Sunbury Crab Co., Midway, Georgia
Day #297: From last evening I beat Mike at cribbage. Up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit, cookies and mini blueberry muffins. During the early morning some light rain showers moved through but in A.M. it was sunny with a slight breeze. Weather is predicted that there may be a few showers today and breezy. The shower at the marina is in a small pool house that has a kitchenette and bed. "Myra-Marie" and "Laurie Jean" decided to leave heading to Savannah. Mike and I worked on navigation for the upcoming week. The two of us walked one mile to Fort Morris. It is a fort on a bend in the Medway River and played an important role in the protection of southeast Georgia throughout various conflicts beginning in 1741 and ending in 1865 at the conclusion of the American Civil War, including the French and Indian and American Revolutionary Wars and War of 1812. Economic difficulties which followed the Civil War, along with diseases and hurricanes, ended the last traces of prosperous life at Sunbury. Today, nothing remains of the historic settlement except a few monuments in the cemetery, the mighty Medway River, and the earthworks at the site of Fort Morris. After watching a video, touring a small museum and walking the small grounds the two of us walked back to the marina. Mike and I worked on the first two weeks of May trip planning. We had happy hour onboard the boat. The winds were very gusty in the late afternoon. At 5:00 P.M. Bud, Sue, (Odyssey) and Mike and I went up to the Sunbury Crab Co. for dinner. The four decided to go up to listen to the live music at the restaurant at 8:30 P.M. tonight.
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| Heading out toward the road is the sigh for Sunbury Crab Company Restaurant and Marina. |
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Erected at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, to guard the Port of Sunbury and St. John's Parish. Fort Morris was an enclosed earthwork in the shape of an irregular quadrangle. Surrounded by a parapet and moat. It contained a parade of about an acre. The for was defended by more than 25 pieces of ordinance of varied size. It was named in honor of Captain Morris who commanded the company of artillery by which it was first garrisoned early in 1776.
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Beautiful walk in the park leading to Fort Morris.
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Colonel John McIntosh commanded the garrison on November 25, 1778, when Col L. V. Fuser with 500 British troops, supported by armed ships in the Medway river, landed at Sunbury and demanded the immediate surrender of Fort Morris. Colonel McIntosh, with 127 Continental troops, some militia and citizens of Sunbury, less than 200 men in all, replied "Come and Take It!"
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While the fort is nearly hidden by trees today, none of this foliage stood when the fort was in use. The land had been completely cleared for a field of fire and the timber used to frame the fort's shape. Dirt was packed into frames and allowed to settle. Next, the frames were removed and turf squares laid out and held in place by wooden pegs.
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Unlike large brick or stone forts, Fort Morris (1776) and later Fort Defiance (1814) were built out of earth and wood. Obviously, these materials were inexpensive, easy to come by and easy to repair These kinds of fortifications also deteriorate faster. That partially explains the lack of structures for us to see today.
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Looking out to the south was were the British occupied this point in their actions against the fort.
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Saint Catherine's Sound can be see seven miles in the distance. Ships on their way to Sunbury had to first stop at a quarantine island to be cleared before proceeding. The forts being built here at the bend in the river had a distinct advantage. The great guns could easily sweep an enemy ship lengthways before it could bring a full broadside to bear on the fort. The channel is approximately 27 feet deep in front of the fort, and it is said that the Medway is the deepest natural river south of the Chesapeake.
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Other boaters saw alligators while we were traveling yesterday but Mike and I haven't seen any lately.
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The modern dock is in almost the same location as Lamott's Wharf of the port of Sunbury.
Live band this evening in Sunbury. |
