Fort Tyler, Chattahoochee Valley Travel Guide

Fort Tyler, located in West Point, Georgia, is a historic Civil War site with the unique designation of being the last Confederate fort captured by the Union [5, 9]. The battle occurred on April 16, 1865, unknowingly to many soldiers, a week after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox [5, 9].The fort was named after Confederate Brigadier General Robert C. Tyler, who was in command of the outpost and was fatally shot during the battle [5, 7]. Fort Tyler was strategically positioned on a hill overlooking downtown West Point, the Chattahoochee River, and a crucial railroad trestle [5]. The Confederate forces, numbering around 265, were attacked by approximately 3,500 Union troops [5]. Despite being heavily outnumbered, they managed to resist for eight hours before the fort was captured [4].Today, visitors can explore the reconstructed earthen fort and walk a marked trail [5]. The site features reproductions of the artillery pieces that were once in place, including a 32-pounder naval gun and two 12-pounder Napoleon guns [5, 6]. Informational plaques along the trail recount the history of the fort and the battle that took place there [12]. Fort Tyler is also part of the Civil War Discovery Trail, which connects over 300 sites in 16 states to educate about the Civil War [9].