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The Battle of Fort Sumter


On this day, April 12, 1861, the Battle of Fort Sumter began. This was the battle that began the U.S. Civil War. The battle continued on until the following day, ending with Confederate victory. U.S. Army commander of Fort Sumter, Major Robert Anderson, described the battle as the following:

"Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of heat, four barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no provisions remaining but pork, I accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard, being the same offered by him on the 11th instant, prior to the commencement of hostilities, and marched out of the fort Sunday afternoon, the 14th instant, with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away company and private property, and saluting my flag with fifty guns."[1]



[1] "Battle of Fort Sumter, April 1861," National Park Service (Battle of Fort Sumter, April 1861 (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) : accessed 12 April 2021), section Evacuation Ceremony & Confederate Victory, para. 4.

[2] Currier & Ives, Bombardment of Fort Sumter 1861 (https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b49873/ : accessed 12 April 2021); "Battle of Fort Sumter," Wikipedia (Battle of Fort Sumter - Wikipedia : accessed 2021).



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