Friends of Fort McAllister State Historic Park

10/31/2026

A Look Back
Fort McAllister State Historic Park
October 31, 1863

The fighting at Charleston, South Carolina, finally came home for the garrison at Fort McAllister on October 31st, with Captain Dixon recording, “Captain Newsome received orders this morning to proceed without delay with his company to Charleston and report to his Major. I am sorry they are going to leave as we have just got settled with them. I think they will leave on Monday.” The Blues daybook commented, “Things are getting warm over there.”
They departed Fort McAllister the following day.

Source:
Guardian of Savannah
Fort McAllister, Georgia, in the Civil War and Beyond
by Roger Durham

10/30/2026

Fort McAllister State Park
October 30, 1862

“George W. Outten, a member of our Corps, died in Savannah on the 22nd of typhoid fever. He is the second man we have lost since we have been in service. Some three of our men broke out of the “black hole” (the fort) yesterday and went to the city. A guard was sent after them this morning. They were put in for taking a wagon and horses out of the stable to go to the station without permission. Two of them belonged to the (Republican) Blues and one to the (Emmett) Ri**es.”
William Daniel Dixon

Source:
The Blues in Gray
The Civil War Journal of William Daniel Dixon and the Republican Blues Daybook
edited by Roger Durham

10/20/2026

A look back at Fort McAllister, Georgia history
Fort McAllister, Georgia
October 20th, 1864

On October 20th, Clinches Light Battery, commanded by Captain Nicholas Clinch, was ordered to Fort McAllister to relieve the Terrell Artillery. The Garrison that would see Fort McAllister through its final ordeal consisted of the Emmett Ri**es, commanded by Captain George A. Nicholl, numbering 25 men; Clinch’s Light Battery, commanded by Captain Nicholas Barnard Clinch, numbering 50 men; Company D, 1st Regiment, Georgia Reserves, commanded by Captain George N. Hendry, numbering 28 men; and Company E, 1st Regiment, Georgia Reserves, commanded by Captain Angus Morrison, numbering 47 men. (***Total=150)

After the “foreign element of suspicious character” had been weeded out of the Emmett Ri**es in response to orders, only twenty-seven men could be mustered; a year earlier, they mustered more than 80 men as part of the garrison at Fort McAllister.
Realizing the Federal army could isolate his command, Major George Anderson stockpiled supplies. They secured more than 1,000 lb of bacon, 2,250 lb of hard bread, and other rations to give the garrison a month's supply. They also obtained other supplies, such as 40 gallons of wh***ey, 40 gallons of molasses, 50 lb of candles, and salt.

Source:
Guardian of Savannah-Fort McAllister Georgia, in the Civil War and Beyond
By Roger Durham

10/18/2026

A LOOK BACK IN FORT McALLISTER
October 18th, 1862

“Saturday-18th October- We received an order from headquarters stating that reliable information that a fleet was fitting out to attack this battery to try and get possession of the railroad bridge. There are but four vessels below.

Sunday-19th October- Last night at 10 o'clock, seven wagons arrived here from Savannah. Another lot arrived this afternoon. We are now crowded with am******on besides a lot of infernal machines (**River mines) to sink in the river. There is but one gunboat reported today. This is the first day that I have felt well since my last chill. I have been troubled a great deal with weakness in my limbs."
William Daniel Dixon

Source: The Blues in Gray-The Civil War Journal of William Daniel Dixon and the Republican Blues Daybook
edited by Roger Durham

10/17/2026

Fort McAllister, October 1862
“Friday, October 17th- The election of Colonel (of the regiment) takes place on Monday the 20th. The Emmett Ri**es have been taken out of the regiment and the Washington Volunteers put in their place. It is a dead loss for the Captain, as the whole company would have voted for him.”
William Daniel Dixon

Authors note
Just why the Emmett Ri**es were removed from the 1st Georgia Regiment is uncertain. They were later assigned to the 22nd Battalion Georgia Artillery; however, removing them from the regiment helped guarantee that Colonel Olmstead would win the coming election. If they had remained in the First Regiment, Olmstead would have been defeated. It must have been a bitter pill for Captain Anderson to swallow.

Source:
The Blues in Gray
The Civil War Journal of William Daniel Dixon and the Republican Blues
edited by Roger Durham

10/10/2026

Thanks to the volunteers of Friends of Fort McAllister State Historic Park, who single-handedly supported the opening of the 2026 Georgia State Fair in Perry, Georgia.
These efforts, including travel, constituted a continuous 20+ hour event.
We will support these efforts again on October 18 for the closing ceremonies...

10/06/2026

All,

Here is the link to register for the Winter Muster as a "Living Historian" participant.

Registration for the reenactment enlistment of the 162nd Anniversary of the Battle of Ft. McAllister is open. For a successful event, We Need You!

10/06/2026

"JOIN THE ARMY, THEY SAID... IT'S HEALTHY, THEY SAID..."
Fort McAllister State Historic Park
October 1862

“Monday, 6th October- I arrived back to the post this morning after a very good siege of sickness. I had an attack of bilious fever. Though short, it was quite severe. There has not been one of our officers in the company for over a week. All hands were sick in town (Savannah). We are all back again for duty. Lieutenant William Rockwell of the Emmett Ri**es is the only officer sick/ absent. A great many of our men are sick. There is not much war news stirring. Our army is back in Virginia, but everything remains quiet. It is quite warm, so much so that it is a load to keep my uniform on.

Tuesday, 7th October-Our sick list is alarming. We have 63 men down out of two companies.

Wednesday, 8th October- Our sick list has been decreased today; there are being 50 men reported. It has been a very pleasant day. We are having lovely nights.

Thursday, 9th October- It has been a most miserable day. It began to rain last night, and it rained steady all day. I am now in command of the company. The Captain, having gone up sick this afternoon.

Friday, 10th October-I had a slight chill and a very hot fever last night. I am quite weak today.”
William Daniel Dixon

Source:
The Blues in Gray
The Civil War Journal of William Daniel Dixon and the Republican Blues
edited by Roger S. Durham

10/04/2026

Photo courtesy of Savannah Morning News.