Hussey & Latham Fort Pulaski Memorial
Chatham County, Chatham County, Georgia
Marker Inscription
This memorial commemorates the act of Lieutenant Christopher Hussey of the Montgomery Guards and Private John Latham of the Washington Volunteers, the first volunteer regiment of the state of Georgia while under fire during the bombardment of April 11, 18… transcription continues on the marker
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The Story
In the spring of 1862, Union gunners on Tybee Island opened fire on Fort Pulaski, the brick fortress guarding the sea approach to Savannah. Over roughly a day and a half of shelling on April 10–11, newly developed rifled cannon breached walls once thought impregnable, and the Confederate garrison—drawn from Georgia volunteer companies like the Montgomery Guards and the Washington Volunteers—surrendered. This memorial singles out the courage of two of those defenders, Lieutenant Christopher Hussey and Private John Latham, who stood to their duty while shells fell around them.
Why it matters
The 1862 bombardment proved that rifled artillery could shatter masonry forts, instantly making the great brick coastal fortifications of the era obsolete and reshaping military engineering. Markers like this preserve the individual valor behind a battle that changed how nations defend their shores.
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Related people
- · Lieutenant Christopher Hussey
- · Private John Latham
Related events
- · Bombardment of Fort Pulaski (April 1862)
Themes & tags
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