Fort SumterFort Sumter

April 12April 12thth-14-14thth 1861 1861

1861 Model of Fort Sumter1861 Model of Fort Sumter

Fort SumterFort Sumter

Fort SumterFort Sumter

Fort SumterFort Sumter

Fort SumterFort Sumter

► When the Civil War finally exploded in Charleston When the Civil War finally exploded in Charleston Harbor, it was the result of a half-century of Harbor, it was the result of a half-century of growing sectionalism. Escalating crises over growing sectionalism. Escalating crises over property rights, human rights, states rights and property rights, human rights, states rights and constitutional rights divided the country as it constitutional rights divided the country as it expanded westward. Underlying all the economic, expanded westward. Underlying all the economic, social and political rhetoric was the volatile social and political rhetoric was the volatile question of slavery. Because its economic life had question of slavery. Because its economic life had long depended on enslaved labor, South Carolina long depended on enslaved labor, South Carolina was the first state to secede when this way of life was the first state to secede when this way of life was threatened. Confederate forces fired the first was threatened. Confederate forces fired the first shot in South Carolina, and the federal government shot in South Carolina, and the federal government responded with force. responded with force.

April 12April 12thth 1861 1861► On April 8, Lincoln notified Gov. Francis Pickens of South On April 8, Lincoln notified Gov. Francis Pickens of South

Carolina that he would attempt to resupply the fort. The Carolina that he would attempt to resupply the fort. The Confederate commander at Charleston, Confederate commander at Charleston, Gen.P.G.TGen.P.G.T. Beauregard. Beauregard, , was ordered by the Confederate government to demand the was ordered by the Confederate government to demand the evacuation of the fort and if refused, to force its evacuation. On evacuation of the fort and if refused, to force its evacuation. On April 11, General Beauregard delivered the ultimatum to April 11, General Beauregard delivered the ultimatum to Anderson, who replied, "Gentlemen, if you do not batter the fort Anderson, who replied, "Gentlemen, if you do not batter the fort to pieces about us, we shall be starved out in a few days." On to pieces about us, we shall be starved out in a few days." On direction of the Confederate government in Montgomery, direction of the Confederate government in Montgomery, Beauregard notified Anderson that if he would state the time of Beauregard notified Anderson that if he would state the time of his evacuation, the Southern forces would hold their fire. his evacuation, the Southern forces would hold their fire. Anderson replied that he would evacuate by noon on April 15 Anderson replied that he would evacuate by noon on April 15 unless he received other instructions or additional supplies from unless he received other instructions or additional supplies from his government. (The supply ships were expected before that his government. (The supply ships were expected before that time.) Told that his answer was unacceptable and that time.) Told that his answer was unacceptable and that Beauregard would open fire in one hour, Anderson shook the Beauregard would open fire in one hour, Anderson shook the hands of the messengers and said in parting, "If we do not meet hands of the messengers and said in parting, "If we do not meet again in this world, I hope we may meet in the better one." At again in this world, I hope we may meet in the better one." At 4:30 A.M. on April 12, 1861, 43 Confederate guns in a ring 4:30 A.M. on April 12, 1861, 43 Confederate guns in a ring around Fort Sumter began the bombardment that initiated the around Fort Sumter began the bombardment that initiated the bloodiest war in American history.bloodiest war in American history.

SumterSumter► On April 12th at 4:30 AM he On April 12th at 4:30 AM he

opened fire, bombarding the opened fire, bombarding the fort with heavy fire. Major fort with heavy fire. Major Anderson, with his Anderson, with his ammunition on fire and ammunition on fire and supplies depleted, supplies depleted, surrendered the following day surrendered the following day and left the fort on April 14th. and left the fort on April 14th. Although no casualties were Although no casualties were caused by the enemy, one caused by the enemy, one Union soldier was killed Union soldier was killed during the surrendering during the surrendering ceremony when a cannon ceremony when a cannon backfired. The fort was backfired. The fort was neither a strategic location neither a strategic location nor a deciding battle, but it nor a deciding battle, but it did start what was to be the did start what was to be the United States worst war and United States worst war and one of the bloodiest in history one of the bloodiest in history

24hr Bombardment24hr Bombardment

Map of Charleston HarborMap of Charleston Harbor

Confederate Flag April 14Confederate Flag April 14thth 1861 1861 over Fort Sumterover Fort Sumter

Anderson’s surrender Anderson’s surrender notificationnotification

View Inside Fort SumterView Inside Fort Sumter

Major AndersonMajor Anderson► A pro-slavery Kentuckian but absolutely loyal to the A pro-slavery Kentuckian but absolutely loyal to the

Union, Robert Anderson was considered an ideal choice Union, Robert Anderson was considered an ideal choice for commander in Charleston Harbor during the 1860 for commander in Charleston Harbor during the 1860 secession crisis. Having graduated from West Point secession crisis. Having graduated from West Point (1825), he had risen to major, 1st Artillery, by the time of (1825), he had risen to major, 1st Artillery, by the time of his assignment on November 15,1860. his assignment on November 15,1860.        Given little assistance by the Buchanan        Given little assistance by the Buchanan Administration, Anderson was greatly perturbed by Administration, Anderson was greatly perturbed by having to choose between war and peace. He took having to choose between war and peace. He took matters into his own hands on December 26, following matters into his own hands on December 26, following the secession of the state six days earlier, when he the secession of the state six days earlier, when he moved his two-company garrison from barely defensible moved his two-company garrison from barely defensible Fort Moultrie to unfinished Fort Sumter in the middle of Fort Moultrie to unfinished Fort Sumter in the middle of the harbor. the harbor.        After the unannounced relief ship        After the unannounced relief ship Star OfStar Of the West the West was fired upon by Carolinian gunners on January 9, 1861, was fired upon by Carolinian gunners on January 9, 1861, Anderson, not wishing to start a war, withheld his fire. Anderson, not wishing to start a war, withheld his fire. Later, after he had turned down an April surrender Later, after he had turned down an April surrender demand, Anderson was forced to return fire when the demand, Anderson was forced to return fire when the fort was bombarded on April 12-13. Forced to surrender, fort was bombarded on April 12-13. Forced to surrender, Anderson returned to the North with a sense of failure in Anderson returned to the North with a sense of failure in not having prevented the war. not having prevented the war.        He was appointed brigadier general, USA, on May        He was appointed brigadier general, USA, on May 15, 186 1, and commanded the Department of Kentucky 15, 186 1, and commanded the Department of Kentucky (May 28-August 15, 1861), which was merged into the (May 28-August 15, 1861), which was merged into the Department of the Cumberland (August 15 -October 8, Department of the Cumberland (August 15 -October 8, 186 1), which he also commanded. When his health 186 1), which he also commanded. When his health began to fail, he was relieved of field command and began to fail, he was relieved of field command and given duties at various posts in the North. He was retired given duties at various posts in the North. He was retired from the regular army on October 27, 1863, and from the regular army on October 27, 1863, and brevetted major general for Fort Sumter. After the brevetted major general for Fort Sumter. After the recapture of Charleston, Anderson took part in a recapture of Charleston, Anderson took part in a ceremony in which he reraised the same flag he had ceremony in which he reraised the same flag he had lowered exactly four years earlier. lowered exactly four years earlier.

General BeaugardGeneral Beaugard► The services of "The Hero of Fort Sumter," The services of "The Hero of Fort Sumter,"

Pierre G.T. Beauregard, were not utilized to Pierre G.T. Beauregard, were not utilized to their fullest due to bad blood between the their fullest due to bad blood between the Confederate general and Jefferson Davis. His Confederate general and Jefferson Davis. His Confederate assignments included: brigadier Confederate assignments included: brigadier general, CSA (March 1, 1861); commanding general, CSA (March 1, 1861); commanding Charleston Harbor (March 3 - May 27, 1861); Charleston Harbor (March 3 - May 27, 1861); commanding Alexandria Line June 2-20, 1861); commanding Alexandria Line June 2-20, 1861); commanding Army of the Potomac June 20 - commanding Army of the Potomac June 20 - July 20, 1861); commanding Ist Corps, Army of July 20, 1861); commanding Ist Corps, Army of the Potomac July 20 - October 22, 1861); the Potomac July 20 - October 22, 1861); general, CSA (August 31, 1861 to rank from general, CSA (August 31, 1861 to rank from July 21); commanding Potomac District, July 21); commanding Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia (October 22, Department of Northern Virginia (October 22, 1861 - January 29, 1862); commanding Army of 1861 - January 29, 1862); commanding Army of the Mississippi (March 17-29 and April 6 - May the Mississippi (March 17-29 and April 6 - May 7, 1862); second in command, Army of the 7, 1862); second in command, Army of the Mississippi and Department Y2 (March 29-April Mississippi and Department Y2 (March 29-April 6, 1862); commanding the department (April 6 6, 1862); commanding the department (April 6 - June 17, 1862); commanding Department of - June 17, 1862); commanding Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida (August 29, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida (August 29, 1862 - April 20, 1864); commanding 1862 - April 20, 1864); commanding Department of North Carolina and Southern Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia (April 22-ca. September 23, 1864); Virginia (April 22-ca. September 23, 1864); commanding Military Division of the West commanding Military Division of the West (October 17, 1864-March 16, 1865); and (October 17, 1864-March 16, 1865); and second in command, Army of Tennessee second in command, Army of Tennessee (March 16-April 26, 1865). (March 16-April 26, 1865).

Fort Sumter Looking Fort Sumter Looking Towards Morris IslandTowards Morris Island

Guns of Fort SumterGuns of Fort Sumter

Forts InteriorForts Interior

Walls of SumterWalls of Sumter

Guns of Fort Johnson, With Guns of Fort Johnson, With Sumter on the HorizonSumter on the Horizon

View of Fort Sumter in the Distance as Seen From Ft. View of Fort Sumter in the Distance as Seen From Ft. JohnsonJohnson

Picture of Channel Side of Picture of Channel Side of Fort SumterFort Sumter

Channel side BastionChannel side Bastion

Channel side BastionsChannel side Bastions

North Wall of Fort Sumter, North Wall of Fort Sumter, 18651865

Front of Fort Sumter,Front of Fort Sumter,

Fort Sumter 1865Fort Sumter 1865

Looking back at Charleston Looking back at Charleston HarborHarbor

Fort JohnsonFort Johnson► Fort Johnson is probably best Fort Johnson is probably best

remembered today as the remembered today as the place from which one signaling place from which one signaling mortar shell was fired—a shell mortar shell was fired—a shell that opened the bombardment that opened the bombardment of Fort Sumter. The ultimate of Fort Sumter. The ultimate appeal had been made in the appeal had been made in the hitherto political conflict hitherto political conflict between North and South, for between North and South, for that one mortar shell that one mortar shell symbolized the appeal to force.symbolized the appeal to force.

► In 1864 the fort saw its last In 1864 the fort saw its last military encounter when a military encounter when a group of confederates beat group of confederates beat back and captured a sizeable back and captured a sizeable force of Union troops. In the force of Union troops. In the following year the fort was following year the fort was evacuated. Slowly it fell into evacuated. Slowly it fell into rack and ruin.rack and ruin.

Fort MoultrieFort Moultrie

Fort MoultrieFort Moultrie► In December 1860 South Carolina In December 1860 South Carolina

seceded from the Union, and the seceded from the Union, and the Federal garrison abandoned Fort Federal garrison abandoned Fort Moultrie for the stronger Sumter. Moultrie for the stronger Sumter. Three and a half months later, Three and a half months later, Confederate troops shelled Sumter Confederate troops shelled Sumter into submission, plunging the into submission, plunging the nation into civil war. In April 1863, nation into civil war. In April 1863, Federal iron-clads and shore Federal iron-clads and shore batteries began a 20-month batteries began a 20-month bombardment of Sumter and bombardment of Sumter and Moultrie, yet Charleston’s defenses Moultrie, yet Charleston’s defenses held. When the Confederate army held. When the Confederate army evacuated the city in February evacuated the city in February 1865, Fort Sumter was little more 1865, Fort Sumter was little more than a pile of rubble and Fort than a pile of rubble and Fort Moultrie lay hidden under the band Moultrie lay hidden under the band of sand that protected its walls of sand that protected its walls from Federal shells. The new rifled from Federal shells. The new rifled cannon used during the Civil War cannon used during the Civil War had demolished the brick-walled had demolished the brick-walled fortifications.fortifications.

Fort MoultrieFort Moultrie

The famous Floating Battery at The famous Floating Battery at SumterSumter

Floating CSA Battery Floating CSA Battery CharlestonCharleston

► Scene on the floating Scene on the floating battery, Charleston Harbor, battery, Charleston Harbor, during the bombardment of during the bombardment of Fort Sumter. A very Fort Sumter. A very important factor in the important factor in the bombardment of Fort Sumter bombardment of Fort Sumter was an immense floating was an immense floating battery, which did effective battery, which did effective work in the silencing of the work in the silencing of the forts guns. Major Anderson forts guns. Major Anderson directed many of his shots at directed many of his shots at the floating battery; but the floating battery; but while it was struck fifteen or while it was struck fifteen or eighteen times, not the eighteen times, not the slightest impression was slightest impression was made upon its iron-cased made upon its iron-cased sides sides

CasualtiesCasualties

► Astonishingly, despite the thirty-four hours of Astonishingly, despite the thirty-four hours of fighting, there were no fatalities on either side and fighting, there were no fatalities on either side and only a few injuries. Sadly, it was during the only a few injuries. Sadly, it was during the ceremony lowering the American flag after the battle ceremony lowering the American flag after the battle had concluded, that a loss of life occurred. On the had concluded, that a loss of life occurred. On the fiftieth firing of what was intended to be a hundred fiftieth firing of what was intended to be a hundred salutes, the gun exploded, killing one soldier salutes, the gun exploded, killing one soldier instantly. Another soldier would die of his wounds a instantly. Another soldier would die of his wounds a few days later in a Charleston hospital; four other few days later in a Charleston hospital; four other victims recovered. The battle of Fort Sumter itself victims recovered. The battle of Fort Sumter itself failed to predict the enormous casualties that lay failed to predict the enormous casualties that lay ahead; ironically, it was the subsequent ceremony ahead; ironically, it was the subsequent ceremony that glimpsed the awful future. that glimpsed the awful future.