Fort Pulaski is a National Monument and a significant part of American history. It was built in the 1800s to defend Savannah from attack, and it played a key role in the Civil War. Visitors can learn about the fort's history through guided tours, exhibits, and ranger programs.

The Fort is a beautiful example of 19th-century architecture. The fort's walls are made of brick and are over 10 feet thick. Visitors can explore the fort's interior and learn about its construction and design.

Fort Pulaski is located on Cockspur Island, which is a beautiful natural area. Visitors can enjoy the island's beaches, marshes, and forests. There are also hiking trails and a campground on the island.

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January 6, 2023

The story of Fort Pulaski is told relatively quickly, but it is impressive nonetheless, or perhaps because of it. The fort was built after the English-American War of 1812-15 to secure the city of Savannah from Cockspur Island off the coast. After its completion in 1847, it was not really used, but after the outbreak of the Civil War, Confederate troops quickly occupied it with a force of about 385 men and fortified it additionally. However, they "forgot" to secure Tybee Island, which was even farther out and which the Union troops gratefully used as a beachhead. From here, the siege of the fort took place in April 1862, although the term "siege" is not really an accurate description of this short military operation. The Union's used a new type of rifled guns, which had much greater range, accuracy, and penetrating power than the old smoothbore guns. Moreover, the commander of the siege, Quincy Gilmore, knew of the fort's weak points from his time as a civil engineer in the army. Thus, on April 11 and 12, 1862, more than 5,000 rounds were fired at the fort from a range of 1.5 to 3.5 kilometers, causing considerable damage to the brick walls. The Confederate commander rightly feared an explosion of his gunpowder stores and, after 30 hours of shelling, ordered the white flag to be waved. Brick fortifications had thus finally had their day, and Quincy Gilmore was promoted to brigadier general.

In the further course of the Civil War, Fort Pulaski still served as a prison for the so-called "600 Immortals". There were a little less than 600 Confederate officers who had to hold out here the winter of 1864/65 as prisoners of war. Due to malnutrition and poor prison conditions, 13 of them died. After the Civil War, the fort was militarily abandoned and eventually became a National Monument for memorial purposes in the 1920s.

Today's visitors are treated to an up-close look at the fort's history. Similar to Fort Sumter near Charleston, numerous details are provided. One gets a glimpse of the officers' and enlisted men's quarters, the infirmary, the chapel, the guardroom, the ammunition dumps, the prison and, of course, the casemates and gun emplacements. The park rangers are extremely friendly, helpful and forthcoming. A walk around the outer walls is particularly impressive, because here you can see "first hand" the damage done by the Union cannons.

Information at nps.gov/fopu/index.htm

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Location: Chatham County, Georgia, United States

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Fort Pulaski

1. Fort Pulaski & Cockspur Lighthouse Loop — Savannah, Georgia

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