OLD FORT JACKSON HISTORY
The story began over three decades before the start of initial construction in 1808. During
the Revolutionary War, American forces constructed an earthen battery to defend the Savannah
River and the city of Savannah against British invasion. The Americans abandoned this early
fortress in 1778 due to disease.
The United States were slowly being drawn into the conflict between England and France during
the first decade of the 1800's. Realizing that cities along the east coast were not adequately
protected, President Thomas Jefferson authorized the purchase of a piece land outside Savannah
known as Salter's Island for $1,800. Captain William McRae was assigned to oversee construction
of a new fort on the site. This fort was named in honor of James Jackson, a Colonel in the
American Army. Jackson later became the first Georgian to serve as a United States representative,
senator, and state governor.
In January 1861, Georgia Governor Joseph Brown ordered Confederate troops to seize Fort Jackson
from Federal authorities. From 1861-1864, Confederate soldiers garrisoned the fort. Local units
like the Irish Jasper Greens, Republican Blues, and 22nd Georgia Heavy Artillery manned the fort
throught 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 Tecumseh 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 the fort
to keep it from falling into Union hands. The fort's defenders set the barracks ablaze, rigged the
front gates to explode, and tossed all the ammunition and stores which they could not carry with
them into the moat and the Savannah River.
The following morning around 4:00am, Federal troops of 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 th last wartime occupants of the fort.
Changes in artillery technology caused Fort Jackson to diminish in military importance after the
Civil War. In 1923, Congress voted to sell the fort as surplus property. In 1969, the Georgia
Historical Commision opened Fort Jackson to the public, but budget problems forced the state to close
the site in 1975.
On Labor Day 1976, the non-pofit Coastal Heritage Society reopened Old Fort Jackson. The Society
continues to operate the fort under a lease agreement with the State of Georgia - receiving no federal
or state funds to do so. The Society is dedicated to interpretting the history of Old Fort Jackson and
all the people associated with it.
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SITE HOURS
Old Fort Jackson
1 Fort Jackson Rd.
Savannah, GA 31404
912.232.3945
Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
GENERAL ADMISSION
$6.00 - Adults
Free - Children under 6 with guardian
For more information on the location, scheduling group visits, and planning an event at this site,
please visit Plan Your Visit or Event Planning.
To find out when there is an event occurring at this site, please visit Upcoming Events or the Calendar.
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