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Battles -
Battle Summaries
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| Battle Name: |
Fort McAllister I |
| Other Names: |
None |
| State: |
Georgia |
| Location: |
Bryan County |
| Campaign: |
Naval Attacks on Fort McAllister (1863) |
| Dates: |
March 3, 1863 |
| Principal Commanders: |
Capt. P. Drayton, U.S.N. [US]; Capt. George A. Anderson [CS] |
| Forces Engaged: |
Union Navy Flotilla [US]; Fort McAllister Garrison [CS] |
| Estimated Casualties: |
Unknown |
| Description: |
Rear Adm. Samuel F. Du Pont [US] ordered three ironclads, Patapsco, Passaic, and Nahant, to test
their guns and mechanical appliances and practice artillery firing by attacking Fort McAllister, then a small three-gun
earthwork battery. On March 3, 1863, the three ironclads conducted an eight-hour bombardment. The
bombardment did not destroy the battery but did some damage, while the three ironclads received some scratches
and dents. The tests were helpful for knowledge and experience gained, but the fort did not fall, showing that the
ironclads’ firepower could not destroy an earthen fort. |
| Results: |
Confederate victory |
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