April 12, 1861: Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter, beginning the Civil War




With the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency, southerners worried that the Union was about to be radicalized. In South Carolina, representatives met to discuss possibly seceding from the Union. On December 26, 1860, South Carolina voted to secede from the Union. Following their example, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana also held conventions and seceded from the Union in January and February of the following year. That Spring the seceded states formed the Confederate States of America. Young men from all over the Confederacy armed themselves and formed militia companies. The Confederate government tasked these newly organized militias with capturing federal forts and armories throughout the South. In the Spring of 1861, troops lead by General P.G.T. Beauregard seized numerous federal arsenals in South Carolina. In April, his campaign brought him to the mouth of Charleston Harbor. Beauregard’s men prepared to siege the Union-held fort in the harbor, Fort Sumter.

On April 11, 1861, Beauregard asked the Union commander of the fort, Major Robert Anderson for the garrison’s surrender. Anderson refused. Ironically, Beauregard had been student of Anderson’s at West Point. Beauregard consulted with the Confederate government on what his next move should be. On April 12, at 4:30 A.M. the Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter. Edmund Ruffin, a three-decade supporter of secession, had the honor of firing the first shot. The bombardment lasted entire day and night of the 12th. The fort finally capitulated on April 13. The siege resulted in no Union or Confederate casualties, with the exception of a federal horse. After the surrender, the Union garrison inside was allowed to leave unmolested. As Anderson withdrew his men, he took the Union flag that flew during the battle as a memento. It would become the rallying cry of the Union.

Throughout the war, the Union would try to retake Fort Sumter, to no avail. However, in 1865 as William Tecumseh Sherman marched toward South Carolina, the Confederate garrison abandoned the fort. On April 14, 4 years and a day since his surrender, Major Robert Anderson triumphantly entered the fort, raising the flag to the precipice on which it had once flown.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 25, 1306: Robert the Bruce is crowned King of Scots

Image
Robert the Bruce was born in Turnberry Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland on June 7, 1274. He came from a long line of claimants to the Scottish throne, being a descendant of King David I. During his childhood, he was educated in history, civics and languages. He learned a variety of local dialects, French and Latin. Robert's early life was typical of a 13th century European noble. However his young life would soon be thrown upside down with the arrival of the English in Scotland. In 1286, King Alexander III died, his crown passed to a child named Margaret, the Maid of Norway. Due to Margaret's youth, the Scottish nobles assigned Guardians of Scotland to serve as regents until she would come of age. Then in 1290, Margaret died. This created a crisis between the five remaining claimants to the throne: John Balliol, John Hastings, Floris V, Count of Holland, and Robert. The Guardians feared a civil war, so they asked Edward I, King of England to mediate the situation. The King deci
Read more

May 7, 1763: Ottawa leader Pontiac captures Fort Detroit from the British, sparking Pontiac's War

Image
Pontiac was born between 1712 and 1725 in an Ottawa village on the bank of the Detroit River. Little is known about his early life. By 1747, he became a war leader among the Ottawa tribe. Pontiac and his tribe were key French allies during the French and Indian War. After their victory in the war, the British claimed much of the territory formerly held by the French. The Ottawa and several other tribes greatly resented their new British overlords. On April 27, 1763, Pontiac held a council with representatives of neighboring tribes. He asked them join him in attacking the British held Ford Detroit. On May 7, his small band of tribesmen laid siege to the fort. News of the siege quickly spread, bringing over nine hundred native warriors to his cause. The Fort finally capitulated later that day. Over the following weeks, Pontiac would capture over a dozen forts in the surrounding area.
Read more

May 2, 1863: Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning to camp after reconnoitering during the Battle of Chancellorsville

Image
Throughout 1863, Robert E. Lee fought back against the Union advance toward Richmond. The Peninsula Campaign, was Union General George B. McClellan’s attempt to seize the Confederate capital of Richmond. Confederate President Jefferson Davis promoted his military advisor, Robert E. Lee to take command of the army and push back McClellan. Lee was able to push back McClellan at the Battle of Seven Pines; however, the battle would prove not only to be a watershed moment for Lee but also for another of his generals. During the battle, troops under the command of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson led the charge against the Union soldiers. Jackson cut a very interesting figure. He was an uncompromising hypochondriac. He would suck lemons in the heat of battle, and keep one arm lifted because he felt it kept “the blood balanced.” However even with all of quirks, he was a brilliant tactician, with an utter disregard for the lives of his soldiers. But his soldiers loved him because he brought them
Read more