The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-20
FORT MkLuSTER'S DEFENSE.
MAJ. STEW ARTS "REMINISCENCES
ABOUT THE SHELLS.

He Thinks They Are Of Great His
tOrIc Interest and should BE Pre-
served-Gen. BeaureEard's order
CompIimentinE the savannah
Troops on Their Able Defense Of
the Fort Against Fleet of Moni-
tors and Mortar BOats-Something
About the Forts Defense and
Capture.
The Interest in the Historic old shells.
which. for So long time, stood a. The
entrance 70 Forsyth park. has revived i'm
terest In Fort McAu.ster and .ts brave
and able defense by Savannah troops
when these and many other shells were
fired a. b. by federal sun ana mortar
boats.
Mai J. T. Stewart was with the troops
at the fort or Genesis Point. on the right
bank - the Great Ogeechee river.
when the third ATTACK was made
upon IL Feb. ]. 1865. by the M0ntauk
and FIVE gun and mortar boats. Mai
John b. Cattle was 100 command ~ the
fort al the time. and gls killed early ia
the action. by being struck on the head.
The command Of the fort then devolved
upon Capt. George W. Anderson. after
wards Mai Anderson. who bravely contin-
ued the nglt with the result that the en-
emys boats were driven away. This de-
tense OF the tort led TO the following or
der from Gen. Beauregard. a copy OF
which was secured 10y the Morning News
from Maj Stewart:
General Orders 40. .. Headquarters
Department South Carolina. Georgia and
Florida. Charleston. ) c.. Feb. Is. 1867
For honrs the most formidable vessel OF
her c.ass hurled missils Of tine heaviest
calibre ever used in modern warfare az
the weak parapet Of the battery. which
was almost demolished. but standing at
their guns ar became men nghtlng for
homes. for honor and for independence.
the garrison replied with such effect az
to cripple and beat back their adversary,
clad though iu impenetra BILE armor, ana
armed with IS and 11-inch guns, supported
by mortar boats, whose practice was or
uncommon precision.
The thanks Of the country are due 10
this intrepid garrison, who have thus
shown what brave men may Withstand
and accomplish despite apparent odds.
Fort McAllister Will be inscribed on the
flags OF all the troops engaged I'm the de-
Tense Of the battery. BY command Of
Gen Beauregard Thomas Jordan,
Chief Of staff
IT was al MS time lHuA the DIX lAAAttlA~
inch shells were fired at the fort from the
euemy's mortar boats. Capt. Anderson
continued TO command the fort until IL
was captured by Sherman's army.
Maj. Stewart talked Interestingly OF the
defense Of the fort IN the early part of
February the time the big shells were
fired al IT, He spoke especially OF the eN-
cellent service OF the S-inch guns under
Lieut. ". u. Dixon, now Capt. Dixon of
the Republican blues, and also Of the
morton battery under Capt. Robert Mar
Tin. The fleet Of monitors, he said, was
accompanied by a fleet OF sound steamers
filled with troops so that IN the event the
fort was taken IL could be occupied. Be
tween the bridge and the fort, however
there were stationed a number Of troops,
including the Chatham Artillery. which
We're held IN readiness 10 resist any at
tempt to approach on the part Of the
troops. which, after the defeat of the
monitors did not materlalze. The NOR
tar Smelling during the night after the at
tack, from the enemys mortar boats, he
said, was very severe, but resulted IN lit
tie damage to life or property
MAJ. Stewart strongly favors the idea
OF putting the old shells on the posts in
front of the Georgia Historical Society,
with suitable inscriptions. He thinks
they should be preserved on account of
the historical interest that attaches to
them.
Sort McAnister had one more success
full fight in March, 1863. in which four
dronclads, five gunboats and two mortar
schooners We're driven back, some Of them
being disabled. and 81 was taken in De-
cember. 1854 by Sherman's army, Gen.
Hazen being In command OF the division
which made the successful attack In
one account of the capture of the fort
the story is told of its discovery by Sher-
mans forces through a letter written
by one Of the soldiers In the fort to his
mother In North Georgia, which was
found by one of the soldiers of the union
army. and was afterward sent to Gen.
Sherman. In the letter was a brown slip
OF paper upon which was a rough draw
ang OF the fort, and this was turned over
10 Gen. Hazen, who made the attack.