General Thomas Sumter
Fort Sumter was named for
the heroic General Thomas
Sumter, who commanded a
force of South Carolina militia
during the American
Revolution.
Fort Sumter was named for
the heroic General Thomas
Sumter, who commanded a
force of South Carolina militia
during the American
Revolution.
Fort Sumter National Monument - Charleston, South Carolina
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Fort Sumter, South Carolina
| Fort Sumter National Monument The effects of four years of war are obvious within the ruined walls of historic Fort Sumter. (National Park Service Photo) |
Where the Civil War began...
From a tiny island in Charleston Harbor, the
brick walls of Fort Sumter still stand defiantly
as a reminder of the brutal war that began
here in South Carolina.
Under construction since 1827, the fort was
still unfinished when Major Robert Anderson
led his small force of U.S. soldiers over from
Fort Moultrie on December 26, 1860. South
Carolina had declared its independence and
Anderson feared that his position at Fort
Moultrie was too exposed to attack.
Located in the middle of the harbor, Fort
Sumter would prove easier to defend if
attacked, but Anderson could not have
anticipated the massive bombardment
Southern troops would soon unleash against
him.
While Anderson and his 127 men worked to
strengthen their defenses and mount
cannon, Confederate troops ringed the
harbor with cannon. Repeated requests that
the U.S. Government turn the fort over to
Southern authorities fell on deaf ears and by
early April, the critical moment was at hand.
On April 11, 1861, Brigadier General P.G.T.
Beauregard sent three of his aides out to Fort
Sumter to demand that Anderson surrender.
The major refused, but also pointed out that
he would soon be starved out since his
supplies were running low.
Previously authorized by the general to
decide whether military action should be
launched, Colonel James Chestnut and the
other two aides (Captain Stephen D. Lee and
Lieutenant A.R. Chisolm) left the fort and
traveled to nearby Fort Johnson, where they
gave the order to open fire.
At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, a mortar shell
from Johnson Island rose high over the fort
and exploded. As the citizens of Charleston
crowded on rooftops to watch, the Southern
guns ringing the bay responded to the signal
and opened on Fort Sumter, one by one.
The Confederate cannon fired for 34 straight
hours, battering the walls and setting the
wooden parts of Fort Sumter on fire. Major
Anderson's men responded as best they
could, but the major limited his fire to prevent
his men from unnecessarily exposing
themselves to death and injury.
brick walls of Fort Sumter still stand defiantly
as a reminder of the brutal war that began
here in South Carolina.
Under construction since 1827, the fort was
still unfinished when Major Robert Anderson
led his small force of U.S. soldiers over from
Fort Moultrie on December 26, 1860. South
Carolina had declared its independence and
Anderson feared that his position at Fort
Moultrie was too exposed to attack.
Located in the middle of the harbor, Fort
Sumter would prove easier to defend if
attacked, but Anderson could not have
anticipated the massive bombardment
Southern troops would soon unleash against
him.
While Anderson and his 127 men worked to
strengthen their defenses and mount
cannon, Confederate troops ringed the
harbor with cannon. Repeated requests that
the U.S. Government turn the fort over to
Southern authorities fell on deaf ears and by
early April, the critical moment was at hand.
On April 11, 1861, Brigadier General P.G.T.
Beauregard sent three of his aides out to Fort
Sumter to demand that Anderson surrender.
The major refused, but also pointed out that
he would soon be starved out since his
supplies were running low.
Previously authorized by the general to
decide whether military action should be
launched, Colonel James Chestnut and the
other two aides (Captain Stephen D. Lee and
Lieutenant A.R. Chisolm) left the fort and
traveled to nearby Fort Johnson, where they
gave the order to open fire.
At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, a mortar shell
from Johnson Island rose high over the fort
and exploded. As the citizens of Charleston
crowded on rooftops to watch, the Southern
guns ringing the bay responded to the signal
and opened on Fort Sumter, one by one.
The Confederate cannon fired for 34 straight
hours, battering the walls and setting the
wooden parts of Fort Sumter on fire. Major
Anderson's men responded as best they
could, but the major limited his fire to prevent
his men from unnecessarily exposing
themselves to death and injury.
 | |  | |  | |  |
Anderson surrendered on April 13, 1861, as
the citizens of Charleston drank toasts and
celebrated the beginning of the long-awaited
war.
Confederate troops immediately occupied
Fort Sumter and its defence became a matter
of pride to both South Carolina and the
Confederacy. Union authorities were equally
determined to take it back.
Union forces began to bombard Fort Sumter
in April of 1863, but for nearly two years the
Confederate garrison held out. The walls of
the fort were reduced to rubble, but the
Southern soldiers dug in and refused to give
up. Eventually unable to return even a single
cannon shot against their attackers, the
Confederates of Fort Sumter continued to
hold out. In fact, they never surrendered.
Fort Sumter was evacuated by its defenders
on February 17, 1865, as Sherman's army
marched north through South Carolina. The
Union army never had the pleasure of seeing
a white flag raised above the works.
Please click here to visit the official National
Park Service website for more information.
the citizens of Charleston drank toasts and
celebrated the beginning of the long-awaited
war.
Confederate troops immediately occupied
Fort Sumter and its defence became a matter
of pride to both South Carolina and the
Confederacy. Union authorities were equally
determined to take it back.
Union forces began to bombard Fort Sumter
in April of 1863, but for nearly two years the
Confederate garrison held out. The walls of
the fort were reduced to rubble, but the
Southern soldiers dug in and refused to give
up. Eventually unable to return even a single
cannon shot against their attackers, the
Confederates of Fort Sumter continued to
hold out. In fact, they never surrendered.
Fort Sumter was evacuated by its defenders
on February 17, 1865, as Sherman's army
marched north through South Carolina. The
Union army never had the pleasure of seeing
a white flag raised above the works.
Please click here to visit the official National
Park Service website for more information.
| Copyright 2009 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
Fort Sumter
Massive cannon aim out from
the historic fort. By the end of
the Civil War, it was barely
able to fire a defensive shot
but held out until the end.
Massive cannon aim out from
the historic fort. By the end of
the Civil War, it was barely
able to fire a defensive shot
but held out until the end.
lor.
Cannon at Fort Sumter
The scene of the first battle of
the Civil War, the fort was later
relentlessly bombarded by
Union forces.
The scene of the first battle of
the Civil War, the fort was later
relentlessly bombarded by
Union forces.
Fort Moultrie
Civil War Forts and Battlefields
Historic Sites in South Carolina
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Civil War Forts and Battlefields
Historic Sites in South Carolina
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
