Reviewed by Carol Sullivan
Photography By: Wayne Howard
The Battle for Fort Pulaski in April 1862 marked a turning point in military history. It featured the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat. These accurate, long-range weapons shattered Fort Pulaski's walls from over a mile away. After thirty-hours of bombardment, the fort surrendered.
Locations Featured:
Fort Pulaski National Monument
Overall: Recommended
Fort Pulaski History
Following the War of 1812, President James Madison ordered a new system of coastal fortifications to protect the United States against foreign invasion. Construction of a fort to protect the port of Savannah began in 1827 under the direction of Major Gen. Babcock, and later Second Lieutenant Robert E. Lee. Located on Cockspur Island at the mouth of the Savannah River, in 1833 it was named Fort Pulaski in honor of Kazimierz Pulaski, a Polish soldier and military commander who fought in the American Revolution under the command of George Washington. Pulaski was a noted cavalryman and had been successful in training Revolutionary troops. The fortress' construction involved wooden pilings sunk up to 70 feet into the mud to support an estimated 25,000,000 bricks.
The Underground Railroad
Following the fall of Fort Pulaski, Union Major General David Hunter issued General Order No. 7 on April 13, 1862. This order freed slaves throughout Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina upon arrival on Cockspur Island at Fort Pulaski. In 1863, Fort Pulaski became a final destination on the Underground Railroad as slaves throughout the area were guided to the fortress by former slave, March Haynes.
"The Immortal Six Hundred"
The garrison of Union soldiers reached 600 during the initial occupation, but as the War dragged on it became obvious the Southern forces would not be able to retake the Fort. The garrison was later reduced to around 250. Late in the War the Fort would be made into a prison for a group of captured Confederate officers known as "The Immortal Six Hundred." Thirteen of these men would die at the Fort of enforced ill treatment.
Edwin M. Stanton, Federal Secretary of War, ordered that 600 prisoners of war be positioned on Morris Island in Charleston harbor within direct line of fire from Confederate guns at Fort Sumter. Stanton's order followed word that 600 Union officers imprisoned in the city of Charleston were exposed to direct line of fire from federal artillery.
The standoff continued until a yellow fever epidemic forced Confederate Major General S. Jones to remove the prisoners from the city limits. The federal command then transferred the surviving Confederate officers from the open stockade at Morris Island to Fort Pulaski.
October 23,1864, 550 tired, ill-clothed, men arrived at Cockspur Island. At first, the emaciated troops received extra rations, and were promised wool blankets and clothing. However, despite the best intentions of the garrison command, the prisoners never received sufficient food, blankets or clothes.
(NPS.gov)
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National Parks Service @ www.nps.gov/fopu
P.O. Box 30757, Savannah, GA. 31410
(912)786-5787
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 Photography By: Wayne Howard
Named for Kazimierz Pulaski, a Polish soldier who fought in the American Revolution under George Washington; Fort Pulaski is famous for its colorful military history, as well as its troubled ghosts. Frozen in time and trapped within its weathered walls, are these the tortured souls of Confederate soldiers trying to reach out, from beyond? And if so, what ghostly secrets do they hold?
Completed in 1847, the impressive hexagon shaped Civil War fortification, built for the Confederate Army, raises high above the coastal marshes of Cockspur Island. Built with nearly 25 million bricks, Fort Pulaski was then thought to be an invaluable defense position; surrounded by a nearly 50 foot wide moat. The southern commanders felt that the fort would play a critical role in the Civil War by protecting the mouth of the Savannah River from the encroaching Union Army.
But, after a short, violent battle in the spring of 1862, Fort Pulaski was nearly destroyed by Union Army cannon-fire from nearby Tybee Island. Knowing that the end was near and fearing for the lives of his troops, Colonel Charles Olmstead finally surrendered the Fort to the enemy.
For years afterward, Confederate soldiers, numbering in the hundreds, were held prisoner at the fort, and endured scurvy, starvation and crippling dysentery. It is rumored that many of the prisoners survived and were later transferred, but over a dozen would eventually die in the Fort Pulaski jail of ensuing dehydration and starvation.
 Photography By: Wayne Howard
Run by the National Parks Service, the Fort's Rangers offer many tours, Confederate rifle demonstrations as well as Civil War reenactments. That warm, sunny afternoon, our tour guide, Kevin, led our tour group through the Fort's various rooms, many of them filled with heavy iron cannons or restored soldier's quarters. Kevin told us the history and details of the Fort: the two acre parade grounds where soldiers trained, drilled, marched and even played baseball. It was an impressive, awe-inspiring tour.
At one point, during the tour, I wandered off and found myself alone in the old jail section. (See photo below) It was strangely cold in the barred rooms as I briefly sat down on a weathered bench. (You can see the actual bench through the bars in the photo).
Courtesy of: The U.S. National Park Service | Fort Pulaski
A minute had passed, in the quiet room, when I heard a dragging noise. It was a grinding sound, like heavy metal being purposefully moved, perhaps across the wood floor. Thinking it strange, as I saw no other people in the area and no obvious source of the sound, I again sat down on the small bench.
And waited.
The strange sound came again, only louder this time.
A cold chill danced up my spine as I investigated, thinking it was perhaps the wind sliding a door shut, or a member of the staff, or the tour group, scuffling about. But, I found nothing and no one that could have made those heavy, dragging sounds.
A little spooked, I then hurried out into the warm afternoon sun and realized just how cold it had been, back in the shadowy jail section.
So, I am left to wonder...had I heard the echoes of the past? In that quiet moment, had the sounds of the Fort's violent history reached out and touched me?
Seeking more information, I contacted the helpful team of Fort Pulaski Park Rangers, only to find that they had never received any reports of haunting or supernatural experiences by the staff or guests. Be that as it may, I had no trouble finding many reports of supernatural activity, on my own.
It is rumored that Fort Pulaski is repeatedly haunted by a famous ghost, one who even interacted with several actors during the filming of the movie "Glory," starring Morgan Freeman. There have also been reports of voices, and photos of spectral orbs taken in the damp tunnels just outside the fortress' walls.
 Photography By: Wayne Howard
The Fort Pulaski National Monument is open year-round, but check www.nps.gov/fopu for seasonal hours and activities. The friendly Visitor's Center has a variety of Fort Pulaski memorabilia for viewing, as well as a gift shop and a short presentation on the Fort's history.
I highly recommend the informative and entertaining tour. I also encourage staying longer and exploring the beautiful, surrounding grounds.
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