Fort McAllister: The Assault From The Rear

Dec. 1864. Fort McAllister, built 1861-62 to close the Great Ogeechee River to enemy ships, mounted 11 seige guns, 12 field pieces and 1 10-inch mortar. Below it, piles and torpedoes obstructed the channel. As the Union forces neared Savannah, the fort's capture became imperative in order that ships could pass up-river to supply them. Naval attempts having failed, Brig. Gen. Wm. B. Hazen's Division, 15th Corps [US], was ordered to cross the river, move to the fort, and take it from the rear. At dawn on the 13th, Hazen crossed at King's Bridge, marched via "Cross Roads" (Richmond Hill) and Bryan Neck road (Ga 63), arriving about noon. At 4:45, after a difficult deployment, he assaulted the fort; by 5:00, his three brigades had swarmed over the works and overpowered individually Major Geo. W. Anderson's small garrison of 230 Georgians who fought gallantly to the end. Gen. Sherman watched the assault from Dr. Cheves' rice mill, 2 1/2 miles NNW across the river, after which he opened communications with Adm. Dahlgren's fleet [US], waiting in Ossabaw Sound. Losses: [US] 24 killed, 110 wounded, total 134; [CS] 14 killed, 21 wounded, 195 captured, total 230.