Battle of Fort Pulaski

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Battle of Fort Pulaski
Part of the American Civil War

Damaged wall of Fort Pulaski
Date April 10-11, 1862
Location Chatham County, Georgia
Result Union Victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United States United States (Union) Flag of Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders
David Hunter Charles H. Olmstead
Strength
Department of the South Fort Pulaski Garrison
Casualties and losses
1 364

The Battle of Fort Pulaski (April 10–11, 1862) saw Union forces on Tybee Island besiege and capture the Confederate-held Fort Pulaski after 30 hours of bombardment.

The fort's southeast corner suffered greatly during the battle which led to the surrender of the fort after the powder magazine became exposed opposite the breach. Although damage was done to the fort's exterior, it was repaired within six-weeks by Union forces.

One major impact of the battle was the performance of the new 30-Pounder Parrott Rifle. The rifled cannon fired significantly further with more accuracy than the smoothbores currently in use. The new weapon made masonry fortifications obsolete.

The main reason this was important to the course of the war is because the port of Savannah was closed to Confederate traffic early in the war, yet the city remained in Confederate hands until the arrival of Sherman in December 1864.

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