Tybee Island in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

A Turning Point In History

The Reduction of Fort Pulaski

— The Battery —

A Turning Point In History Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 7, 2009

1. A Turning Point In History Marker

Inscription. This island became the "platform" on which the Union Army mounted 36 pieces of heavy artillery in early 1862. The bombardment that began on April 10 led to the surrender of Fort Pulaski 30 hours later. The placement of these batteries can be found on the map above.

No eye except an eye-witness can form any but a faint conception of the Herculean labor by which mortars of eight and one half tons and columbiads...were moved in the dead of night, over a narrow causeway, bordered by swamps on either side, and liable at any moment to be over turned and buried in mud beyond reach."

"Two hundred and fifty men were barely sufficient to move a single piece, on sling carts. They were not allowed to speak above a whisper, and were guided by the notes of a whistle."

Erected by Fort Pulaski National Monument U.S. Dept. of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1941.

Location. 32° 0.97′ N, 80° 52.231′ W. Marker is on Tybee Island, Georgia, in Chatham County. Marker is on Battery Park/Catalina Drive near US 80/ Ga 26, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tybee Island GA 31328, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker, measured as the crow flies. Long Range Artillery Duel (within shouting distance of this marker); Cockspur Island Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Federal Batteries on Tybee Island (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lazaretto (approx. half a mile away); 5,275 Shots & Shells in 30 Hours (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Breached Wall (approx. 1.3 miles away); A Devastating Bombardment (approx. 1.3 miles away); Shifting Shoreline (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tybee Island.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 5, 2013

2. A Turning Point In History Marker

Upper picture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By A Turning Point In History Marker,

3. Upper picture

Map showing the positions of the batteries used by U.S. forces in the reduction of Fort Pulaski April 10 & 11, 1862, a turning point in U.S. Military History.
Accompanying Report of Brig. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore, U.S. Vols.

<i>(Left picture) </i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By A Turning Point In History Marker

4. (Left picture)

This image depicts a 13-inch mortar firing on Fort Pulaski from Battery Stanton. Union leaders mistakenly believed that these 8.5 ton mortars would crush the Confederates into submission.
(Center picture) The difficulty of moving these heavy pieces from the naval vessels to this area was described by Gen. Gillmore.

Brigadier General Quincy Adams Gillmore image. Click for full size.

Photographed By A Turning Point In History Marker

5. Brigadier General Quincy Adams Gillmore

A Turning Point In History Marker * Future Site * image. Click for full size.

The City of Tybee Island, National Park Service

6. A Turning Point In History Marker * Future Site *

Sign showing the projected battery reconstruction site.

Welcome to Tybee Island image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 5, 2010

7. Welcome to Tybee Island

One of three sides to the kiosk marker.

Fort Pulaski National Monument Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 5, 2010

8. Fort Pulaski National Monument Map

Third side of the kiosk.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,610 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 24, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on December 20, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 24, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7, 8. submitted on May 9, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.