Historical research reveals new proof of Georgia monster!

Domain of a River Monster?

A search of nautical articles from 19th century newspapers has revealed new proof of a sea monster or river monster that many say inhabits the area around Darien on the Georgia Coast!

The Altamaha-ha, as it is called by locals, is a giant creature often seen in the channels, creeks and old rice canals of the Altamaha River estuary near Darien. Claims of its existence burst onto the scene during the 1980s when fishermen reported seeing the monster. They described it as a 30-foot long creature with flippers like a seal.

Eyewitness stories of 20th century Altamaha-ha sightings are common, but a new research project has revealed that two sightings of the creature were documented in the 182s!

A sea captain named Delano reported that he saw a monster in 1826 and again in 1830 while sailing along the coast of Georgia in his schooner, the Eagle.

The first sighting was in Doboy Sound, which separates Sapelo Island from the mainland of Georgia and connects to the Altamaha River not far from Darien. The second sighting, in 1830, was off St. Simons Island just south of the mouth of the Altamaha.

The discovery of the new accounts, which are unveiled in an article at ExploreSouthernHistory.com, reveal that people have been seeing something strange in and around the Altamaha River for nearly 200 years!

To read the complete article, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/altamahaha.

Civil War burning of Darien was branded a war crime by both armies

Ruins at Darien, Georgia

On June 11, 1863, Union forces led by Col. James Montgomery burned the historic town of Darien, Georgia, to the ground.

There were no Confederate soldiers in Darien when the atrocity took place, only women, children and the elderly. The city was shelled before it was torched and one woman had a hole torn in her dress by a cannon ball but miraculously was not injured.

Among the regiments taking part in the burning of Darien was the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a Union regiment composed of black soldiers. Its commander, Col. Robert Gould Shaw, called the incident a "dirty piece of business." He had objected to the action, but Montgomery had directed that his orders be carried out, telling Shaw that Southerners must be "swept away by the hand of God, like the Jews of old."

Col. James Montgomery 

Shaw protested the incident to his superiors in the Union army, questioning the honor and legality of the wanton destruction of a town occupied only by civilians.

Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard also protested the incident in a July 1863 letter to Union General Quincy A. Gillmore:

...Ravaging and burning private property are acts of licentiousness unauthorized by the laws of war and the belligerent who wages war in that manner must justly...be regarded as carrying on war like a furious barbarian.

Gillmore's response was to give Montgomery command of a brigade during the coming invasion of Florida that culminated at the Battle of Olustee on February 20, 1864.

Please click here to learn more about the burning of Darien, Georgia: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/darienburning.