Situated at Genesis Point, 10 miles east on the right bank of the Great Ogeechee River below the "lost town" of Hardwick, Fort McAllister formed the right of the exterior line designed for the defense of Savannah. It denied the use of the river to Union vessels, protected King's Bridge 2.5 miles north and the Savannah and Gulf (ACL) R.R. bridge 2 miles below, and preserved the river plantations from Union raids. Built in 1861-62 to guard the "back door" to Savannah, it repulsed seven attacks by armored vessels during 1862-63 with minor losses, though some of the attackers mounted 15-inch guns. Fort McAllister finally fell on Dec. 13, 1864, when Hazen's Division, 15th Corps [Union], attacked from the rear after passing this point about 7 A.M. and marching by Bryan Neck road (Ga. 63). Its commander, Major George W. Anderson, refused to surrender, but the small garrison of 230 officers and men could not long withstand waves of Union infantry. The fort's fall opened the Great Ogeechee River to Union supply ships and enabled Gen. Sherman to establish a base at King's Bridge, from which he could supply his whole army of about 60,000 men as it closed in on Savannah after a 300 mile march from Atlanta.