| Definition of Fort Sumter
Definition and Summary: Fort Sumter is a fort in SE South Carolina, that was built to guard Charleston Harbor. Its bombardment and capture by forces of the Confederacy was the first action of the American Civil War on April 12, 1861. The Union commander at Fort Sumter was Major Robert Anderson and the Confederacy attack was led by Brigadier General. P. G. T. Beauregard. The fortress was built on a 2.4 acre man-made island as a coastal garrison and military post, part of the "detached forts" system to defend the major ports and harbors of the United States. Fort Sumter
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th American President who served in office from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865. One of the key events during his presidency was the Battle of Fort Sumter that started the American Civil War. |
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| | Fort Sumter - Summary and Overview
What happened at Fort Sumter? The Battle of Fort Sumter took place in April, 1861. The Secession of South Carolina from the Union on December 20th, 1860 brought the threat of Civil War closer. Major Robert Anderson, who commanded the United States forces at Charleston, made the decision to withdrew from the land forts surrounding Charleston to the man-made harbor fortress of Fort Sumter. He commanded just over 100 troops and desperately needed reinforcements together with supplies of both food and ammunition. President James Buchanan sent a steamer, called the Star of the West, to Charleston with new supplies and 200 soldiers. However, the Confederates fired on the ship which was forced to steam away without landing either the soldiers or the supplies. Other states joined South Carolina in the Secession of the South. Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861. The new President waited a month, hoping that the secessionists would return to the Union of their own accord. He ordered a fleet of ships, to attempt entry into Charleston Harbor and supply Fort Sumter. Lincoln then told the governor of South Carolina of his decision. The Confederates, under the command of General Pierre Beauregard, immediately opened fire on April 12, 1861. On April 14 Major Anderson was forced to surrender. The next day President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers and the American Civil War started. | 
Picture of Fort Sumter,
with Charleston in the background |
| Fort Sumter
What happened at Fort Sumter? Interesting facts about the history and events are detailed in the FAQ fact sheet which will tell you the story of exactly what happened at Fort Sumter. The early photograph on your left shows Palmetto reinforcements against the fortress wall. Fort Sumter: All of your Questions Answered!
The fact sheet provides interesting facts and important information presented in a simple question and answer format. Hope it helps with social studies at school and homework! 
Location of Fort Sumter |
Fort Sumter: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions for kids) | | Facts for Kids | Questions and Answers | | Fort Sumter Fact 1 | Q. Where is Fort Sumter located?
A. It is situated on a 2.4 acre man-made island fortification, located at the entrance to Charleston harbor in South Carolina | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 2 | Q. Who was Fort Sumter named after?
The fortress was originally referred to as simply "The Battery" but was renamed in 1861 in honor of the American Revolutionary War general, Thomas Sumter. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 3 | Q. Who won the Battle at Fort Sumter
A. The battle was fought April 12–14, 1861 and was won by the Confederacy | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 4 | Q. When was Fort Sumter attacked?
A. The fortress was attacked at 4.30 am on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces around Charleston Harbor, opened fire on the Union garrison who were holding Fort Sumter. At 2:30pm on April 13, 1861 the Union garrison commander, surrendered the fort and was evacuated the next day. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 5 | Q. Who was the commander of Fort Sumter?
A. The United States commander at Fort Sumter was U.S. Army Major Robert Anderson (1805 – 1871). Major Anderson was the commanding officer of the Union forces in Charleston, South Carolina, which was the last remaining important Union post in the Confederacy | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 6 | Q. Who led the attack on Fort Sumter?
A. Jefferson Davis, who became the Confederate President, ordered the important fort be captured. The attack on Fort Sumter was led by P. G. T. Beauregard (1818 - 1893). P. G. T. Beauregard was the commander of the defenses of Charleston, South Carolina, with the rank of Brigadier General. P. G. T. Beauregard demanded Major Robert Anderson to surrender but he refused. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 7 | Q. How long was the Battle of Fort Sumter?
A. The battle and bombardment, lasted over a two day period for 34 hours. The Union troops were hopelessly outnumbered and lacked sufficient ammunition to defend the fortress | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 8 | Q. When was the fall of Fort Sumter?
A. The fall of Fort Sumter was at 2:30pm on April 13, 1861 when the Union garrison commander, Major Robert Anderson, surrendered the fortress, that was evacuated the next day. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 9 | Q. Who fired the first shot at Fort Sumter and the Civil War?
A. It was widely claimed that Edmund Ruffin fired the first shot on Fort Sumter but his story is disputed and Lieutenant Henry S. Farley, commanding a battery of two 10 inch siege mortars from James Island, is now considered to have fired the first shot at Fort Sumter and therefore the first shot of the Civil War | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 10 | Q. How many casualties in the Battle of Fort Sumter?
A. No one was killed at the battle, there were just minor injuries | Fort Sumter: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions for kids) continued... |
Fort Sumter
The info about the Fort Sumter provides interesting facts and important information about this important event that occured during the presidency of the 16th President of the United States of America. |
Fort Sumter: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions for kids) | | Facts for Kids | Questions and Answers | | Fort Sumter Fact 11 | Q. What events led to the Battle of Fort Sumter?
A. South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860 bringing with it the threat of Civil War. A small contingent of about 100 US troops withdrew from the land to the more defensible harbor fortress of Fort Sumter at Charleston and requested supplies and reinforcements from the US government. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 12 | Q. What happened at Fort Sumter?
A. On January 9, 1861 a ship called the Star of the West arrived in Charleston with over 200 U.S. troops and provisions intended for Fort Sumter. South Carolina militia batteries fired on the Star of the West as it neared Charleston Harbor, and forced it to turn back to sea. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 13 | Q. Why did President Abraham Lincoln order ships to Fort Sumter?
A. To send new supplies and reinforcements to the United States troops at Fort Sumter. The first ship to arrive was the Harriet Lane, on the night of April 11, 1861 | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 14 | Q. Why was Fort Sumter important?
A. It was located in Charleston which was an important Atlantic Ocean port city. The North considered the fortress to be the property of the United States government whereas the people of the South believed it belonged to the new Confederacy. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 15 | Q. Why was Fort Sumter built?
A. It was built to as a coastal garrison and military post, based on the "detached forts" system to defend the major ports and harbors of the United States. Construction on the fortress began following the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. It was one of 50 forts built as part of the "Third System", a coastal defense program, that was implemented by Congress in 1817. Fort Sumter was designed to accommodate a garrison of 650 soldiers and 130 canon to defend Charleston from coastal attack and control access to the town. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 16 | Q. When was Fort Sumter built?
Construction began in 1827 and the costly building project continued for many years. By the time of the Battle of Fort Sumter, the outer fortifications were complete, but the fort’s interior and armaments were still unfinished. It was originally referred to as simply "The Battery" but was renamed in 1861 in honor of the heroic American Revolutionary War general, Thomas Sumter, nicknamed the "Gamecock General". | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 17 | Q. What was Fort Sumter?
A. Fort Sumter was a five-sided, low-level, flat structure fortress, built of granite, and designed to hold heavy cannons placed within a perimeter of thick walls that were surrounded by the sea. The Vauban "detached forts" system was originally pioneered by a famous military engineer called the Marquis de Vauban. The "detached forts" system evolved during the age of gunpowder when cannon dominated the battlefields. In order to counteract the cannonballs, defensive walls were made lower and thicker. | | | | Fort Sumter Fact 18 | Q. What was the significance of Fort Sumter?
A. It is where the Civil War essentially started. The bombardment and attack on the fortress triggered a massive call for Union troops to put down the rebellion | Fort Sumter: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions for kids) |
Fort Sumter - President Abraham Lincoln Video
The article on the Fort Sumter provides an overview of one of the major events of his presidential term in office. The following Abraham Lincoln video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 16th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865. | | |
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