Today Mom and I took a field trip to fortpulaskinps with Cousin Benjamin and my Grampy! It was both my first time and Benjamin's first time going to a National Park! The construction of Fort Pulaski began in 1829 and required $1 million, 25 million bricks and 18 years to complete. At the time, the fort with 7.5' thick walls was considered unbreachable. Built on Cockspur Island, all the surrounding ground was marshy and unfit for building - all the better to keep away the enemy. After all, if you can't build another stronghold, how can you infiltrate a fort? It was not until the Civil War that the fort was finally put into use by the Confederates. Unfortunately for them, the Union took over Tybee Island (roughly 1 mile away) in February of 1862. When the Confederates refused to surrender, the Union opened fire in April of 1862. With the advancement of cannon technology, they were able to bombard the fort until the Confederates surrendered a mere 30 hours later. The fort was seized by ...