In 1721, in what was considered the colony of South Carolina, a cypress blockhouse, barracks and palisaded earthen fort was constructed by scoutsmen led by British Colonel"Tuscarora Jack" Jack Barnwell. The fort was intended to advance frontier settlements that would expand Great Britain's southern borders from the Savannah River to the Altamaha River. The fort was many days away from the nearest British town, Beaufort, South Carolina. At the time the fort was constructed, Britain was involved in struggles with France and Spain in attempts to control the southernmost areas, especially the Savannah River-Altamaha region.
For seven years the officers and soldiers endured incredible hardships. Diseases such as malaria and dysentery took his toll on the under provisioned soldiers of His Majesty's Independent Company of South Carolina. Alcoholism, poor health, potential mutiny and periodic river flooding aggravated the hardships. In all, 140 men died while manning the fort. Although it seemed the fort was a failure, it did serve as a blueprint for General James Oglethorpe,founder of the colony of Georgia, who successfully set up a southern defense system on the site of the abandoned fort. In 1736, Oglethorpe brought the Scots of Darien, led by General McIntosh who rebuilt a fort on the site. The settlement was called Darien and until 1925, was a foremost export of lumber.
In the 1930's, historian, Bessie Lewis uncovered old maps pinpointing the exact location of Fort King George and by 1940, Lewis along her group, The Fort King George Association convinced the State of George to purchase the land and preserve it as a historic site and park. In 1970, a museum was built of the site. Over the next 35 years, the fort was slowly reconstructed under the direction of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Today, the structures include a blockhouse, a guardhouse, officers' quarters, barracks, a moat and earthen palisades. The constantly growing museum features a film which covers the first inhabitants of the area-the Guale Indians, a Spanish mission, Fort King George, the Scots of Darien and 19th century sawmilling when Darien became a major seaport. On the property are graves of 17 British soldiers who lost their life while manning Fort King George. The site is also on the Colonial Birding Trail.
To preserve and educate the public on the history of the Fort and the area surrounding it, living history demonstrations such as battle re-enactments, canoe excursions, a Scottish heritage day, dinners and wildlife excursions are held on a regular basis. For more information on hours, rates and events, visit gastateparks.
Patricia Daley - Patricia, also known as Lynne,has spent many years cooking and enjoying photography, but it's just been in the last few years that the two ...
