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April 8, 2007 For: Immediate Release Siege & Reduction of FortPulaski Superintendent Charles Fenwick announces that Fort Pulaski National Monument will host a special two-day event to commemorate the 145th Anniversary of the Siege & Reduction of Fort Pulaski. The historic battle, which featured the first significant use of rifled artillery in combat, was fought April 10-11, 1862. The April 14-15 event will be one of the largest in the park’s history. A full schedule of activities will be offered, including cannon firings, Civil War band concerts, soldier demonstrations, and lectures on different aspects of the battle. The largest functional reproduction cannon in the U.S. is also scheduled to be unveiled. The 30-Pounder Parrott cannon will be fired from Battery Park, a new unit of Fort Pulaski National Monument located on Tybee Island. Large rifled siege cannons like the 30-Pounder Parrott were used against Fort Pulaski during the battle. They were used to breach the walls of the fort, and helped to usher in a new age of modern warfare. A highlight of the event will be a special Civil War band concert performed by the 8th Georgia Band on Saturday, April 14 at 3:00 PM. The concert will be held inside Fort Pulaski, and is included in the park’s $3 entrance fee. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets, and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy the concert. Also on display will be some state-of-the-art exhibits recently installed in the Fort PulaskiVisitorCenter, including a 48-square-foot high definition projection exhibit that highlights the Battle of Fort Pulaski. Another exhibit features a full-scale replica of a 13-inch Seacoast Mortar. During the battle these 8.5-ton mortars were used to lob large exploding shells at Fort Pulaski. The high-tech replica includes sound and light effects. Numerous living history groups will be on hand, including the 8th Georgia Band, 22nd Georgia Heavy Artillery, 48th New York Infantry, 8th Georgia Infantry, and 8th Maine Infantry. For additional information, call the park at 912-786-5787. Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Hwy 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. The park is open 9-5 daily; park gates close at 5:15 PM. An entrance fee of $3 per person is charged; ages 15 and under are free. The Battery Park location on Tybee Island is located on U.S. Hwy 80, approximately 0.6 miles east of the TybeeIslandBridge.
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Last updated: April 14, 2015