Ogeechee River – War Was Here

December 13th, 1864

Dec. 13th, Federal forces overwhelm the garrison at Fort McAllister after a spirited fight the fort is captured. Sherman watched the assault from a rice mill across the river. With the Ogeechee River open, supplies begin to flow in to the army. Sherman has a 1000′ long wharf built at King’s Bridge on the Ogeechee River. This area is now a park with a boat ramp where the Hwy. 17 crosses the Ogeechee River.

_dsc0144-bw — Fort. McAllister protected the Ogeechee River with these heavy guns. General Sherman needed supplies and in order for the Union Navy to reach Sherman, the Fort had to be captured.

_dsc0135-bw — Earthworks and artillery protecting the side of the fort vulnerable to attack by land.

_dsc0232-bw — The structures in the fort were primarily earthen mounds that housed a variety of things, like this hotshot furnace.

_dsc0237-bw — One of the earthen mounds was the powder magazine and storage area, others served as bunk rooms.

_dsc0218-bw — Looking west and across the Ogeechee River. General Sherman watched the assault from the tower of a rice mill just across the river.

_dsc0082-bw — Looking downstream, east, from the site of King’s Bridge toward Fort McAllister.

_dsc0073-bw — A modern bridge stands where the original bridge was on U.S. 17 at the Ogeechee River. It was here that Sherman had his engineers build a 1000′ foot long wharf in order to bring in supplies from the Union Navy. A community park and boat ramp are now at the site.

_dsc0087 — In 2014 I was fortunate enough to be able to photograph the reenactment of the assault on Fort McAllister. It took place at the original location on the actual anniversary. Here, a Confederate cannon fires on the approaching Federals.

_dsc0152 — More Confederate cannon fire.

_dsc0217 — Federal forces outnumbered the Confederates and were quick to overrun the fort.

cmb_0075 — A Confederate reenactor takes a break between skirmishes.

_dsc0296-2 — Federal reenactors helping the wounded during the battle.

_dsc0470 — Confederate reenactor keeps watch for approaching Federal troops.

_dsc0613 — Confederate soldier smokes his pipe between firefights.

December 12th, 1864

Dec. 12th, Kilpatrick is dispatched with his cavalry to locate an assault route to Fort McAllister. Fort McAllister protects the mouth of the Ogeechee River and must be taken in order for Sherman to begin supplying his army. After locating a route and informing Sherman, Kilpatrick rides to Midway and makes his headquarters at the Midway Church and then sends forces to Sunbury in an attempt to contact the Federal Fleet.

_dsc0054-bw — Midway Church, constructed in 1792 as a replacement for a previous meeting house that was burned in 1779. Kilpatrick’s Cavalry camped here at the church and Kilpatrick used it as a headquarters while he operated in the area.

_dsc0031-bw — Across the road on the far side of the church is a walled cemetery where many notable people from Georgia’s history are buried. After raiding and looting the surrounding plantations, the Federal Cavalry soldiers used the cemetery as a coral for the livestock they liberated from near by citizens.

December 6th and 7th, 1864

Dec. 6th and 7th, the Right Wing marched through Bulloch County and crossed the Ogeechee River at Jenks Bridge, where US 80 crosses the Ogeechee River, and at the canal bridge, the remnants of which are visible today at the Savannah Ogeechee Canal Society park.