The English gained control of the valuable Altamaha River by

The English gained control of the Altamaha River by building Fort King George which was the first fortress where the British garrisoned their troops and provisions in the Georgia Colony. The fort was located next to the Altamaha River, the third largest freshwater River in North America's eastern shore.

By 1721, Fort King George was the main outpost in the south. It was under the orders of Colonel John Barnwell.

Nowadays, the Fort is a historic site that was included in the National Registered of Historic Places, in 1971.