Authoring, Researching, Reporting and other Work

A Learning On-Line Activity by Howard Taylor

Fort Sumter and Abraham Lincoln 

Decisions, T-Mails, Start of a War

Remnants of the Fort Sumter Flag after the bombardment

Flag from the website of the NPS Ft. Sumter Memorial

Telegraph Message from Maj. Robert Anderson to Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary, announcing his withdrawal from Fort Sumter, April 18, 1861;

Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917; Record Group 94; National Archives

. . . On April 10, 1861, Brig. Gen. Pierre G.T. Beauregard, in command of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, SC, demanded the surrender of the U.S. garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Garrison commander Robert Anderson refused. On April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, which was unable to reply effectively. At 2:30 p.m., April 13, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison on the following day. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. From 1863 to 1865, the Confederates at Fort Sumter withstood a 22-month siege by Union forces. During this time, most of the fort was reduced to brick rubble.