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The fort was guarded by sixty-eight soldiers commanded by Major Robert Anderson, a regular army officer from Kentucky. The Confederate officer was Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard. A few years earlier, at West Point, he had been Anderson's student, and Anderson thought very highly of Beauregard's military knowledge; he later appointed him as his assistant. On April 10, 1861, the Union garrison in the fort was told to surrender by Beauregard. This demand was refused and on April 12, 1861, at 4:30 AM, Confederate batteries opened fire, which lasted for 36 hours, on the fort. The open fire command was proudly given by civilian Edmund Ruffin , a farmer from Virginia who had long favored secession. The Union returned fire but was ineffective.
On April 13, the fort was evacuated after surrendering. The only casualties took place after the surrender, when two Union soldiers were killed, and two others wounded during an inadvertent gunpowder explosion during a salute that occurred during the evacuation. Accounts often describe Charleston residents along what is now known as "The Battery" or " Battery ParkBattery Park is a 21 acre (8. 5 hectare) park located at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City. The park is named for the artillery that was stationed there at various times by the Dutch and English. At one end of the park is Hope Garden, a memor", sitting on balconies and drinking salutes to the start of the hostilities.
See also: Mary ChesnutMary Chesnut ( 1823- 1886) lived in Charleston, South Carolina, and is famous for keeping an extremely detailed diary describing the American Civil War. She was born in Stateboro, South Carolina, to Mary Boykin and Stephen Decatur Miller, who had been a s; Battle of Fort SumterThe Battle of Fort Sumter ( April 12 13, 1861), which was militarily minor, began the American Civil War. Prelude Main article Causes of the American Civil War President James Buchanan, a popular Southern Democrat, was somewhat sympathetic to the Southern
Union batteries and ships bombarded the Confederate-held fort from August 17August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 136 days remaining. Events 1807 Robert Fulton's first American steamboat leaves New York City for Albany, New York on the Hudson River, inaugurating the firs - December 31December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, as the final day of the Gregorian year. Events 406 Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia 1600 British East India Company is ch, 1863Events January-March January 1 Abraham Lincoln delivers the Emancipation Proclamation during the second year of the American Civil War. January 1 The first claim under the Homestead Act is made for a farm in Nebraska January 8 Ground is broken in Sacramen.
1861, inside the fort flying the Confederate Flag