A PICTORAIL TOUR
OF FORT KING GEORGE
by Kaye Traer
Old Fort King George
Site of old Fort King George, built in 1721 by Col. John Barnwell, of South Carolina, under British Royal orders. This tiny cypress blockhouse, 26 feet square, with 3 floors, and a lookout in the gable from which the guard could watch over the Inland Waterway and St. Simon's Island, was flanked by officers quarters and barracks, and the entire area was surrounded on all but the river side by a moat and palisades. Garrisoned by his Majesty's Independent Company, with replacements of Colony scouts, the fort was occupied for six years. During that time more than 140 officers and soldiers lost their lives here and were buried on the adjacent bluff. The first of the British 18th century scheme of posts built to counteract French expansion in America.
The troops were withdrawn to Port Royal in 1727, but until Oglethorpe arrived in Savannah in 1733 South Carolina kept two lookouts at old Fort King George.
Fort King George was also a flagrant trespass upon Spanish territory, and during its occupation Spain continually demanded that it be destroyed.
Site of Early Spanish Mission
This high bluff was the site of one of the early Spanish Missions of the old District of Guale. Here in the late 16th and the 17th centuries. Franciscan friars labored with the
indians, converting them to Christianity and instructing them in agriculture and other crafts of civilzation.
Occupied by a large Indian village before the coming of the Spaniards, this tract was an ideal site for the mission and school activities of the Spanish priests. Archaeological excavations in the area in 1941 and 1953 disclosed evidence of both Indian and Spanish occupation - Indian pottery and bone tools with Spanish olive jars, majolica and iron work outlines of building constructed before and after the coming of white men.
Built in the area called by the Spaniards, Talaje," the mission on this site was part of a chain of missions and visitas by which Spain held title for nearly two centeries to what is now the Coast of Georgia.
TO THE SOLDIERS OF FORT KING GEORGE
To the soldiers of Fort King George
Who Gave Their Lives In Defense Of
The Southern English Frontier In
America During The Occupation Of
This Little Outpost From 1721 to 1727
And Were Buried Upon This Bluff Fort
King George. Built On The Low
Ground 200 Yards Past Of Here. Was
The First English Settlement In The
Land Which Is Now Georgia.
More than 140 British Soldiers Lost Their Lives
Web hyper links to non-DAR sites are not the
In This First Planned Effort To Hold
The Old Southeast For English
Speaking People.
responsibility of the NSDAR, the state
organizations, or individual DAR chapters.