Fort Sumter: The Spark that Ignited the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Fort Sumter played a pivotal role in the conflict, marking the first major engagement between Union and Confederate forces. This article explores the events leading up to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter and the subsequent surrender, examining the historical context and the significance of this pivotal moment.

The Build-Up to the Attack

Fort Sumter was strategically located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Its primary purpose was to protect the city from foreign invasion. However, as the tensions between the Union and the Confederacy escalated, Fort Sumter took on a new role in the unfolding drama of the Civil War.

The Confederate Deputations and Refusal to Surrender

Before the actual attack, the Confederates made several attempts to peacefully resolve the situation. On two occasions, a delegation was sent to the fort to demand a surrender. However, Major Robert Anderson, the commander of the fort, refused to comply, insisting on the rights of his men and adherence to federal law.

With a standoff worsening and facing an ultimatum, the Confederates decided to take the fort by force. The Confederate bombardment began early on April 12, 1861, at 4:30 a.m., with Confederate artillery firing for 34 continuous hours. Interestingly, the Union side did not immediately return fire for more than two hours, emphasizing the futility of their ammunition.

The Battle and Surrender

The Confederate shelling continued relentlessly throughout the day. By 7:00 a.m., the Union began to return fire. Their response was inadequate, given the limited effectiveness of their ammunition and the lack of fuses for their explosive shells, which meant they could only use solid iron balls.

Despite the hostile environment, the Union forces fought with remarkable determination. However, the situation grew increasingly desperate as the incessant shelling intensified, and ammunition started to deplete. Major Anderson finally surrendered the fort at 2:30 p.m. on April 13, 1861, marking the first major victory for Confederate forces.

The Human Cost

Notably, no one died during the bombardment itself. However, one of the first military casualties of the Civil War occurred during a 100-gun salute to the U.S. flag—a symbolic gesture by Major Anderson as a condition for withdrawal. A pile of cartridges exploded, mortally wounding two privates and seriously injuring the other four members of the gun crew.

Lincoln's Reinforcement and the Justifications for War

A different perspective on how Fort Sumter became a focal point of the Civil War involves President Abraham Lincoln's strategic decisions. Lincoln sending a squadron of warships, 600 Union troops, and a supply ship into Charleston Harbor was not merely a show of strength but a calculated move to provoke the South into firing first.

Lincoln attempted to order Union naval commanders to attack and commandeer forts on Southern soil, but they refused due to the unlawfulness of the orders. Lincoln's ruse worked, as the Southern gunners assumed they were under imminent attack. This maneuver provided Lincoln the justification he needed to begin the invasion of Northern Virginia and present the South as the instigators who 'fired upon the flag.'

Despite the historical truths about Lincoln's strategic steps and the narrative of the Confederate attack, these actions continue to be portrayed inaccurately in popular discourse.