Capt. John McCrady, Designer of Fort McAllister Plaque

Did Captain John McCrady ever imagine his Fort McAllister would become such a legendary landmark? Here at Fort McAllister State Historic Park, we stand before a plaque dedicated to this brilliant military engineer. The plaque commemorates McCrady’s crucial role in designing this earthen fort, a key Confederate stronghold during the Civil War. Fort McAllister, unlike its brick-and-mortar counterparts guarding Savannah, stood firm against seven naval bombardments. Captain John McCrady’s ingenious design, using earthworks, proved remarkably resilient against even the most powerful Union artillery. General Robert E. Lee himself inspected Fort McAllister in 1861. He recommended further fortifications to bolster its defenses, which McCrady implemented. These improvements allowed the fort to withstand repeated attacks, its earthen walls absorbing the impact of cannon fire. Inside Fort McAllister, protected within the bombproof center, were a hospital, barracks, supply areas, officer’s quarters, gunpowder stores, and extra cannons. A large 10-inch mortar was strategically placed outside the fort’s walls to prevent its powerful recoil from damaging the earthen structure. Fort McAllister’s strategic location on the Ogeechee River, south of Savannah, played a crucial role in controlling access to the city. The Confederates further enhanced this defensive position with mud dams and jetties, making navigation treacherous for enemy ships. However, Fort McAllister’s strength against naval attacks proved to be its weakness. In December 1864, during Sherman’s March to the Sea, the fort fell to a land-based infantry assault led by General Hazen. Despite the valiant defense by Major George Wayne Anderson and his 230 Confederate troops, Fort McAllister was overwhelmed in a mere 15 minutes. The fall of Fort McAllister sealed the fate of Savannah, leading to its surrender and Sherman’s capture of the city. Today, Fort McAllister stands as a testament to Captain McCrady’s ingenuity and the dramatic events of the Civil War. The plaque serves as a reminder of the fort’s historical significance and the sacrifices made within these earthen walls.