Fort Pulaski National Monument 2023

Fort Pulaski was the southernmost stop on the Underground Railroad.

Fort Pulaski is a Must-Visit For Civil War History Buffs

Fort Pulaski is a must visit for anyone with an interest in Civil War or African-American history. We visited recently. We hope you enjoy this guide to Fort Pulaski National Monument 2023. Visit our National Park post for information on Fort Pulaski National Monument tickets and other basics.

Fascinating History

Fort Pulaski National Monument, between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia is a must visit for every Civil War buff. A Union attack in April 1862 on Fort Pulaski turned the tide of the Civil War in Georgia.

The Fort was built in the 1830s at the mouth of the Savannah River. Designed to protect the City of Savannah from naval attack, it is a massive five-sided edifice with seven-a-half foot thick masonry walls. It was named to honor Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish immigrant who fought during the American Revolution.

Robert E. Lee and Fort Pulaski

Robert E. Lee, then a young lieutenant, oversaw the early construction of Fort Pulaski. He chose the site and designed the drains and dikes that supported the huge walls. By 1847, Fort Pulaski could mount 146 cannons. You can still see several dozen cannon and their mounts.

Later, Lee visited again in 1861 after Georgia joined the Confederacy. He decided that among the forts in the area only Fort Pulaski could turn the tide of the Union advance. Lee saw that the closest point of attack was a mile away over water and swamp. The very thick walls looked impenetrable. Famously, he told the commander of the Fort “Colonel, they will make it very warm for you with shells from that point, but they cannot breach at that distance.”

Lee was proven wrong. On April 10, 1862 the Union began a bombardment. As Lee expected, the mortars and smooth bore cannon barely scratched the Fort’s walls. But in less than thirty-six hours the Fort surrendered. A new weapon, the rifled cannons aimed at the southeast angle of Fort Pulaski turned the tide of the battle. Highly accurate at long range, the cannons breached the wall and threatened the magazine. You can still see the scars from the impacts and an unexploded shell embedded in the wall.

General David Hunter and Emancipation

General David Hunter became commander of Fort Pulaski after the attack. Within days, on April 13, he issued General Order Number 7. The Order stated that all slaves in the areas under his command, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina were now free. President Abraham Lincoln rescinded that Order saying only the President could do this. But Lincoln soon issued his own, the national Emancipation Proclamation. Some say that Hunter’s action at Fort Pulaski turned the tide for nationwide emancipation. Under Hunter many enslaved people would make their way to Fort Pulaski. There they became free. The Fort became one of the most southern points on the Underground Railroad.

Interestingly, Hunter and Lincoln remained friends. In fact, Hunter served as one of the pall-bearers at Lincoln’s funeral.

Visiting Today

Fort Pulaski is much as it was after the Civil War. There is a very informative movie in the Visitors’ Center. You can see examples of the weapons used and many original artifacts. The fig tree on the grounds is as old as the Fort. You can view the soldiers’ quarters. From the ramparts you can see where the attack was launched from over a mile away. Outside of the Fort you can see the scars of the battle.

The park is well-situated between Savannah and Tybee Island Georgia.

We have shared more information and ideas in our Guide to U.S. National Parks. You can learn more about park passes here.