Fort King George TheFirst Outpost Article and Photos By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
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s many of us have been taught, Savannah is Georgia’s first city. While that is true, it was not Britain’s first outpost in what would later become the 13th colony here in the new world. On February 12, 1733 General James Oglethorpe arrived at the Yamacraw bluff, on what would later become River Street and Bay Street. However, prior to that, Britain had already constructed a fortification in its southernmost holdings of the Carolina’s, called Fort King George. From the early 1500s Spain had already made great progress in settling the deep south. The area we call Georgia today was referred to by the Spanish as, Guale (pronounced Wallee) after the First Nations people living in the region. The Carolina’s, having rich agriculture potential, were always under the threat of Spanish incursion. So, by 1721 under the directions of Colonial Governor Sir Francis Nicholson and Colonel John Barnwell construction was started. Early records show from 1721 to 1723 work had been sanctioned and building had begun and the first troops to occupy the fort were put into motion. Although the original soldiers requested by “Tuscarora Jack” Barnwell were to be fit, young and spry, this did not end up being the case. Instead, he was sent 100 men from the Royal Hospital in Chelsea England. Older, medically retired and other retired (what were called in/out pensioners) were deemed suitable for duty. So, in 1721, 100 privates and a handful of officers set out from England and arrived in Port Royal. However, many arrived in even poorer health from the voyage having contracted either malaria or scurvy. They spent the remained of 1721 in Port Royal and in 1722 the survivor’s set out for their new home – and for many their last. This would also be the final duty assignment for Colonel Barnwell who would perish due to hardships of the Fort King George duty assignment. The location for Fort King George is on the north bank of the Altamaha River basin, which is a strategic location both
Fort King George sits three miles east of Sapelo Island on the banks of the Altamaha River.
