The flag flying at Fort Pulaski. June 23, 2008.
In the early 1800s the United States constructed a third system of forts to protect the East and Gulf coasts from invasion. Most of those forts still exist.
The fort constructed to protect Savannah, Georgia, was named Fort Pulaski in honor of the Polish Count Casimir Pulaski, who lost his life fighting against the British at Savannah during the Revolutionary War.
Fort Pulaski was designed to be one of the most modern fortifications ever built. Many considered the fort’s 7½-foot solid brick walls backed with massive masonry piers unbreachable. Construction of the fort started in 1829 and required $1 million dollars (that was real money back then!), 25 million bricks, and 18 years of work to finish.
Unfortunately for the designers of the fort technology did not stand still after the fort was complete. The rifled cannon was perfected which had both greater accuracy and greater range. Union rifled cannon a mile from the fort breached the walls and forced the Confederates to surrender after only 30 hours of bombardment.
Fort Pulaski was built on Cockspur Island which was extremely marshy. Before the fort could be built, a dike and drainage system had to be designed and constructed. The drainage system was designed by a young lieutenant of engineers — Robert E. Lee. That explains why I was so interested in seeing the fort.
To see more of our visit to Fort Pulaski click HERE.
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August 26, 2008 at 4:38 am |
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