Georgia Forts

American Forts: East

GEORGIA

Last Update: 19/APRIL/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2008 American Forts Network

Fort Mount Pleasant
(1740's), near Clyo
A GA colonial miltia fort and trading post at the site of an Uchee Indian village on the Savannah River.

Fort Ebenezer
(1757, 1776 - 1782), (Old) Ebenezer
A colonial fort protecting a settlement of German families newly established in the province (1738). The town was an important trading center for silk. Refortified by Patriots in 1776, captured and rebuilt by the British in 1779 and held until 1782. The town was recaptured by the Patriots just prior to the British evacuation of Savannah. The town ceased to exist after 1799. The church and cemetery still remain. A museum is nearby in (New) Ebenezer on GA 275.

Folsom's Fort
(1777), Ogeechee River
A settlers' fort. Undetermined location.

Camp Atkinson (1)
(1895 - 1897), Meldrim
A GA National Guard summer training camp for cavalry troops.

(For Savannah defenses please see page 2)

Fort Argyle
(1734 - 1747 ?), near Richmond Hill ¤Savannah MAP¤
A British palisaded fort defending the western approach to Savannah and South Carolina from Indian raids. Located on the west-bank of the Ogeechee River on the grounds of present-day Fort Stewart. The site may have been used in the American Revolution.

Located on the Ogeechee River upriver from here (at Middle Landing ?) was Old Fort (1) (aka First Fort) (1731 ?).

Fort at Hardwick
(1756), Hardwick *1755 MAP*
This small hamlet was originally designed to be the state capital by some in early state history, supplanting Savannah. Three 600-foot polygonal forts, with three detached bastions, armed with 25 guns and a garrison of 150 men, were planned for the protection of this town on the "Elbow of the Great Ogeechee". The town never came to fruition, and therefore the fortifications were never carried out.

Fort McAllister (State Historic Park)
(1861 - 1864), Fort McAllister
A well-preserved Confederate fort built of sand and marsh-mud at Genesis Point on the Ogeechee River. Originally named Genesis Point Battery. It was attacked seven times but fell only until Sherman's March. Admission fee. Another website from NPS (Golden Crescent)

Ossabaw Island Post
(1862 - 1865), Ossabaw Island
A Union occupied island after the capture of Port Royal Sound, SC.

Sunbury Fort (1)
(1756 - 1761 ?), Sunbury
A town battery was erected here in 1756, consisting of eight guns. The parish church was also palisaded. A small log fort or blockhouse was built in 1760. Probably located at or near the site of later Fort Morris.

Fort Morris (State Historic Site)
(1776 - 1782, 1813 - 1815, 1861), Sunbury
A Patriot 25-gun moated irregular quadrangular earthwork. The British attacked in November 1778 to the reply of the Patriots' "Come and take it!", but were repulsed. The British attacked again in January 1779, capturing the post and renaming it Fort Sunbury (2) or Fort George (2). Abandoned by the British before the evacuation of Savannah, then briefly occupied by the Patriots. Abandoned between 1782 and 1813. It was then rebuilt smaller as American Fort Defiance (2) (or Fort Defence) (eight guns). The earthworks are the only surviving works of the American Revolution in the state.
During the Civil War, two guns were taken to Riceboro, but were not used. Two additional guns were used as signal guns here, but were transferred to Fort Bartow (1) in 1862. Admission fee. Another website from NPS (Golden Crescent) | Fort Morris Cannon display in Hinesville.

Capt. Mark Carr's Fort (2)
(1756), Cubbage Island
A GA colonial militia fort for the defense of Sunbury.

San Miguel de Gualdape
(1526 - 1527), St. Catherines Island ?
The first Spanish colonization attempt north of Mexico. There were 600 colonists, including a few women and some black slaves, and one Indian named "El Chicorano" as a guide (who had been captured on a 1521 slave raid to the region), as well as horses and supplies for three months. They sailed from Santo Domingo (Hispaniola) in two ships under the leadership of Lucas Vásquez de Ayllón. The party landed in Winyah Bay, SC (Cabo de San Nicolás, at roughly 30 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude, plus or minus 30 minutes), repaired their ships, and then headed southwest for 40-45 Spanish leagues to find a suitable settlement site. Only 150 people made it through the winter and several Indian attacks, and returned to Santo Domingo the following spring. (see also Winyah Bay in SOUTH CAROLINA)
(NOTE: A 19th-century historian placed the settlement in Virginia based on a flawed theory and referred to it as Guandape, based on 1530 and 1561 Spanish documents which in themselves were both faulty, according to modern historians.)

St. Catherines Island Presidio
(1566 - 1597, 1605 - 1680), St. Catherines Island
An early Spanish fort was once here, later protecting the Spanish Franciscan Mission Santa Catalina de Guale (1595), which became the provincial headquarters of Guale (present-day north-coastal Georgia). Destroyed by Indians during the 1597 Guale Rebellion, and not rebuilt until 1605. Attacked and destroyed by South Carolina forces in 1680. Abandoned for Sapelo Island. Site of the mission is on Wamassee Creek, which has been excavated.

Tolomato Presidio
(1595 - 1597, 1605 - 1684), near South Newport
A Spanish Franciscan mission-presidio, Nuestra Seńora de Guadalupe de Tolomato, probably originally located on the South Newport River near Harris Neck, burned in 1597, rebuilt in 1605, possibly at or near the Tupiqui - Espogache site. Abandoned for Sapelo Island.
(NOTE: tabby ruins located near the "Mansfield Place" in the "Thicket" near Darien have been disproved of Spanish origin, dating instead to the early 1800's.)

Camp Newport
(1864), South Newport
A state marker locates the site of a CSA camp on nearby Fort Point. It was attacked by Union troops in 1864.

Fort Hammond (1)
(1794 - unknown), Liberty County
A Federal or state militia fort purported to have been located somewhere in present-day Liberty County.

Liberty Armory
(unknown - 1950's ?), Hinesville
A GA National Guard armory located on 101st Coast Artillery Drive.

Fort Stewart (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1940 - present), Hinesville
Originally established in 1940 as a Coast Artillery anti-aircraft gun training range, known as Camp Stewart. Became a major troop training center during the war. Designated to be an armor training center in 1953. Became a permanent post in 1956 and renamed. On base is the Fort Stewart Military Museum.

Beard's Bluff Fort
(1776), near Madray Springs
A temporary Patriot stockaded fort was located on Beard's Bluff along the Altamaha River and Beard's Creek. A state marker locates the site.

Federal Fort Telfair was built here in 1790 - 1795. It was regarrisoned in 1814. It was palisaded with two blockhouses.

Fort James (2)
(1797 - 1802), near Doctortown ?
A Federal fort on the western bank of the Altamaha River about 50 miles upriver from Darien.

Doctor Town Battery
(1864), Doctortown
A CSA two-gun battery was located here to protect the railroad bridge. CSA earthworks were also located across the river on the north-side of Morgan Lake. Attacked by the Union in December 1864. One of the CSA guns was transferred to Waycross in 1887 for display in Phoenix Park.

Fort Barrington
(1751 - 1780's, 1860's), near Lower Sansavilla
A British fort located on the east bank of the Altamaha River two miles below town. It was a 70-square foot stockade with four bastions and a two-story wooden blockhouse. Rearmed by Patriots in 1776, captured by the British in 1777 and renamed Fort Howe. The Patriots recaptured the fort in 1778. The site was also used by Confederates during the Civil War. No remains.

Fort King George (State Historic Site)
(1721 - 1732), Darien
Built on or near the site of the early Spanish Franciscan Mission Santo Domingo de Asao - Talaje (1) (1595 - 1661) (see below). At the time this was the southern-most British outpost on the continent. It guarded against Spanish raids into Carolina. It was an earthen fort with a three-story 26-foot square cypress blockhouse. It was almost destroyed by fire in 1726. It was rebuilt in 1727, but with only a token guard afterwards. The present structure is a faithful reconstruction (1960's). Admission fee. State Marker | Another website from NPS (Golden Crescent)

Fort Darien
(1736 - 1748), Darien
The town of New Inverness was founded by Scot settlers in 1736. A large fortification with two bastions and two half-bastions, armed with four guns, originally named Fort at New Inverness, was built to protect the town from the Spanish. A marker is located at Broad and Walton Streets at the Darien River bridge.

A temporary Patriot fort was located here in 1776.

Sapelo Island Presidio
(Sapelo Island State Wildlife Management Area)
(1605 - 1684), Sapelo Island
A Spanish presidio that protected the Franciscan Mission de San José de Zapala. It was probably located along Blackbeard Creek. Destroyed by South Carolina forces. Abandoned for Amelia Island, FL.

Sapelo Island Batteries
(Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve)
(Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge)
(1898 - 1899), Sapelo Island
A temporary Spanish-American War battery was built on the south-end of the island. Another battery was built on the north-end of Blackbeard Island. Both batteries had sand-covered timber magazines. Damaged by a storm in 1899, but both were rebuilt. Ferry access to Sapelo Island from Meridian.

Colonial Spanish Missions of Guale

The following Franciscan Missions were established without presidios or other military protection, and are listed here purely for historical interest. Several missions were destroyed by Indians during the 1597 Guale Rebellion, and some were not rebuilt until 1605. The Spanish Guale Province encompased the coastal area from the Ogeechee River to the Altamaha River. (GUALE is pronounced "wally")

San Diego de Satuache (1610 - 1663), near Genesis Point / Fort McAllister. Abandoned and merged with the mission on St. Catherines Island.
San Phelipe de Alave (1) (1610 - 1670), near Seabrook / Carrs Neck. Moved to Cumberland Island.
Santa Clara de Tupiqui - Espogache (1595 - 1597, 1605 - 1670), near Julienton / Harris Neck. Abandoned and merged with the mission on Sapelo Island.
Talapo (1595 - 1597), probably near Valona.
Santo Domingo de Asao - Talaje (1) (1595 - 1597, 1605 - 1661), near Darien / Fort King George. Attacked and destroyed by northern Indians (Westos).

information courtesy of John Worth

NEED MORE INFO: Fort Anderson (1780) (location ?)
Towns:

Savannah Area - page 2 | South Coastal Georgia - page 3 | Southern Georgia - page 4
Central Georgia - page 5 | Greater Atlanta - page 6 | Northwestern Georgia - page 7
Northern Georgia - page 8