In December 1864, Fort McAllister, built in 1861-62 to close the Great Ogeechee River to enemy ships, mounted 11 siege guns, 12 field pieces, and one 10-inch mortar, while piles and torpedoes below it obstructed the channel. As Union forces neared Savannah, capturing the fort became imperative so ships could pass upriver to supply them. After naval attempts failed, Brig. Gen. Wm. B. Hazen's Division, 15th Corps [USA], was ordered to cross the river, move to the fort, and take it from the rear. At dawn on the 13th, Hazen crossed at King's Bridge, marched by way of Cross Roads (Richmond Hill) and Bryan Neck Road (Ga 63), and arrived about noon. At 4:45, after a difficult deployment, he assaulted the fort, and by 5:00 his three brigades had swarmed over the works and overpowered, one by one, Major Geo. W. Anderson's small garrison of 230 Georgians, who fought gallantly to the end. Gen. Sherman watched the assault from Dr. Cheves' rice mill, two and a half miles NNW across the river, after which he opened communications with Adm. Dahlgren's fleet [USA] waiting in Ossabaw Sound. Losses were [USA] 24 killed and 110 wounded, total 134; [CSA] 14 killed, 21 wounded, and 195 captured, total 230.