Tuesday, April 8, 2025
We woke up to a chilly RV, as the nighttime temperatures had unseasonably dipped into the 50s. Jane was the first to share the exciting news: the Florida Gators men’s basketball team had won the NCAA National Championship last night. Yay!
After a leisurely breakfast and catching up on the news, we set off to hike the Magnolia Trail, a 1.3-mile loop that begins off the main campground road. The flat trail was an easy walk through a typical coastal forest, featuring not just magnolias, but also pines, oaks, hickories, and saw palmettos all heavily draped with Spanish moss. We also explored the Pioneer Trail, a path built by a scout troop, which offered sweeping views of the surrounding marsh. It was refreshing to be outside in such a different environment. However, we were (especially Jane) pestered by deer flies during the walk.
—— Magnolia Trail Hike ——
After relaxing in the RV for a while, we snacked on an early lunch before heading out for a hike along the straight, 1.25-mile road that connects the campground to the park’s Museum and Office Building. The walk took us through a vast salt marsh, offering more sweeping views and featuring an observation deck partway through. Of course, we encountered more pesky deer flies along the way. At one point, we paused to observe a large white egret, who was accompanied by a miniature, identical version of herself—her teenage offspring. Further down the path, we passed a couple of bat houses, one of which even had a Batmobile for its residents to enjoy!
—— Hike from the RV to the Park Office & Musuem Building ——
Upon entering the park office, we purchased tickets for both the museum and a self-guided tour of the historic fort site. We spent about an hour exploring the museum exhibits, which provided a fascinating overview of Fort McAllister’s history and its significant role during the Civil War.
Fort McAllister, built in the early 1860s, was designed to protect the vital shipping route along the Ogeechee River, preventing Union forces from advancing toward Savannah. Its strategic importance lay in its ability to defend Confederate supply lines. The fort withstood numerous Union attacks, including assaults from ironclad monitors, a new technological threat at the time. Its earthen ramparts proved more resilient than the stone walls of other Confederate fortifications, absorbing cannonball fire and enduring the rigors of battle. Remarkably, these earthen defenses were often repaired overnight after each engagement.
While the fort never fell to naval attacks, it was captured quickly via land during General William Sherman’s March to the Sea in December 1864. The fall of Fort McAllister severed the Confederate supply lines to Savannah, directly contributing to the city’s eventual surrender.
—— Fort McAllister Museum ——
After exploring the fort’s history in the museum, we exited through the back door to begin our self-guided tour of the historic site. Armed with a map that highlighted points of interest and provided informative descriptions, we wandered the grounds, imagining what life must have been like for the soldiers stationed there.
Key features included the NCO huts, the officers’ barracks, and the hot shot furnace, where cannonballs were heated red-hot to ignite attacking wooden vessels. We also visited the central bombproof, which served as a hospital and refuge during bombardments, as well as various cannons and magazine storage areas. The shoreline offered beautiful views of the Ogeechee River, adding a peaceful contrast to the fort’s military history.
—— Self-Guided Tour of Fort McAllister ——
After the tour, we walked back along the campground-office connector road. By then, the afternoon warmth had brought the deer flies out in full force. Jane, looking like Pigpen with a swarm of flies hovering around her, quickly sprinted ahead to the safety of the RV. Strangely, the deer flies didn’t bother me as much, and fortunately, neither of us ended up with any serious bites.
Back home, we settled into RV living, reading, gaming, watching TV, and enjoying homemade tacos for dinner, before eventually heading to bed.