As Sherman deployed his forces to invest Savannah, his cavalry reconnoitered Fort McAllister and other nearby fortifications, and determined that the lightly defended fort could be taken by a determined infantry attack.
Da Sherman placerede sine styrker, så de kunne belejre Savannah, rekognoscerede hans kavaleri Fort McAllister og andre nærliggende befæstninger og konstaterede, at det let forsvarede fort kunne tages ved et beslutsomt infanteriangreb.