Bird's-eye view of coastal Georgia after Hurricane Matthew
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Historic Fort Pulaski National Monument is still completely surrounded by flood waters in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Savannah. For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States' main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new technology proved its superiority to these forts. The Union army used rifled cannon and compelled the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski to surrender. The siege was a landmark experiment in the history of military science and invention. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com