OurCoast.com :: Savannah City Guide

Rich and prosperous, antebellum Savannah was praised by many visitors as the most beautiful and tranquil city in America with magnificent trees and wonderful charm. The Georgia Historical Society was founded in that era and Forsyth Park got its artistic, cast-iron fountain in 1858.

In the political world, tension between North and South was increasing. The economic necessity of slavery and the "natural" domination of the white "superior race" was emphasized in political rallies around town. Events climaxed when Abraham Lincoln became the nation's President. It came as no surprise that Savannahians rejoiced when neighboring South Carolina seceded from the Union.

Soon thereafter, early in 1861 and three months before Charleston fired on Fort Sumter, the Confederates seized Fort Pulaski, the supposedly impregnable bastion built earlier by the young Robert E. Lee. In April, 1862, Fort Pulaski was attacked and quickly conquered by Union troops. After the war many said that Confederate Colonel Charles Olmstead should not have surrendered but fought the Union troops under General Quincey A. Gilmore to the end. But Colonel Olmstead, when he saw that the modern rifled cannons used by the Yankees could easily breach the fort and send all of his men to a needless death, conceded:"I yield my sword, but I trust I have not disgraced it."

Savannah suffered a sea blockade during "The War," one so tight that trading was made impossible. Goods for every day life were hard to come by. It was particularly hard for the women of Savannah...but for the Rights of the South they would, and did, endure everything. They formed several knitting societies to help their men in the fight for the good cause. And they were hard on every Yankee, male and female, even sometimes forgetting their manners. They were, however, very strong and without them the men would not have been able to continue the fight.

In 1864, General William T. Sherman began his march to the sea. After burning Atlanta and everything else on the way to the coast, Sherman took Fort McAllister. Savannah was evacuated and thus avoided destruction. On December 22, 1864, the most famous telegram sent from Savannah was delivered to President Lincoln, by which Sherman offered Savannah to Lincoln as a Christmas present.

With the arrival of Sherman's troops the war was over for Savannah and the reconstruction period soon began. Food was rare and women had to stand in ration lines or take care of themselves since many of their men did not survive the war.

--Sojourn in Savannah

Ku Klux Klan, Carpetbaggers and Cotton returns as King.
A brief history of Savannah, Georgia 1865-1900.

pre-1732 | 1733-1776 | 1776-1800 | 1800-1850 | 1850-1865 | 1865-1900 | 1900-1955