Battle of Fort Sumter

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Battle of Fort Sumter

• Charleston Harbor, South Carolina

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Background

• April 10, 1861
• Brig. Gen. Beauregard demanded the surrender of
  the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston
  Harbor.
• Garrison commander Anderson refused.
• April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on
  the fort, which was unable to reply effectively.
• At 230 p.m., April 13, Major Anderson
  surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison
  on the following day.

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Importance.

• Bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening
  engagement of the American Civil War.
• No casualties during bombardment.
• One Union artillerist was killed and three
  wounded (one mortally) when a cannon exploded
  prematurely when firing a salute during the
  evacuation.

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Present Day Fort Sumter..
Fort Sumter now belongs to the National Park
Service. Federal monies are used to maintain and
preserve this national monument. Citizens can
visit Fort Sumter during regular business hours
any day of the week.
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Fort Sumter -- 1861

• 5 foot thick brick walls
• Towered 50 feet above the water to command the
  main ship channel
• Four sides, 170 to 190 feet long, were designed
  for three tiers of guns the gorge, mainly
  officers' quarters, mounted guns only on the
  third tier
• Enlisted men's barracks paralleled the gunrooms
  on the two flanks
• A sally port pierced the center of the gorge,
  opening onto a wharf
• The fort was designed for an armament of 135 guns
  and a garrison of 650 men
• December 1860 90 percent completed
• Standing empty
• Only 15 cannon mounted and ready

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Sally Port
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Fort Sumter in History..

• Originally intended to protect Charleston Harbor
  from attack by naval vessels.
• One of many island forts located in port harbors
  along the Atlantic coast of America.
• Fort Sumter represented the United States Govt
  to the state of South Carolina.

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Views of Fort Sumter..
Parapet of Fort Sumter
Exterior view of Fort Sumter
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• Constant bombardment
• for 34 hours
• 3,000 rounds hit Fort Sumter
• Soldiers quarters were entirely burned
• Main gates destroyed by fire
• Gorge walls seriously damaged
• Magazine surrounded by flames
• 4 barrels and 3 cartridges of powder
• no provisions (food) remaining but pork,

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