Fort Pulaski

Following the War of 1812, the U.S. government under President James Madison decided to strengthen coastal defenses. Construction of Fort Pulaski began in 1829 at the mouth of the Savannah River. Under the direction of Major-General Babcock and later Second Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, the fortress was built on marshy ground, requiring 23-meter-long oak piles and 25 million bricks. After 18 years of construction and a cost of one million dollars, the fort was completed in 1847. It had a pentagonal layout, was surrounded by a 16-meter-wide moat, and featured ten-meter-high walls. Although considered impregnable, it was occupied by the Georgia National Guard after the outbreak of the Civil War in 1860 and later taken over by Confederate troops. In April 1862, Union forces besieged the fort, shelling it for 30 hours with rifled cannons, which breached the walls. This led to the fort's surrender and demonstrated the vulnerability of brick walls to modern artillery. After its capture, the Union used the fort to blockade the port of Savannah and as a refuge for escaped slaves. Later, it served as a prisoner-of-war camp. After the Civil War, the facility was rebuilt and reinforced between 1869 and 1872. In 1924, Fort Pulaski was declared a National Monument and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Fort Pulaski is situated on Cockspur Island in Chatham County, near Savannah, in the state of Georgia, USA. It lies at an elevation of approximately 10 meters above sea level at the mouth of the Savannah River.

Today, visitors can explore Fort Pulaski as part of the Fort Pulaski National Monument and discover the historic site.

• Fort James Jackson (fortress), approx. 15.1 km away
• Fort King George (fortress), approx. 88.8 km away
• Fort Frederica (fortress), approx. 101.0 km away
• Fort Sumter (Charleston) (fortress), approx. 124.9 km away