One more place to enjoy near Savannah in Georgia
Casimir Pulaski, a heroic figure from the Revolutionary War, lends his name to this 19th-century fort. Its primary purpose was to safeguard Savannah against attacks from the coast. Interestingly, this location marked the initial assignment of Gen. Robert E. Lee following his graduation from West Point. Throughout the Civil War, Confederate troops held control over the fort until it was handed over to Union forces in 1862.
During the Civil War, Fort Pulaski served as a safe place for enslaved individuals seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad. In April 1862, Union Maj. Gen. David Hunter issued an order declaring that all people of color previously held in involuntary service on Cockspur Island and Fort Pulaski were now free. This led to many enslaved people finding refuge at Fort Pulaski and starting new lives on the Georgia coast. Additionally, some joined together to establish one of the earliest divisions of colored troops during the Civil War. Thanks to Hunter’s order, hundreds of enslaved individuals gained their freedom.