Battle of Fort Pulaski

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The Defense The Third System was the name applied to a string of coastal forts from the Florida Keys to Maine intended to defend the shores of the United States against hostile invaders (Our Georgia History). The parameter was built as a defensive response to the English attack on D.C. and Baltimore and Maryland at the time of the War of 1812. During 1861, Major Olmstead gained command of Fort Pulaski. His goal was to build two lines of defense on the outer coastal area of Georgia. Under his control, he established a series of batteries and forts along the parameter of the island. During 1861 and the first six weeks of 1862, thousands of pounds of gunpowder and ammunition were brought to the fort (Schiller). In addition, Olmstead was able to boost his artillery complement to 48 guns, including 12-inch mortars, two English Blakely rifles, and 10-inch columbiads (Schiller). The development of the rifle gun helped improve the defense of the fort. When General Lee made his rounds to Fort Pulaski, he insisted that Olmstead continue to build his inner coastal defenses in preparation of an attack from the federal forces. Olmstead took his advice and built sandbags around the barbette guns, to protect the gunners from fragmentation. He orders his army to dig ditches around the fields, to help trap rolling shells. Two months preparing for the attack from the Federal army has finally come. Colonel Olmstead took thirty minutes to position his men, he made sure the guns were manned and he issued ammunition. Union establish offense for the Attack on Fort Pulaski Captain Quincy Gilmore was appointed as the Brigadier General during the tactical deployment of the siege. Captain Gilmore came up with a plan to deploy eleven batteries... ... middle of paper ... ... on the south and southwest corner of Fort Pulaski. Federal army faced a few setbacks, but nothing major. They continued to fire throughout the night until the morning. The continuous fire breached the walls of the fort, causing the Fort commander Colonel Olmstead to surrender. Works Cited http://markerhunter.wordpress.com/2010/06/13/fort-pulaski/ http://www.historynet.com/capturing-fort-pulaski-during-the-american-civil-war.htm#hide http://www.ourgeorgiahistory.com/wars/Civil_War/ftpulaski.html http://www.nytimes.com/1862/04/19/news/fail-fort-pulaski-full-particulars-bombardment-surrender-arrival-steam-transport.html http://books.google.com/books?id=7oYvAAAAYAAJ&ots=SAOWqfL2Xt&dq=Fort%20Pulaski%20Quincy%20Gillmore%20Report&pg=PA3#v=onepage&q&f=false http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=5037 http://www.nps.gov/fopu/historyculture/battle-for-fort-pulaski.htm

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