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

King's Bridge

By Mike Stroud, July 2008

1. King's Bridge Marker

Inscription. Dec. 1864. After a 300 mile march which had left a wide belt of destruction from "Atlanta to the Sea," Gen. Sherman's army (USA) of about 60,000 men was nearing Savannah. During he first weeks of his campaign, his four widely-spread columns had found adequate supplies on the rich farms and plantations of central and eastern Georgia; but in Chatham County he found little but rice and rice straw upon which to subsist his men and animals. He needed all classes of supplies, as well as heavy guns with which to conduct a siege. Although a supply fleet, under Adm. Dahlgren, was waiting in nearby anchorages, the ships could not pass Fort McAllister (CSA) 10 miles downstream at Genesis Point, and all attempts to reduce it by naval bombardment had failed.

On the 13th, Hazen's Div., 15th Corps (USA), crossed the river here, moved via "Cross Roads" (Richmond Hill), 2.5 miles south, and Bryan Neck road (Ga 63) to Fort McAllister and overwhelmed it by assault from the rear. The great guns of Fort McAllister silenced, the heavily laden supply ships began to move upstream. A wharf was built here by details from the 17th Corps (USA), and King's Bridge became the base from which all supplies, including siege materiel, were distributed to the Union forces.

Erected 1957 by Georgia Historical Commission

King's Bridge Marker, US 17 at the Ogeechee River image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, 2008

2. King's Bridge Marker, US 17 at the Ogeechee River

. (Marker Number 025-43.)

Marker series. This marker is included in the Georgia Historical Society/Commission, and the Shermans March to the Sea marker series.

Location. 31° 58.735′ N, 81° 17.317′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. Marker is at the intersection of Ocean Highway (Route 17) and Basin Road on Ocean Highway. Touch for map. Located on the north side of the Ogeechee River, at a public boat landing. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah GA 31419, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rice Cultivation on the Ogeechee (approx. 2.3 miles away); Fort McAllister (approx. 2½ miles away); "Dead Town" of Hardwicke (approx. 2½ miles away); Courthouse Annex (approx. 2½ miles away); Jack Fleming Gregory, Senior (approx. 2½ miles away); Robert E. Lee (approx. 2½ miles away); J. F. Gregory (approx. 2.6 miles away); Henry Ford at Richmond Hill (approx. 2.6 miles away).

Categories. • War, US Civil •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on July 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,557 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.