Fort McAllister was one of several Confederate forts defending Savannah and keeping the port open for blockade runners. Erected about fifteen miles south of the city, the fort’s earthworks and heavy guns, aided by mines planted in the waters offshore, kept enemy ships out of the Great Ogeechee River. The fort withstood several U.S. naval attacks, particularly a determined and continual naval bombardment in early 1864 that pitted ironclad monitors against earthworks. In December 1864 the fort effectively stood in the way of Sherman’s army, at the end of its march to the sea, and prevented him linking up with the Federal fleet. He thus ordered it stormed by land on December 13. Three Federal brigades overwhelmed the garrison of roughly 230 men in 15 minutes. Confederate casualties amounted to about 70 and U.S. losses were about twice that, many being lost to Confederate landmines planted along the approaches to the fort. The Confederate commander was hosted by Sherman at a dinner that evening, but in disapproval of his use of mines, he was ordered to help his own captured men clear them from the area.

The view is taken from the landward side, looking over the Confederate earthworks and showing the river beyond.  The complex of earthworks and gun embrasures spreads across the central portion of the image, with the fort’s flagpole at center. A pile of bricks is in the left foreground and in the distance, on top of one of the fort’s earthworks or bombproofs is a heavy limber used to move guns. Federal soldiers are scattered among the works and have noticed the cameraman. Almost all wear the broad slouch hats that characterized Sherman’s troops. Many stand on top of earthworks and bombproofs and others simply poke their heads up on the other side of the fortifications. At right center, a work crew next to a mounted figure takes a break for the camera. In front of them is a line of small wheelbarrows, each carrying a large caliber cannon ball.

In preparation for his march north through the Carolinas, Sherman ordered the fort stripped of ordnance and ammunition. The men photographed are certainly some of the troops assigned the task. The work was performed between December 24 and December 29, giving a pretty tight window for the photograph. A companion view showing soldiers posed in a line trundling their wheelbarrows carrying cannon shot has been published and is credited to photographer Samuel Cooley. So far as we know, this view is unpublished.

Overall, the frame measures roughly 13 ¾  by 17 ¾ inches and the image 8 ½ by 12 ½ inches. The photo is captioned in the bottom margin of the mount in period ink, “Confederate Fort McAllister / Taken December 13^th 1864.” The same inscription in period ink also appears on the reverse of the mount. The mount shows foxing and stains. The tone of the photo is sepia and it has scattered white spots at left center, mostly in the low foreground, and others along the right edge, but it shows some interesting details of the Confederate fort that for a long time held off a substantial number of Union ironclads and other ships tasked with its destruction.  [sr]

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