The Battle Of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the atack and surrender of Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, that started the Civil War. South Carolina demanded that the U.S.A abandon Charleston Harbor. On December 26, 1860, U.S. Major Robert Anderson surreptitiously moved his small command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter controlling the entrance of Charleston Harbor. An attempt by U.S. President James Buchanan to resupply Anderson, using a merchant ship Star of the West, failed when it was fired upon by shore batteries on January 9, 1861. South Carolina authorities then seized all Federal land in the Charleston area, except for Fort Sumter.
During the early months of 1861, the situation around Fort Sumter started to look like a siege. In March, Gen. Beauregard, the first general of the newly formed Confederate States of America, was placed in charge of Confederate troops in Charleston. Beauregard directed the strengthening of batteries around Charleston harbor aimed at Fort Sumter. Conditions in the fort grew worse as the Union soldiers rushed to complete the additional guns. Anderson was short of men, and food.
The resupply of Fort Sumter became the first crisis of the administration of President Abraham Lincoln. He notified the Governor of South Carolina, that he was sending supply ships, which resulted in an letter from the Confederate government: get out of Fort Sumter now. Major Anderson refused to give up. at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, the Confederates attacked the fort from artillery batteries around the harbor. Although the Union garrison returned fire, they were out matched and, after 34 hours, Major Anderson agreed to leave. There was no loss of life on either side as a direct result of this battle, although a gun exploited during the 100 gun salute on April 14 caused two Union deaths.
Willowcreek Middle School 4.9.13
Maxwell J.
Maxwell J.