Talking About Old Fort Jackson, Savannah-- Part 1: Was It Named After Andrew or Stonewall?

 From the May 18, 2022, Bluffton, Today (S.C.) "Harrell:  Sit on the Shore and watch the boats go by" by Annelore Harrell.

She lives on the north side of the Savannah River, her friend lives on the south side of it.  They wanted to get together so settled on this old fort located in the middle between them.

This fort was not named after Stonewall Jackson or even Andrew Jackson .  The fort in question was named after  James Jackson.  Who?

James Jackson came from Devonshire, England, in 1722 and studied law and became an avid Patriot for independence and involved in the American Revolution.  He had quite the temper and was an expert with the sword.  He also got involved in the political world and had more "than one brouhaha, most notably the Yazoo land deal."

James Jackson was governor of Georgia, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate as well as quite a war hero.  Admiring citizens  of Georgia gifted him a house near Reynolds Square in Savannah.

I Always Thought It Was Named for Andrew Jackson.  --Brock-Perry

American Privateer Saucy Jack-- Part 6: Unparalleled With Any Southern Privateer

From Carolina Ships-in-Bottle--  handcrafted by Jim "Goose" Goodwin.

You can buy your very own model of the privateer Saucy Jack in a bottle.  Price for a hal gallon bottle with a lighthouse is $165 and a hal gallon jug with stand is $180.

Length of the Saucy Jack was 90 feet, 170 tons and 7-13 guns.

After cruises under Thos. Jervey (3 captured vessels) and Captain Peter Sicard on second cruise in April 1813, the Saucy Jack was then commanded by John P. Chazal for the rest of the war.  The ship and captain were a good fit.

During several cruises, they captured 5 ships, 4 brigs, 7 schooners and 2 sloops.  They often put into Savannah, a safe haven for them.  While there on September 21, 1814, its fore mast was struck by lightning and the bolt exited at the stern..

After repairs, the Saucy Jack departed and returned on November 28th with another prize and returned to Charleston on New Year's Eve.  When word of the end of the war reached Charleston in february 1815, the Saucy Jack became a merchant ship.

"Her captures, engagements with foreign ships, and narrow escapes were unparalleled with any Southern privateer."

--Brock-Perry

Georgia in the War: British Blockade-- Part 2

Georgia citizens clamored for help from the U.S. government which finally came as a naval expedition in the summer and fall of 1812.  This came to Sudbury, Georgia, to use its deep harbor as a staging area for several armed barges/gunboats.  They were to ply the intercoastal waters between Savannah and St. Marys on the Florida border to thwart any British attempts to attack.

The expedition, however, was a failure because of poor planning, negligent leadership and a lack of supplies.

--Brock-Perry

Georgia in the War of 1812: British Blockade-- Part 1

From New Georgia Encyclopedia.

Because of the British blockade on all French ports during the Napoleonic Wars, Britain was in dire need of ships and sailors.  They seized American ships suspected of trading with France and impressed seamen.

Georgia's long coastline and many  prosperous ports made it an ideal target for the British.  During the American Revolution, the state's coast had been largely under British control,  And now, during this second war with England, Georgia would again become a traget, especially the port and city of Savannah.

Sadly for Georgia, the U.S. government regarded the state as a backwater and never did much to defend it.

--Brock-Perry

Old Fort Jackson

Construction of this fort began around 1808 and it was partially finished by the time of the War of 1812.  It protected Savannah from British attack, but none ever came.

It was manned by several units of local militia as well as regular U.S. troops.

It was essentially abandoned for many years after the construction of the much larger Fort Pulaski further downriver.

--Brock-Perry

Old Fort Jackson

In a sort time we will be visiting Savannah's Old Fort Jackson, located about a mile downriver from the old city.  It was built during the War of 1812, but never saw action.

During the Civil War, it likewise never fired a shot, but acted as the headquarters for the river defense of the city and had the ironclad CSS Georgia tied up by it.

--Brock-Perry

Southern Privateers

From History of American Privateers by Edgar Stanton Maclay.

There were a total of 36 privateers operating out of Southern ports during the War of 1812.  This did not include Baltimore.

These ships sailed primarily from Norfolk, Virginia;  Wilmington, NC; Charleston, SC; Savannah, Georgia and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Probably the most famous was the privateer Decatur which captured a British cruiser.

--Brock-Perry

Bits of War: Olympics Money-- USS Constitution Stamp-- Savannah and the War

Bits of News About the War.


1.  OLYMPICS MONEY--  It was estimated that the Canadian government spent $1.65 million on the War of 1812 commercials it ran during the Olympics.


2.  USS CONSTITUTION STAMP--  Some 25 million stamps of the famous ship went on sale last August.  People could get First-Day-of-Issue Stamp at the Charleston Navy Yard next to the "Old Ironsides."


3.  SAVANNAH AND THE WAR--  From the August 20, 2012, Savannah Morning News--  Hull Street is named for the captain of the USS Constitution.  The live oak that gave the ship its strength along the hull was cut and milled near St. Simons, Georgia.

In 1815, Savannah named through streets after U.S. Navy captains:  Hull, Perry, Mcdonough and two squares, Orleans and Chippewa, were named after key battles.

Now, You Know.  --Brock-Perry