Fort Sumter
Five days after South Carolina seceeded, 68 federal troops that were stationed in S.C. moved to Fort Sumpter, an island in the Charleston Harbor. The north said that Fort Sumpter was property of the US government. The south believed it belonged to the confederacy. Six thousand S.C. militia were in the harbor and cut off food and reinforcements from Major Robert Anderson and his troops. President James Buchanan sent 200 soldiers and supplies onto an unarmed ship to get food and supplies to him. They quickly departed when S.C. started shooting at them. Lincoln didn't know what to do when the fort was running out of supplies. He thought that an attack on the fort would be seen as northern agression. He would not let his troops surrender or starve. Jefferson Davis thought he had no other choice then to make Anderson surrender Fort Sumpter. Anderson reffused to surrender. The south opened fire at 4:30 AM on April 12, 1861. There were over 3,000 shells shot in a three-and-a-half day period. Anderson finally surrendered. No one was killed on either side.
Quote from Major Robert Anderson
"Our southern brethen have done greiviously, they have rebelled and attacked their father's house and their loyal brothers. They must be punished and brought back, but this necessity breaks my heart"- Major Robert Anderson
Extra information
www.britannica.com/blogs/2011/04/fort-sumter-start-american-civil-war-photo-day/
www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Fort-Sumter-The-Civil-War-Begins.html
www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Fort-Sumter-The-Civil-War-Begins.html
This is a picture of the confederates shooting at Fort Sumpter.