Fort King George.27s legacy for Georgia Fort King George

general james oglethorpe, founder of colony of georgia, borrowed heavily on lessons learned fort king george , creators.

this issue of defense coincided period of intense philanthropy in england. members of parliament , society aimed improve conditions of prisons in country. 1 such gentleman, sir james edward oglethorpe, while in parliament, served on committee investigate conditions @ prisons in country. , committee uncovered horrific conditions. many prisoners released result left no employment , bereft of livelihood. oglethorpe interested in colonization , in defending great britain s vast holdings in north america.

from these 2 interests, idea georgia spawned. once group of trustees formed, decided use debtor-prisoners people colony of georgia, nestled in savannah-altamaha river region, formerly known margravate of azilla, based upon failed settlement scheme in 1717. allow them escape misfortune of britain s harsh penal code , poverty, , start on in new land while simultaneously serving valuable function british crown. however, time recruitment efforts complete, , ships loaded voyage georgia, not single colonists in debt. in fact, middle-class artisans , craftsmen interests in starting life new abroad great, earlier plan debtors’ colony ended being quite changed. nevertheless, colony established haven citizen-soldiers primary purpose in defending empire, while simultaneously contributing mercantilist economy production of cash crops, timber, furs, , naval stores. lawyers forbidden, obvious reasons, [slavery|slaves], security reasons.

the colony had many growing pains included harsh seasoning period when many settlers died, struggles on whether admit slaves, conflicts south carolina on fur trading rights, , disputes on legalization of rum consumption land rights. still, oglethorpe quite adept @ using native american neighbors facilitate colony s initial success. quite savvy @ using previous history guide. oglethorpe knew had establish successful settlement on altamaha , surrounding areas. in 1735 had captain george dunbar visit ruins of fort king george. though report on site vague (it talks surveyor lines being laid out, done soldiers earlier @ fort king george), oglethorpe s later actions demonstrate unhappiness site. oglethorpe ordered highlanders land @ barnwell s bluff , later moved settlement 1 mile (2 km) farther up-river, due periodic flooding of bluff , proximity marsh, attributable malaria outbreaks in time period also, though not stated in records, stands reason oglethorpe familiar earlier hardships endured @ fort king george. may have read barnwell s journal , other records indicating difficulties of settling site on altamaha. intense climate , harsh natural surroundings along altamaha, coupled history, compelled oglethorpe seek resilient group of people settle area. also, knew had use logistics in how established fortification system along vast stretch of coast, , altamaha settlement crucial cornerstone of system.

the georgia coast geologically unique in 18th century day. approximately one-third of marshlands found on east coast lie in coastal georgia, dips away continental shelf considerably farther other section of eastern north america. produces funnel effect causes georgia s coastline ensure greater concentration of tidal waters. results excessive fluctuations in tides, high 10 12 feet. on years, dramatic tidal shift has produced dynamic currents have created labyrinth of rivers, inlets, shoals, sounds, , sandbars contained behind ever-changing barrier islands. military perspective, due geographical complexity, georgia coast ideal place build defensive system.

historical marker delegal s fort

in part due this, oglethorpe chose use barrier islands advantage defenses south of altamaha. fort frederica placed on inside [intercoastal waterway|intercoastal] side of st. simons island. on south end of island, placed fort st. simons , delegal s fort. these forts , others positioned among barrier islands, main focus keep enemies out of altamaha river system. in era long before highways, interstates, planes, or adequate trails, controlling river system tantamount controlling lands adjacent it, , region surrounding it. altamaha river bordered vast swamps full of valuable resources such timber , precious pine sap naval stores. furthermore, fine artery of travel far colony facilitating trade distant native american tribes.

this why oglethorpe careful in people chose settle , defend altamaha. oglethorpe s military experience , training had taught him scottish highlanders among toughest people in world. generations, had forged livelihood out of mountainous ranges of highlands rocky, stubborn soils, , cruel weather patterns. scots had been united english united kingdom since act of union in 1707 hardly relationship of equals. scottish people on many centuries had endured many cases of abuse english. when weren t being exploited @ home, scottish troops hired mercenaries used fight british wars abroad. broadswords, targes (pronounced targe, , used hand shield), , dirks, finest hand-to-hand combatants in world. though clannish, insular, , politically unstable @ home, scots force reckoned on battlefield, perfect ingredient frontier defense in wildernesses along georgia coast conventional warfare not going norm.

thus, in late 1735 oglethorpe sent captain dunbar , lt. hugh mackay highlands of scotland recruit potential settlers georgia s altamaha frontier settlement. many scots eager come. home life rough due english oppression , feudal system tied many scottish families small unproductive lands limited opportunities, north america offered plenty of hope. lure them, trustees offered each family 50 acres (200,000 m) allotments, scotsmen never dreamed of owning in homeland. also, recruiters told scots each man armed firelock, broadsword, , axe. recently, english had passed laws disarming scots , making unlawful them bear traditional weapons. given cattle, farming implements, , seed crops. 177 scots boarded prince of wales in november 1735, en route new home in georgia. of these, came inverness area , part of chattan confederation. consisted of mcintoshes, mcdonalds, macbeans, mackays, frasers, forbes, clarks, baillies, cameron, , host of other traditional highland clan names. disembarked @ savannah in january 1736, , short time later made way new settlement on altamaha. settlement began @ barnwell s bluff , near old ruins of fort king george. oglethorpe visited site following february , informed scots had chosen name town darien. honor previous scottish settlement of darien had occurred earlier on isthmus of panama in 1695, subsequently destroyed spanish. on visit, oglethorpe dressed in traditional highland kilt show respect scots. additional show of respect, refused comfortable sleeping quarters , preferred sleep highlander men out under large oak tree. 1 other issue addressed oglethorpe @ time related place of settlement. must not have liked lower bluff old fort king george once , @ point, ordered scots move town further bluff (the modern-day site of darien bridge).

drawing of oglethorpe s historic visit among highlanders of darien in february 1736. oglethorpe sought make impression wearing kilt.

by end of 1736, scots had moved town , began thrive. though there hardships along way, scots of darien went on georgia s useful settlers. in ensuing years, integral in establishing timber industry in georgia thousands of feet of lumber shipped down altamaha river , processed @ sawmills in darien. also, key scottish figures in georgia instrumental in establishing better trade relations creek native americans. there numerous other commercial , social contributions given scots @ darien. however, crucial role of military nature. when spanish invaded georgia out of florida in july 1742, scots of darien instrumental in defeating spanish @ battle of bloody marsh on st. simons island, july 7, 1742. successful battle helped bring end struggle empire in southeast , worked cement great britain s hold on area, spanish never again posed serious threat georgia.

over next many generations, scots of darien branched out other frontiers of north america. today, many families of scottish ancestry owe existence in united states scots came darien, georgia, major gateway of scottish settlement in colonial era.

all these developments made possible through idea , existence of fort king george. served in way blueprint toward successful defense of georgia, , consequently, inspired economy , commerce lent tremendously toward colony s success. of colony s structures built out of cypress , yellow pine cut swamps along altamaha river. industry in timber became staple element of georgia s economy throughout colonial period , on 20th century. rather ironic though fort king george had fail in order georgia succeed. lessons wrought experiences @ frontier fort helped guide oglethorpe in defensive efforts of colony. also, had fort king george succeeded, colony of south carolina have been expanded altamaha river , south carolina have progressed there, leaving little reason or justification colony of georgia. of greater import lessons fort king george taught type of settlers necessary on georgia frontier. when oglethorpe , trustees developed plans colony, envisaged colony of citizen-soldiers dual roles of defense , development achieve success. though did serve soldiers, colonists’ role citizens counted toward growth of colony s commerce , economy. families, opposed soldiers alone, proved more develop devout personal interest in defending new home, economy developed , homesteads established. finally, town of darien owes origins fort king george. site town , sawmilling tradition began. without fort king george in 1720s, history of darien may have been altogether different, or perhaps non-existent.