The Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, marked the beginning of the American Civil War. After 34 hours of artillery fire, the Union garrison surrendered the fort, catalyzing the nation's descent into full-scale civil war.
The attack on Fort Sumter marked a pivotal moment in American history as the first military engagement of the Civil War. On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces opened fire on this federal fortress in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, launching a 34-hour bombardment that would change the nation forever.
The tension between North and South had reached its breaking point when President Abraham Lincoln announced his plan to resupply the Union garrison at Fort Sumter. Confederate leaders viewed this action as a provocation and demanded the fort's surrender. When Union commander Major Robert Anderson refused, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered the attack that would spark America's bloodiest conflict. The assault on Fort Sumter galvanized both sides and transformed political disagreements into open warfare.
The Growing Tensions Between North and South
#The relationship between the Northern and Southern states deteriorated rapidly in the months leading to the Fort Sumter attack. Economic disparities social differences between the regions created an increasingly volatile political atmosphere.
Political Climate in Early 1861
#The election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860 sparked immediate concerns among Southern states. Seven Southern states left the Union between December 1860 and February 1861:
- Mississippi seceded on January 9, 1861
- Florida seceded on January 10, 1861
- Alabama seceded on January 11, 1861
- Georgia seceded on January 19, 1861
- Louisiana seceded on January 26, 1861
- Texas seceded on February 1, 1861
| Key Political Events | Date |
|---|---|
| Lincoln's Election | November 6, 1860 |
| First State Secession | December 20, 1860 |
| Formation of Confederate States | February 4, 1861 |
| Lincoln's Inauguration | March 4, 1861 |
South Carolina's Secession
#South Carolina led the secession movement on December 20, 1860. The state's Ordinance of Secession cited specific grievances:
- Northern states' failure to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act
- Federal government's perceived interference with states' rights
- Economic disputes over tariffs affecting Southern commerce
- Rejection of the expansion of slavery into new territories
The state immediately demanded the surrender of all federal properties including Fort Sumter located in Charleston Harbor. South Carolina militia forces occupied all federal forts except Fort Sumter positioning artillery batteries at strategic points around the harbor.
Fort Sumter's Strategic Importance
#Fort Sumter's position in Charleston Harbor made it a critical military installation for controlling maritime access to South Carolina's largest port city. Its strategic location represented both military advantage and symbolic authority over the region's commercial interests.
Location and Military Significance
#Fort Sumter stood on a pentagon-shaped artificial island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, sitting 3.5 miles from the city of Charleston. The fort's walls rose 50 feet above sea level with 5-foot-thick masonry designed to house 135 guns in three tiers of gun rooms. Its position enabled complete control over the harbor's shipping channels through a crossfire with Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island.
| Fort Sumter Statistics | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance from Charleston | 3.5 miles |
| Wall Height | 50 feet |
| Wall Thickness | 5 feet |
| Gun Capacity | 135 guns |
| Construction Period | 1829-1860 |
Union Occupation Under Major Anderson
#Major Robert Anderson commanded a garrison of 85 men at Fort Sumter after relocating from Fort Moultrie on December 26, 1860. The move occurred under cover of darkness as Anderson recognized Fort Sumter's superior defensive position. His garrison faced severe supply limitations with only 4 months of provisions. The occupation created tension between federal authorities who viewed it as sovereign U.S. territory and South Carolina officials who considered it state property after secession.
| Garrison Details | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total Personnel | 85 men |
| Officers | 9 |
| Enlisted Men | 76 |
| Available Artillery | 48 guns |
| Months of Supplies | 4 |
The Confederate Siege
#The Confederate siege of Fort Sumter intensified in early 1861 as South Carolina militia forces established artillery positions around Charleston Harbor. The standoff created a diplomatic crisis between the newly formed Confederate government and the United States federal authorities.
Initial Standoff and Failed Negotiations
#Confederate forces positioned 30 gun batteries with 47 guns and mortars in a ring around Fort Sumter by March 1861. General P.G.T. Beauregard demanded Major Anderson's surrender on April 11, 1861, through three Confederate representatives: Colonel James Chesnut Jr., Captain Stephen D. Lee, and Lieutenant A. R. Chisolm. Anderson rejected the ultimatum but indicated the garrison's supplies would be depleted by April 15, prompting a series of diplomatic exchanges that failed to resolve the crisis.
| Confederate Forces | Union Forces |
|---|---|
| 30 gun batteries | 48 guns total |
| 47 guns & mortars | 85 men |
| 500+ militia | 4 days supply |
President Lincoln's Response
#Lincoln announced his decision to resupply Fort Sumter on April 6, 1861, dispatching a relief expedition of merchant vessels carrying food provisions. The President sent written notification to South Carolina Governor Francis Pickens stating the mission's non-military nature. Confederate authorities interpreted this resupply attempt as a hostile act, leading General Beauregard to request authorization from Confederate President Jefferson Davis to attack the fort before reinforcements arrived.
| Relief Expedition Details |
|---|
| Departure: April 6, 1861 |
| Ships: 3 merchant vessels |
| Cargo: Food provisions |
| Armed escorts: None |
The Battle of Fort Sumter
#The Battle of Fort Sumter began on April 12, 1861, marking the first military engagement of the American Civil War. Confederate forces launched an artillery assault on the Union-held fort in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, after months of mounting tension.
April 12, 1861: The First Shots
#Confederate Lieutenant Henry S. Farley fired the first shot at Fort Sumter at 4:30 a.m. from a 10-inch mortar battery on James Island. The initial barrage came from 43 Confederate guns strategically placed around Charleston Harbor:
- Fort Johnson: 8 guns targeting the fort's northeast wall
- Morris Island: 12 guns focused on the south wall
- Sullivan's Island: 15 guns directed at the north wall
- Floating battery: 4 guns positioned near Sullivan's Island
- Mount Pleasant: 4 guns aimed at the fort's eastern face
34-Hour Bombardment
#The Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter continued for 34 hours with devastating effects on the fort's structure:
| Impact Statistics | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Confederate shots fired | 3,000+ |
| Union shots returned | 1,000 |
| Confederate casualties | 0 |
| Union casualties | 0 |
| Hours of continuous fire | 34 |
Major Anderson's garrison returned fire at 7:00 a.m. using 48 operational guns. The fort's powder supplies limited their response to 1,000 shots:
- Upper-tier guns remained unused due to insufficient cartridges
- Lower-tier guns fired at reduced charges
- Hot shot furnaces ignited three fires inside the fort
- Wooden buildings inside caught fire by April 13
- The garrison's flagpole was struck by Confederate fire
The fort surrendered at 2:30 p.m. on April 13, 1861, after Major Anderson determined the position was no longer defensible.
Aftermath and Surrender
#The surrender of Fort Sumter occurred at 2:30 p.m. on April 13, 1861, following 34 hours of intense bombardment. Major Robert Anderson negotiated honorable surrender terms with Confederate forces, allowing the Union garrison to evacuate with their arms and personal property.
Union Evacuation
#The Union garrison evacuated Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861, boarding the USS Baltic for transport to New York Harbor. Confederate forces permitted Anderson's men to perform a 100-gun salute to the U.S. flag during the evacuation, though this ceremony ended tragically when a premature explosion killed Private Daniel Hough and mortally wounded Private Edward Galloway. The remaining 83 soldiers departed with full military honors, carrying their weapons and personal effects.
Impact on American History
#The fall of Fort Sumter catalyzed immediate political and military responses across the nation. President Lincoln issued a proclamation on April 15, 1861, calling for 75,000 volunteer troops to suppress the rebellion. Four additional Southern states - Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina - seceded from the Union in response to Lincoln's call for troops. The battle transformed theoretical disputes over states' rights into armed conflict, uniting the North behind the Union cause while solidifying Confederate resistance.
| Impact Statistics | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Union Casualties | 2 deaths (accidental) |
| Confederate Casualties | 0 |
| States that Seceded After Battle | 4 |
| Volunteer Troops Requested | 75,000 |
Key Takeaways
#- Fort Sumter was attacked on April 12, 1861, marking the start of the American Civil War with a 34-hour Confederate bombardment of the Union-held fortress.
- The attack occurred after mounting tensions between North and South, sparked by Lincoln's election and the secession of seven Southern states between December 1860 and February 1861.
- Confederate forces, led by General P.G.T. Beauregard, fired over 3,000 shots at the fort after Major Robert Anderson refused to surrender the garrison of 85 Union soldiers.
- Despite returning approximately 1,000 shots, Fort Sumter surrendered on April 13, 1861, with no combat casualties on either side (though two Union soldiers died in a post-surrender accident).
- The battle's aftermath led to President Lincoln calling for 75,000 volunteer troops and prompted four more Southern states to secede from the Union.
Conclusion
#The attack on Fort Sumter stands as one of the most pivotal moments in American history. That fateful morning of April 12 1861 transformed a nation divided by political ideology into one torn apart by war. The 34-hour bombardment didn't just mark the fall of a strategic fortification - it ignited a conflict that would reshape the United States forever.
The events at Fort Sumter demonstrate how quickly political tensions can escalate into armed conflict when diplomatic solutions fail. The battle's aftermath united the North behind President Lincoln's call to preserve the Union while strengthening Southern resolve to defend their perceived rights. This single event set in motion four years of civil war that would ultimately determine the future of the American nation.