Fort Pulaski National Monument

Fort Pulaski National Monument is a national park and historical site encompassing the grounds of Fort Pulaski, a former military installation located near Savannah, Georgia. Designed by Robert E. Lee and constructed on Cockspur Island in the 1830s and 1840s, Fort Pulaski was one of several key Southern military strongholds that eventually fell into Union hands and played an important role in the Confederacy's defeat in the American Civil War (1861–1865). Years later, the site was declared a national monument in recognition of its historical significance. In addition to the fort itself, Fort Pulaski National Monument is home to several scenic nature trails and offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, bird-watching, and fishing. Although increasingly threatened by erosion and other environmental concerns, Fort Pulaski National Monument remains one of the United States' many beloved national parks and a living remnant of American history.

Background

In the early nineteenth century, the young United States had little in the way of proper shoreline defenses. The defenses that did exist at the time were weak and fragmented. During the War of 1812 (1812–1815), this weakness made it possible for British forces to invade American soil with relative ease and allowed them to burn down the recently constructed national capital at Washington, DC. Although the United States was ultimately victorious, it was clear by the war's end that the nation needed better defenses. To that end, a new coastal defense plan known as the Third System was developed.

The Third System was a network of fortifications designed to provide protection for American shorelines. Originally, the Third System was to include almost two hundred separate forts that would line the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. In the end, however, only thirty were actually built. Some of the most notable Third System fortifications included Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina; Fort Gaines in Dauphin Island, Alabama; and Fort Point in San Francisco, California.

One of the places where plans for a Third System fortification were put in motion was Savannah, Georgia. A major Southern port located at the mouth of the Savannah River, the city of Savannah was in need of added protection from potential coastal invasion. In choosing a site for this new fortification, officials settled on Cockspur Island. Situated just east of Savannah, Cockspur Island was an ideal location because it was near enough to protect the city and far enough away from Tybee Island—the nearest land farther east—to be threatened by any military forces that might settle in there.

Construction of the new fortification began in 1827 under the direction of Lt. Robert E. Lee. Among other things, Lee was responsible for overseeing the design of the various canals and earthworks that were needed to drain excess water from the island so that a proper foundation for the fort itself could be built. In 1833, the fortification was named Fort Pulaski in honor of Casimir Pulaski, a Polish immigrant who served with distinction as an officer under General George Washington during the American Revolution (1775–1783).

Overview

When Fort Pulaski was finally completed in 1847, the end result was a two-tiered structure laid out in a mostly hexagonal shape. The walls of the fort were lined with 146 canons, positioned both atop an upper parapet and within casemates built into the walls. Fort Pulaski also featured a demilune that protected the main entrance, a moat, a pair of powder magazines, and a large parade ground. From that point forward, Savannah appeared to be safe from foreign invasion.

Fort Pulaski's biggest moments as an active military installation took place during the Civil War. In January 1861, as Georgia was preparing to join the Confederacy, five companies of state troops from Savannah and Macon took control of the fort to prevent it from falling into Union hands. Colonel Charles H. Olmstead took command in December 1861. Two months later, Union commander General Thomas W. Sherman began an effort to take Fort Pulaski. After sending troops to Tybee Island, he put Captain Quincy Gillmore in charge of making the necessary preparations for the anticipated siege. On April 10, Union forces demanded Olmstead's surrender. When he refused to comply, a steady bombardment of the fort ensued. The Confederates returned fire but did little damage to the Union forces. The next day, the ongoing Union bombardment succeeded in blowing two holes in the fort's southeast face, and Olmstead was left with no choice but to surrender. Because it cut off a critical supply artery, the loss of Fort Pulaski was a major blow to the Confederate cause and eventually helped ensure a Union victory in the Civil War.

After the war, plans were made to maintain Fort Pulaski as an active military outpost. The US Army Corps of Engineers even began work to modernize the fort, but never finished. After that, Fort Pulaski was largely abandoned until it was officially declared a national monument in 1924. Since that time, Fort Pulaski National Monument has become a popular tourist destination. For those interested in learning about the fort's history, the National Park Service offers a number of daily guided tours and a weekly ranger program. The fort's grounds offer visitors a chance to take part in various outdoor activities such as fishing and bird-watching. Among the most popular attractions at Fort Pulaski National Monument beyond the fort itself are various nature trails. In particular, the North Pier trail, which winds through wooded areas and the site of Fort Pulaski's original construction village, and the Lighthouse Overlook Trail, which takes visitors through Cockspur Island's open marsh, are frequented by the approximately four hundred thousand people who visit the fort every year.

In the 2010s, Fort Pulaski National Monument was increasingly threatened by environmental issues. Most notably, rising seawater caused severe erosion on Cockspur Island's north shore and led to many ecological changes. Further, the fort was hit by a trio of major storms between 2016 and 2017—including Hurricanes Matthew and Irma—that caused extensive damage and forced Fort Pulaski National Monument to temporarily close for several extended periods. Though the monument was struck by numerous other storms during the late 2010s and early 2020s, it suffered no significant damage.

Bibliography

Coleman, Dash. "Savannah's Fort Pulaski Undergoing Repairs after Irma Damage." Savannah Morning News, 15 Sept. 2017, savannahnow.com/hurricane-guide/news/2017-09-15/savannah-s-fort-pulaski-undergoing-repairs-after-irma-damage. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

"Fort Pulaski." Savannah.com, www.savannah.com/fort-pulaski. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

"Fort Pulaski National Monument." National Park Planner, npplan.com/parks-by-state/georgia/fort-pulaski-national-monument-park-at-a-glance/fort-pulaski-national-monument-history-of-fort-pulaski. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

"Fort Pulaski National Monument Will Reopen October 1 2024 Following Hurricane Helene." National Park Service, www.nps.gov/fopu/learn/news/hurricanehelene30sep24.htm#. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

McGee, David H. "Fort Pulaski." New Georgia Encyclopedia, www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/fort-pulaski. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.