FORT PULASKI, erected by the United States on Cockspur Island, for the defense of Savannah, Ga., and commanding both channels of the Savannah River. It was a brick work, with walls seven and a half feet thick and 25 feet high above water. It was seized by Georgia State troops 3 Jan. 1861 and in January 1862 mounted 48 heavy guns and was gar risoned by nearly 400' men. Gen. Q. A. Gill more was put in charge of operations to reduce it, and in February 1862 two regiments of in fantry, two companies of engineers and two of artillery were landed on Tybee Island, mostly a mud-marsh, lying southeast of the fort, and soon constructed 11 batteries of 36 heavy guns, at distances from the fort varying from 1,650 to 3,400 yards. Causeways had to be constructed across marshes, over which mor tars of 17,000 pounds were moved; the work was done entirely at night April all difficulties were overcome; and on 9 April the batteries were ready to open fire, the three breaching bat teries being established at a mean distance of 1,700 yards from the fort. At sunrise of the
10th the fort was summoned to surrender; its commandeir, Col. C. H. Olmstead, replied that he was there "to defend the fort, and not to surrender it?) Fire was opened at 8 a.tvi., and an hour later all the batteries were in full play, the Confederates replying vigorously, the fire continuine on both sides until dark. Firing was resumed at sunrise on the 11th, and the Confederates replied steadily; but by noon sev eral of the guns were dismounted; the walls of the fort began to crumble under the weight of metal; and at 2 P.M. the white flag was raised, firing ceased, and 385 officers and men were surrendered, several of whom were severely, one mortally, wounded. The Union loss was one man killed. The result of the fall of Fort Pulaski was the closing of the Savan nah River to blockade runners.