In December 1864, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s army arrived outside Savannah at the end of its long march across Georgia to the sea. The soldiers were exhausted and low on supplies. Just beyond the coast, Union ships waited with desperately needed provisions, but access to them was blocked by Fort McAllister, a low earthen fort guarding the Ogeechee River.

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On the 161st anniversary of the fall of Fort McAllister, reenactors gathered to reenact the battle in which 250 Confederate troops, led by Maj. George W. Anderson fought to defend the Fort against 4,000 Union soldiers of Brig. Gen. William B. Hazen’s division.

When the attack came on the afternoon of Dec.13, it was swift and violent. Within about 15 minutes, Union troops breached the ramparts in brutal, close-quarters fighting. 

Confederate reenactors take their positions atop the earthen mounds of Fort McAllister, awaiting the enemy attack.

Federal forces reload their muskets before launching the main assault.
Confederate defenders fire at the approaching enemy.

Federal forces form a line and launch their assault on the fort’s southeastern flank. Fort McAllister’s sand-and-mud defenses proved nearly impenetrable to naval bombardment, requiring a land-based ground attack to seize the stronghold.

Union forces lost 134 men in the assault; the Confederates suffered 16 dead and 55 wounded. 

Confederate defenders discharge a volley of rifle and cannon fire from the fort’s parapets as Union troops approach.

“The full force of the enemy made a rapid and vigorous charge upon the works, and, succeeding in forcing their way through the abatis, rushed over the parapet of the fort, carrying it by storm, and, by virtue of superior numbers, overpowered the garrison, fighting gallantly to the last. In many instances the Confederates were disarmed by main force.”

Maj. George W. Anderson
Reenactors portraying Federal troops scale the steep ramparts to overwhelm Confederate defenders during the simulated battle. The actual engagement lasted only 15 minutes but resulted in the capture of the last major obstacle between the Union Army and the siege of Savannah.

The fall of Fort McAllister opened the Ogeechee River and reconnected Sherman’s army with the Union fleet waiting offshore. Savannah was soon surrounded and cut off. Days later, Sherman would offer the city to President Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas gift, bringing the Savannah Campaign to its end.

Reenactors portraying Federal troops scale the steep ramparts to overwhelm Confederate defenders during the simulated battle.

Type of Story: Photo story

Stories produced by visual journalists that combine predominately photos with reporting on a topic.

Justin Taylor is a visual journalist based in Savannah. He is a Catchlight Local/Report for America Corps member. His versatile style blends elements of fine art, photojournalism, and drone photography. A...