OLD FORT JACKSON

Old Fort Jackson, which began its initial construction in 1808, was garrisoned by Confederate soldiers by order of Georgia Governor Joseph Brown, from 1861 - 1864. Local units like the Irish Jasper Greens, Republican Blues, and the 22nd Georgia Heavy Artillery manned the Fort throughout Confederate occupation. During this period, Fort Jackson served as the headquarters for defenses along the Savannah River. A network of smaller forts, batteries, and ironclads assisted Fort Jackson in defending Savannah from a Union attack from the East.

Union General William T. Sherman led an army of 65,000 troops from the West on his famous "March to the Sea". On December 20, 1864, the Confederate garrison was forced to abandon Fort Jackson. The next day Federal troops from the 29th Ohio and 28th Pennsylvania entered Fort Jackson and raised the Stars and Stripes over the parade ground. African American troops from the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry were the last wartime occupants of the Fort.

central railroad & banking company

Georgia State Railroad Museum began its life in 1836 as the Central Railroad & Banking Company.

During each of the years leading up to the Civil War, the Central was profitable, controlling 229 miles of track in Georgia, and had the second largest holding of rolling stock in the South. This changed drastically when the Confederate Government ordered railroads to release rolling stock to those railroads carrying the most military traffic. The Central's Savannah shops were also put to work producing gun carriages and other military equipment. Between 1861 and 1863 the Central was able to continue to make a profit but passenger service became more important than freight. Much of this was due to the difficulty exporting cotton through Savannah, and the need for more civilian and military passenger service.

In 1864 during "Sherman's March to the Sea", Union troops destroyed track, bridges, and other railroad facilities. Although the Savannah Shops complex was spared during the war, the Central lost 140 miles of track, 14 locomotives, and 97 railcars. At the close of the War, the Central had lost much of its greatness, but by 1867 was again making a profit with most of the revenue coming again from the freight business. The post-War expansion saw the replacement of all destroyed rail connections and the addition of 1,500 miles of new track.