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For Battle Buffs -
Georgia’s Historic Sites Bring The Saga of War Home 

History and battle buffs can experience both colonial and Civil War battles at some of Georgia’s historic parks which feature encampments, reenactments, museums, artifacts, artillery displays and historical events. Begin a tour at one of the best preserved Civil War battlefields in the nation, Pickett’s Mill Battlefield Historic Site in Dallas. 

On May 27, 1864, the Union Army attempted to outflank the Confederate position at this site. After a five-hour march, some 14,000 Union troops reached the vicinity of Pickett’s Mill and prepared to attack. Waiting were 10,000 Confederate troops under the command of General Cleburne. The Federal assault began at 5 p.m. and continued until 7 p.m. along with a 10 p.m. Confederate assault. Daybreak found the Confederates still in possession of the field. The Federals had lost 1,600 men compared to the Confederate loss of only 500. The Confederate victory resulted in a one-week delay of the Union advance on Atlanta. 

Today, earthworks constructed by the armies still stand as a reminder of the battle that ensued on the land.  The same trails that wind through the site were also used by these very men as the Confederates held their ground.  Visit Pickett’s Mill for the battle’s anniversary reenactment every year, view a Civil War artillery display in the fall, or see the battlefield at night on a candlelight tour each October or November. Visitors can walk through the same ravine where hundreds of men lost their lives and experience a piece of Georgia’s Civil War past.   

Leave Pickett’s Mill and head east to Crawfordville to find A.H. Stephens Historic Park. Named after the vice president of the Confederacy and governor of Georgia, this site is the birthplace and former home of A.H. Stephens. During the Civil War, Stephens was known as “The Strongest Man in the South” for his intelligence, judgment and eloquence. He met with Abraham Lincoln in an attempt to reach a peaceful ending to the Civil War, but after the meeting, Stephens was arrested at his home, Liberty Hall. 

Today, Liberty Hall, which is renovated and fully furnished in its 1875 style, stands on the site and is open for tours. The park also features a Confederate museum with one of the finest collections of Civil War artifacts in Georgia, including uniforms and documents. A Civil War medicine show will take place in May, displaying medical equipment and tactics of the era. The 1,177-acre park also features three miles of walking trails, fishing lakes, a campground, rental cottages, picnic shelters and 12 miles of horse trails.   

Travel down to the Atlantic coast to find three of Georgia’s most important war sites. Richmond Hill, Ga., is the site of Fort McAllister Historic Park. Built in 1861 at Genesis Point, the fort was constructed on the plantation of Lt. Col. Joseph Longworth McAllister, for whom it was named. Fort McAllister provided protection from the U.S. Navy for the southern flank of Savannah. It is the home of the best preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. The sand and mud earthworks were attacked seven times by Union ironclads, but did not fall until captured in 1864 by Gen. Sherman.  His infamous March to the Sea ended at the fort, enabling him to present Savannah as a “Christmas present” to President Lincoln.  Fort McAllister’s museum features an interior designed to resemble a bombproof shelter and contains Civil War exhibits and artifacts and a video on Fort McAllister’s history. 

Three cottages sit on stilts at the marsh edge, surrounded by palm trees and palmettos. The campground is bordered by tidal Redbird Creek, a boat ramp and nature trail.  See the Confederate naval history come alive at this coastal historic park. 

Continue down the coast just a few miles to Midway and experience battle in colonial Georgia at Fort Morris Historic Site. This fort was built on a low bluff on the Medway River and was garrisoned by 200 patriots. When the British demanded the fort’s surrender in 1778, the defiant Col. John McIntosh replied, “Come and take it!” The British refused and withdrew back to Florida. Days later, they returned with a superior force, and on January 9, 1779, Fort Morris fell after a short but heavy bombardment. Under the name of Fort Defiance, this bulwark was once again used against the British during the War of 1812. 

Today, visitors can stand within the earthwork remains and view scenic Saint Catherines Sound. A museum and film describe this colonial port and the site’s history. This battle site puts on a military encampment each fall, displaying an American battle for independence against the British. An artillery demonstration takes place every Fourth of July which exhibits Revolutionary War weaponry used against the Royal forces.   

For more colonial war history, travel to Darien, Ga. and take in the scenery at Fort King George Historic Site. On this spot, a cypress blockhouse, barracks and an earthen fort were constructed in 1721 by British colonists. From 1721 until 1736, Fort King George was the southern outpost of the British Empire in North America. For the next seven years, His Majesty’s Independent Company occupied the fort. They endured incredible hardships from disease, threats of Spanish and Indian attacks, and the harsh coastal environment.  

Using old records and drawings, this 18th century frontier fortification on the Altamaha River has been reconstructed for public tours. Today, structures include a blockhouse, officers’ quarters, barracks, a guardhouse, moat and palisades. Visit the fort’s museum and see a film on the history of the site. Experience pre-Revolution combat at Fort King George’s spring and fall encampments and learn about battle in colonial Georgia here and at neighboring Fort Morris. 

Next, head to the Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site in Fitzgerald.  This is the site where Jefferson Davis was arrested more than a century ago. Davis and a few remaining staff members crossed the Savannah River into Georgia in 1865, heading for the western theater of war where they planned to unite rebel forces and continue fighting for the “lost cause.” They camped in this pine forest, not knowing that pursuit was so close behind. 

At dawn, they were surrounded by two Union cavalry units who were unaware of each other’s presence. Gunfire ensued until the Federal forces realized they had been shooting at one another. Two Union cavalrymen died during the skirmish. Davis was taken prisoner and held in Virginia for two years until released. A monument marks the spot where he was arrested. 

Visitors can tour the 13-acre historic site that includes a museum, short trail, a gift shop, picnic tables and a group shelter. 

Learn about Georgia’s past as part of the colonial empire or relive the lives of Confederate soldiers at Georgia’s battlefields and forts.  So pack up the car, get your battle gear together, and take a trip back in time to Georgia’s historic sites. 

(All photos, courtesy of Georgia State Parks.) 

Georgia’s Historic Sites

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