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- Revolutionary War Barracks and
Fortification State Historical Marker
- Located next to elevator of the indoors parking garage
of the DeSoto Hilton Plaza, Bull and Liberty Streets, Savannah
- 32°04.443, 081°05.588
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR
BARRACKS AND FORTIFICATION
During the American Revolution the Military
barracks, which were located a short distance south of Savannah,
stood near here. Around this site heavy fighting took place in
1778 and in 1779.
When Savannah was attacked by the British
on December 29, 1778, a small contingent of Georgia militia was
stationed east of the barracks, Col. George Walton, a signer
of the Declaration of Independence, was severely wounded near
here while attempting to rally his militia, following a successful
flanking movement by Sir Jas. Baird's Light Infantry around the
right of the Continental line.
During Siege of Savannah in 1779 by French
and American forces the brick barracks were dismantled by the
British defenders who left standing only the lower portion of
the south wall. Under the direction of the famous British military
engineer, Capt. James Moncrief, the remains of the barracks were
converted into a strong fortification, known as a hornwork, which
dominated the center of the Royalist lines around Savannah.
In 1834 the federal government built military
barracks, known as the Oglethorpe Barracks, on this site. They
were razed in 1889 when the DeSoto Hotel was erected.
025-9 GEORGIA HISTORICAL
COMMISSION 1952
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