River at Magnolia Bluff in Camden County, but was removed in 1958.

Cumberland Island Battery
(1898 - 1899), Little Cumberland Island
A temporary Spanish-American War battery was built here on the north-end of the island, but not completed. Abandoned in 1899.

San Pedro Island Presidio
(1569 - 1684), Cumberland Island
A Spanish presidio that protected two Franciscan Missions on the island, San Pedro y San Pablo de Poturiba (1595 - 1597) on the northwest end of the island, and San Pedro de Mocama (1587 - 1660 ?) on the southern end of the island, later replaced by San Phelipe de Alave (2) (1670 - 1684) (on the northern end of the island ?), which had moved from the North Newport River area. Raided by French and English pirates in 1683. Attacked and destroyed by South Carolina forces in 1684. Abandoned for Amelia Island, FL.

Fort St. Andrew
(Cumberland Island National Seashore)
(1736 - 1742), near High Point, Cumberland Island
Built by the British as a buffer against the Spanish. The fort was abandoned before the 1742 Spanish attack. The Spanish destroyed the fort after their retreat from St. Simons Island. Once located on the northern tip of the island. No trace remains. Another battery was located on the western side of the island to protect the inland waterway.

Fort William
(Cumberland Island National Seashore)
(1736 - 1748), near Dungeness, Cumberland Island
A British fort once located on the southern tip of the island. Also known as Fort Prince William. Reinforced by the Fort St. Andrew garrison in 1742. The Spanish attacked the fort after their retreat from St. Simons Island, but were repulsed. No trace remains.

Of interest in St. Marys is the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum (admission fee).

Battery at Point Peter
(1799 - 1815), near St. Marys
Located at Point Peter near Kings Bay Naval Base. Initially a log and earthwork battery, abandoned by 1804. Rebuilt in 1812 with eight guns. It was attacked and destroyed by the British in January 1815. Site excavations were conducted in 2004 before a waterfront housing development was constructed.

Fort St. George ? ?
(1755 - 1780's ?), St. Marys
A British fort, possibly used later by Patriots.

Fort St. Tammany
(1787 - 1812 ?), St. Marys
A Federal post in town overlooking the river. Also known as Fort Gunn.

Wright's Fort
(1774 - 1779), near Coleraine
A Loyalist settlers' fort on Pagan Creek, upriver from Fort Tonyn in East Florida, built by Jermyn and Charles Wright, brothers of Georgia's Royal Governor Sir James Wright, to protect their plantations. The British forces from Fort Tonyn retreated here in 1778 after it was attacked.

Post at Coleraine
(1793 - 1796, 1814), Coleraine
A Federal garrison defending against Indian and Spanish incursions. Also known as Fort Pickering. Regarrisoned in 1814. Boulder monument erected in 1912.

Fort Alert
(1812, 1835 - 1836), Trader's Hill
A stockaded settlers' refuge and trading post. Also known as Trader's Hill Post. Regarrisoned, or rebuilt entirely, in 1835. A state marker locates the site.

Colonial Spanish Missions of Mocama

The following Franciscan Missions were established without presidios or other military protection, and are listed here purely for historical interest. The Spanish Mocama Province encompased the coastal area from the Altamaha River to the St. Johns River in Florida. (see also Amelia Island and Fort George Island, FL)

San Buenaventura de Guadalquini (1605 - 1684), on the south-end of St. Simons Island. Briefly garrisoned by soldiers during the 1661 northern Indian (Westos) raids. Destroyed by South Carolina forces. Abandoned for Fort George Island, FL.
Santo Domingo de Asao - Talaje (2) (1661 - 1684), on the north-end of St. Simons Island, relocated from the Darien area. Destroyed by South Carolina forces. Abandoned for Amelia Island, FL. The christianized Colon Indian village of San Simon (possibly located near Frederica) gave the island its modern name.

information courtesy of John Worth

Colonial Spanish Missions of Timucua

The following Franciscan Missions were established without presidios or other military protection, and are listed here purely for historical interest. These five sites are properly located in the Spanish Timucua Province, and so are seperated from the above listings. They were abandoned after the 1656 Timucua Rebellion. The Timucua Province encompased the inland area from between the Altamaha River and the Little / Withlacoochee Rivers, then southward between the St. Johns River and the Suwannee River in Florida, towards the Ocala area, but not including the Gulf coastal area. See also Eastern Florida.

Santa Isabel de Utinahica (1610 - 1640), at the Forks of the Altamaha River, near Tallahassee.
San Lorenzo de Ibihica (1620 - 1656), near Folkston. Destroyed by Indians.
Santiago de Oconi (1620 - 1656), in the Okefenokee Swamp region west of Ibihica. Destroyed by Indians.
Santa Maria de los Angeles de Arapaja (1625 - 1657), near Statenville.
Santa Cruz de Cachipile (1625 - 1657), near Clyattville.

information courtesy of John Worth
read article in the New Georgia Encyclopedia

NEED MORE INFO: Tabby ruins of Old Spanish Mission in Dover Bluff, Camden County, most probably not of Spanish origin.
Towns:

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