Fort Morris is an earthen works fort in Liberty County, Georgia, in the United

States. The fort is on a bend in the Medway River and played an important role in
the protection of southeast Georgia throughout various conflicts beginning in 1741
and ending in 1865 at the conclusion of the American Civil War,[2] including the
French and Indian and American Revolutionary Wars and War of 1812.[2] The historic
site is 70 acres (28 ha) in size and sits at an elevation of 23 feet (7.0 m).[3]

On May 13, 1970, the fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[4]
Today it is a state park, Fort Morris Historic Site.

Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 French and Indian War
1.2 American Revolution
1.3 War of 1812
1.4 American Civil War
2 Photos
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
History[edit]
French and Indian War[edit]
The first fort built at the site was constructed in 1741 to protect a plantation
owned by Captain Mark Carr. Carr owned 500 acres (200 ha) of land in the area that
was granted to him by the Georgia Trustees. Carr was the commander of a company of
marine rangers in the British Colonial Army from 1732 - 1751. His plantation came
under attack on March 18, 1741 by a group of Indians who were allies with the
Spanish colonial forces in Florida.[2] Several soldiers defending the fort were
killed in the raid and the contents of the fort and plantation were taken away in a
large boat that belonged to the plantation.[2]

The next fort at the site was constructed in 1756 at the encouragement of locals
who were being attacked during uprising of Creek Indians in the era during the
French and Indian War. The fort was expanded in 1758 to provide protection for the
new settlement of Sunbury which was built on land owned by Carr. The fort was a
square with each side measuring 100 yards (91 m).[2] Governor Henry Ellis noted
that the fort had a battery of eight guns. By 1762 the fort had fallen into
disrepair.[2]

American Revolution[edit]
The need to defend the Medway River and Sunbury rose again at the outset of the
American Revolutionary War. The Continental Congress authorized the construction of
two forts in Georgia. One was to be built at Savannah and the other at Sunbury.[5]
A company of artillery consisting of fifty men was sent to the area. Fort Morris
was built to the southeast of Sunbury and would be used first as a base for several
campaigns to take British Florida and then as a defensive position in defending
Sunbury and points upriver.[2]

The colonial forces were never able to establish control of Florida, which had
become a refuge for loyalists. Royal Governor Patrick Tonyn of East Florida sought
to invade Georgia. The East Florida Rangers were loyalists from Georgia, South
Carolina, and North Carolina. Indian allies and the British 60th regiment was part
of the plan to take Georgia from the Continental Army. The East Florida Rangers, a
naval fleet, and loyalists from New York were quickly able to take Savannah in
1778.[2] They next moved to Sunbury and Fort Morris. A small contingent of British
soldiers attempted to take the fort on November 25, 1778.[5] The 200 Americans at
Fort Morris were led by Colonel John McIntosh. McIntosh defiantly replied, "Come
and take it!" after the British demanded the surrender of the fort. The British
declined to attack and pulled back only to return in January with a larger force.
[5]

Fort Morris was attacked by the British on January 9, 1779, and was taken the next
day. The number of lives lost in the siege is not well documented. Historians
suppose that less than twelve American soldiers died and fewer British.[2] The fort
was renamed Fort George and was occupied by the British until September 1779, when
the fort's garrison was ordered to Savannah to provide for its defense.[2] After
the fort was abandoned by the British it was taken again by colonial forces who
found an empty fort with a few, damaged guns left behind. They were only able to
hold the fort for a month before it was retaken by the British in October. Fort
Morris/Fort George remained under the control of British forces until 1782.[2]

War of 1812[edit]
The fort fell into disrepair once again in the years following the Revolution. The
need to defend Sunbury and the river rose again with the outset of the War of 1812.
Fort Defiance was constructed on the site of the former Fort Morris in 1814.[2][5]
Construction of the fort was not completed prior to the end of the war and it was
left unfinished.[2]

American Civil War[edit]

Fort Morris and Sunbury played a minor role in the American Civil War.[2] A small
group of Confederate soldiers were stationed at Sunbury and may have used the fort.
General William T. Sherman's March to the Sea brought an influx of Union soldiers
to the area. They removed some cannons from the fort in 1864 to be taken to Union-
controlled forts on the Atlantic coast.[2]

Photos