Fort King George facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort King George State Historic Site
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Front of the fort (reconstructed)
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | McIntosh County, Georgia |
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| Nearest city | Darien, Georgia |
| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1721 |
| Architect | Colonel John "Tuscarora Jack" Barnwell |
| Architectural style | Earthen palisade |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001101 |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1971 |
Fort King George State Historic Site is an old fort located in McIntosh County, Georgia, near the town of Darien. It was built in 1721 along the Darien River. This fort was the southernmost British outpost in the Americas until 1727.
The fort was first built in what was then part of South Carolina. This area later became the state of Georgia. It was part of a defense plan to encourage people to settle along the colony's southern edge. This area stretched from the Savannah River to the Altamaha River. Great Britain, France, and Spain were all fighting to control the American Southeast.
Life at Fort King George was very hard for the soldiers. Many of the 140 officers and soldiers died, mostly from diseases like dysentery and malaria. These illnesses were caused by poor sanitation. No soldiers died from battle. The soldiers were part of "The Independent Company of South Carolina". They were older British soldiers sent from Great Britain. Their suffering was made worse by their own poor health and a lack of supplies. Problems like river flooding, hunger, soldiers running away, and threats from enemies made life even tougher.
The fort later served as a model for General James Oglethorpe. He used its ideas when he set up Georgia's southern defense system. In 1736, Oglethorpe brought Scottish settlers to the abandoned Fort King George site. They named their village New Inverness, which later became Darien. That same year, Oglethorpe built Fort Frederica on Saint Simons Island. Oglethorpe learned a lot from the plans for Fort King George.
Today, the state of Georgia runs the fort. It has been rebuilt and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can visit it for historical tours. The site includes a blockhouse, officers' quarters, barracks, a guardhouse, a baking and brewing house, a blacksmith shop, a moat, and palisades (tall fences). The museum at the park teaches about the area's history in the 1700s. This includes the Guale people, the 17th-century Spanish mission Santo Domingo de Talaje, the fort itself, and the Scottish settlers. There's also an exhibit about 19th-century sawmilling at the site, with remains of old sawmills. You can also see Tabby cement ruins, which is a local building material. Staff at the site offer living history programs all year long.
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Why Was Fort King George Built?
For almost 200 years before Georgia was founded in 1733, European countries fought to control this land. It was a very important area in North America. Its many rivers, like the Altamaha, Ogeechee, and Savannah rivers, were great for moving goods. Europeans also believed they could control the Native American people living there. The coastline had many barrier islands, mud shoals, and rivers. This made it a strong natural defense for whoever controlled it.
This land became known as "debatable land" because Spain, France, and Great Britain all wanted it. Spain founded St. Augustine, Florida in 1565 to protect its ships. These ships carried treasure from South America. France expanded its territory to the south for new fur trade markets. To stop France and challenge Spain, the British wanted to expand and defend their southern borders. This was especially true near the Savannah River. This competition between European powers greatly affected the Native American peoples. Their traditional ways of life and independence were often lost.
The British built Fort King George in the 1720s because of this struggle. It was located about 3 miles (5 km) inland from Sapelo Island. Trade was also a big reason for building the fort. An old map from 1721, drawn by John Barnwell, was found in 2011. It shows two roads from the fort. One went north, and the other followed the river to a Muscogee (Creek) path. The Creek tribe were important trading partners. Spain wanted to protect its precious metals. France and England competed for the valuable fur trade with Native Americans. Other resources like timber, naval stores (materials for ships), and cash crops were also important to the British.
The British built Fort King George to help settle the Altamaha River region. They needed to control the river systems to control trade in the Southeast. The Altamaha River is one of the largest rivers in the region. It allowed travel deep into the territory. This was important for reaching powerful tribes like the Creek/Muskogee to the west. Fort King George was part of a British plan to control the Altamaha. This would help them gain economic power in the Southeast.
Who Was Fighting for Control?
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Spain arrived first in the Southeast. They started with explorers, then settled St. Augustine in 1565. They built missions to convert Native American tribes. They also used them for farming. St. Augustine helped Spain protect its treasure ships. The missions spread the Catholic faith and provided workers for the Spanish Empire.
By the mid-1600s, many Spanish missions controlled the southeastern coast. Thousands of Native Americans lived in or near them. This system included missions and military posts called presidios. The Guale province covered the Georgia coast north of the Altamaha River. The English later built Fort King George on the site of the Santo Domingo de Talaje mission.
The English settlement of Charlestown in 1670 threatened the Guale missions. Throughout the late 1600s, Carolinian forces and their Native American allies destroyed Spanish missions. This drove the Spanish completely from the modern Georgia coast. This made the British even more interested in settling the Savannah-Altamaha River region.
Further west, the French moved down the Mississippi and into the Gulf region. They founded Biloxi in 1699 and Mobile in 1702. From these bases, French fur traders planned to work with tribes like the Creek. In 1718, they built Fort Toulouse in the heart of Creek country. The British saw this as a threat to their trade networks.
In 1702, Spain and France allied against Great Britain during the War of the Spanish Succession. South Carolinians felt surrounded by enemies. They needed strong alliances with Native Americans. The Yamasee War (1715–1717) broke out because Carolina traders cheated Native Americans. The Yamasee attacked South Carolina, almost destroying the colony. This war left South Carolina vulnerable and worried about its defense.
French attacks on Spanish settlements like Pensacola in 1718 also worried Charlestown officials. They feared the French wanted to conquer the Southeast. This led to the colonists rebelling against the ineffective rule of the Proprietors in England. They wanted better protection from enemies. In 1719, they replaced their governor and asked the British Parliament to make South Carolina a Royal colony. This meant it would be directly controlled by the King. The British government agreed in 1720, hoping to improve defense and protect the colony's valuable economy.
Colonel John "Tuscarora Jack" Barnwell, a skilled leader, proposed a defense plan. He suggested building a series of forts along South Carolina's borders. These forts would protect against French and Spanish expansion. He also wanted to create towns around these forts to encourage settlement and trade with Native Americans. Barnwell convinced the British Board of Trade to approve building a fort along the Altamaha River. He stressed the threat of a French attack.
Building the Fort and Its End
The British economy was struggling at the time. This meant Fort King George was poorly funded. Barnwell asked for "young, strong" soldiers. But the British sent older, sick soldiers from the 41st Regiment. This group, called His Majesty's Independent Company of Foot of South Carolina, included older men. Most of these soldiers and officers, including Barnwell, died at the fort by 1727.
The soldiers were supposed to build a new settlement around the fort. This was the first British attempt to settle the Altamaha River region. Fort King George was very important because it showed the long struggle to control the Southeast. Building the fort gave the British control of the river. It also started a fight with the Spanish, leading to war. This conflict ended with the British winning the Battle of Bloody Marsh in 1742. Even though the fort was a short-term failure, it helped lead to Georgia's establishment.
From 1721 to 1727, Fort King George faced many problems. The soldiers got scurvy on their way to South Carolina. They had to recover in a hospital.
With no troops, Colonel Barnwell hired Coastal Scouts and civilians to build the fort. These scouts were experienced seamen. They patrolled waterways and supplied forts. Barnwell complained about how hard it was to work with them on land.
Despite problems, the fort's blockhouse was finished by fall 1721. The men had to cut cypress trees 3 miles (5 km) upriver for the building. Barnwell had to offer extra pay and rum to get them to work. Barnwell also mapped the river and a route to St. Simons Island. He wanted to move the fort there, but it was too expensive.
By early 1722, the Independent Company was at Fort King George. Within a year, almost half of them died from diseases like dysentery and malaria. The officers wrote that the men were not motivated. They struggled to get them to farm or build fences. Some soldiers ran away to St. Augustine. Others stayed, even though death was likely. The guardhouse became a hospital for the sick.
In 1722, there was a report that 170 Yamasee Indians were planning to attack the fort. It was thought the Spanish were encouraging this to test the fort's defenses. Records don't say if the attack happened, but the fort must have survived if it did.
Later that year, some Swiss soldiers arrived. They had run away from a French settlement on the Mississippi River. They came to Fort King George seeking safety. These men were forced to dig canals and were often mistreated. This showed that the French knew about the British fort. Carolina officials let most of the Swiss soldiers go. But they asked up to six skilled Swiss to stay and help with construction. One of them drew a detailed map of the fort. It showed a triangular fort with one strong point facing land attacks. The other sides were protected by wetlands. The fort was designed to have barracks, a guardhouse, officers' quarters, and a dock.
The Spanish protested the British building Fort King George. In 1724, Spanish officials came to complain. They were not allowed inside the fort to inspect it. Instead, they went to Charlestown. Governor Francis Nicholson listened but did not agree. He said the British had the right to settle the Altamaha River region. This led to a long diplomatic fight.
More drawings show the fort was being improved. A 1726 drawing shows the fort had a strong wall with firing steps and a moat. It had nine cannons facing the river. These cannons were positioned to make it hard for enemy ships to fire at the fort. The fort was a typical "palisado" fort, meant to be temporary. These forts were easy to build and repair using local materials like earth and wood.
In 1724, Colonel Barnwell died from poor health, likely due to his time at the fort. His dream of a line of defensive settlements was started, but its success seemed uncertain. However, his ideas later influenced General James Oglethorpe.
In late 1725 or early 1726, the fort mysteriously burned down. The reporting officer, Captain Edward Massey, thought the soldiers might have been responsible. He believed they hoped the fort's destruction would free them from their suffering. But their wish didn't come true. The fort was ordered to be rebuilt with weaker wood. Life did not get better.
Finally, in 1727, the British Parliament ordered Fort King George to be abandoned. The Independent Company moved to Port Royal, South Carolina. In total, 140 soldiers and officers died at the fort, mostly from diseases. The officer, Lt. Emmenes, said the fort's location was bad and useless. Massey complained about poor supplies and feared the men might rebel. The fort also flooded often, making conditions worse. Yamasee Indian raids continued, showing the fort failed to secure the southern border.
Six years after it was built, the fort was abandoned. South Carolina colonists were disappointed and worried. Until Georgia was settled, people wanted to build another settlement on the Altamaha. By 1730, defending the southern border was a big problem. Governor Robert Johnson ordered new towns built along the Altamaha. But these plans never happened. The failure of Fort King George increased worries about South Carolina's safety.
How Fort King George Helped Georgia
Even though Fort King George seemed to fail, it taught the British important lessons. First, the hardships at the fort showed that the Altamaha needed strong, young settlers. It was a tough and dangerous place. Settlers needed to be self-reliant and hardworking. They also needed reasons to build a strong settlement. Second, the arguments with Spain over Fort King George shifted attention. The British focused more on defending the southern coast, especially the barrier islands.
This is why General Oglethorpe later used Barnwell's idea for a fort on St. Simons Island. This became Fort Frederica, Oglethorpe's military base, built in 1736. He also added forts and settlements on other islands. This coastal defense system was key to Georgia's successful defense against Spanish attacks in the 1740s. The failures of Fort King George helped future leaders plan better defenses.
Fort King George's Legacy for Georgia
During Fort King George's time, South Carolina leaders looked for other ways to defend their southern border. In the 1720s, a Swiss man named Jean-Pierre de Pury planned a settlement for Swiss colonists. It would be between the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers. He called the area Georgia. This plan failed, but it drew attention to the area in England. It especially interested people who wanted to help poor debtors.
This need for defense combined with a time of great charity in England. James Oglethorpe, a member of Parliament, investigated prison conditions. He found terrible conditions. Many prisoners were released but had no jobs. Oglethorpe was also interested in colonization and defending British lands in North America.
From these two interests, the idea for Georgia was born. A group of Trustees decided to send debtor-prisoners to Georgia. This would help them escape poverty and serve the British Crown. However, by the time colonists were recruited, most were middle-class artisans and craftsmen. They wanted a new life abroad. The colony was meant to be a home for citizen-soldiers. Their main job was to defend the empire and help its economy. Lawyers and slaves were forbidden for different reasons.
Georgia had many early problems. Many settlers died, and there were arguments about allowing slaves. Oglethorpe was good at working with Native American neighbors. He also learned from past history. Oglethorpe knew he needed a successful settlement on the Altamaha. In 1735, he sent Captain George Dunbar to visit the ruins of Fort King George. Oglethorpe later moved the settlement about 1 mile (2 km) farther upriver. This was likely because of flooding and malaria at the old fort site. Oglethorpe probably knew about the hardships at Fort King George. He chose a strong group of people to settle the area. He also planned his defense system carefully.
The Georgia coast is unique. About one-third of all marshlands on the East Coast are in coastal Georgia. This causes large tidal changes, sometimes 10 to 12 feet. This creates many rivers, inlets, and sandbars behind changing barrier islands. From a military view, Georgia's complex geographical coast is perfect for a defense system.
Oglethorpe used the barrier islands for defense south of the Altamaha. Fort Frederica was built on the inside of St. Simons Island. He also placed Fort St. Simons and Delegal's Fort on the island's south end. These forts aimed to keep enemies out of the Altamaha river system. In those days, controlling a river meant controlling the land around it. The Altamaha River bordered large swamps with valuable timber and pine sap for naval stores. It was also a good travel route into the colony for trade with Native American tribes.
Oglethorpe chose Scottish Highlanders to settle and defend the Altamaha. He knew they were tough people. They had lived in the difficult Highlands for generations. Many Scots were eager to come to North America. The Trustees offered each family 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land. This was a dream for most Scots. They were also given weapons, tools, and cattle. In November 1735, 177 Scots sailed to Georgia. Most came from the Inverness area.
They landed in Savannah in January 1736. Soon after, they went to the new settlement on the Altamaha. It started at "Barnwell's Bluff," near the old Fort King George ruins. Oglethorpe visited in February and learned the Scots named their town Darien. This honored an earlier Scottish settlement in Panama. Oglethorpe wore a traditional Highland kilt to show respect. He also slept outside with the Highlanders. Oglethorpe likely ordered the Scots to move their town further up the bluff, away from the old fort site.
By the end of 1736, Darien began to grow. The Scots became very important settlers for Georgia. They helped start the timber industry. Thousands of feet of lumber were shipped down the Altamaha River to sawmills in Darien. Scottish leaders also improved trade with the Creek Native Americans. Their most important role was military. When the Spanish invaded Georgia in July 1742, the Scots of Darien helped defeat them at the Battle of Bloody Marsh. This battle ended the fight for control of the Southeast. Spain never seriously threatened Georgia again.
Over generations, the Scots of Darien spread throughout North America. Many families of Scottish heritage in the United States can trace their roots to these settlers.
All these developments were possible because of Fort King George. It served as a guide for Georgia's successful defense. It also inspired an economy that helped the colony succeed. Much of Georgia's early buildings were made from cypress and pine from the Altamaha River swamps. This timber industry was vital to Georgia's economy for centuries. It's interesting that Fort King George had to fail for Georgia to succeed. The lessons learned from the fort helped Oglethorpe plan Georgia's defense. If Fort King George had succeeded, South Carolina might have expanded to the Altamaha. This would have left little reason for Georgia to exist. The fort also taught important lessons about the type of settlers needed. Oglethorpe wanted citizen-soldiers who would defend and develop the colony. Families, not just soldiers, were more likely to protect their new homes. Finally, the town of Darien started at the Fort King George site. Without Fort King George, Darien's history might be very different.
Rediscovering Fort King George
For almost 200 years after it was abandoned, little was known about Fort King George. Sometimes, old records mentioned "Barnwell's Bluff" or "Old Fort." But Fort King George seemed forgotten. In the early 1900s, new research began into Georgia's early history. Historians like Verner Crane and Herbert Bolton wrote about the struggles for control in the colonial era. Crane's work first explained the importance of Fort King George and Barnwell's plan.
In the 1930s, Bessie Lewis, a history teacher from Darien, read Crane's book. She traveled to Charleston many times to study old British records. "Miss Bessie," as she was called, found a lot of information about the fort. This included written records, descriptions, and drawings with geographical details. This helped her find the original fort site. Later archaeological digs confirmed her findings. In the first excavations in the 1940s, more than a dozen soldiers' graves were found.
Miss Bessie and other locals formed the Fort King George Association. They worked to make the site a state historic site. In 1949, the state bought the fort site. The Association wanted a museum and a rebuilt fort. But little was done. In the 1950s, the state put up a monument and headstones in the soldiers’ cemetery. The Association kept pushing for the fort's reconstruction.
In the late 1960s, the Georgia Historical Commission took over the site. Money was given to build a museum in 1967. Fort King George Historic Site became a reality. In 1972, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) took over. In 1987, site manager Ken Akins and the Lower Altamaha Historical Society raised money to rebuild the fort's blockhouse. With matching funds from the DNR, the blockhouse was finished in fall 1988. It was the main part of the site until the late 1990s.
From 1999 to 2002, Georgia State Senator Renee Kemp helped get hundreds of thousands of dollars. This money was used to rebuild the soldiers’ barracks, guardhouse, and officers’ quarters. Site staff also rebuilt the fort's firing walls and steps. Over the years, other features were added. In 2004, the fort's front and back gates were installed. The fort was officially declared fully rebuilt. This was something Miss Bessie had dreamed of for over 50 years.
Fort King George Historic Site is now one of Georgia's top tourist spots. It gets over 30,000 visitors each year. Staff offer many living history programs about Colonial Life and Military Science.
Images for kids
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Colonel Barnwell's 1721 drawing of the fort's location on the Altamaha River.
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John Barnwell's 1722 drawing of the route from Fort King George to St. Simons Island.
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The Yamasee War, 1715–1717, caused fear among South Carolinians about defense.
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Fort Toulouse, built by the French in 1718, threatened British trade with the Creek people.
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Historical marker at the site.
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Historical marker for Fort King George in Darien.
