Confederate Brigadier General Beauregard, in April of 1861, leads the attack on Fort Sumter, in Charleston, South Carolina harbor, signaling that the Civil War had begun.

Beauregard Attacks Fort Sumter

In April of 1861, Confederate forces, under Brigadier General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard began shelling Fort Sumter, which lies in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Beauregard's aim was to force the evacuation of some 100 United States Army troops that were stationed at Fort Sumter.

South Carolina Leaves Union

Previously, on December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first of eleven Southern states to leave the Union. South Carolina then claimed that secession entitled it to all government property within its boundaries. Following South Carolina's secession, Abraham Lincoln, on March 4, 1861, during his first Presidential inaugural speech, left no doubt of his intent to "hold, occupy and possess" property belonging to the Federal government. It is believed that his words were particularly directed at Fort Sumter.

Beauregard Bans Sale of Food to Sumter, Lincoln Counters

One month later, on April 8, President Lincoln made known his intentions to resupply Fort Sumter. This occurred after Beauregard had taken his the first action of his command by banning the sale of food to the Union garrison at Fort Sumter.

Confederacy Prepares to Attack Sumter

Prior to the bombardment of Fort Sumter by Confederate forces, the Confederate authorities had tried to convince the government in Washington to evacuate the fort. Their attempt being unsuccessful, Beauregard then, on April 11, requested the surrender of the fort. This also failed. The Confederacy then placed some thousands of their troops in gun pits and encampments all around Charleston harbor.

Jefferson Davis Determined to Hold Sumter

Lincoln's announcement that he intended to resupply Fort Sumter left no doubt in the mind of Confederate President Jefferson Davis that Lincoln and the Union intended to hold this fort that occupied one of the most important southern harbors. Davis then gave the order for Confederate troops to open fire and bombard Fort Sumter, bringing it and its Union occupants in to submission.

Fort Sumter is Attack by Confederates

General P. T. Beauregard was the Confederate commander at Charleston at this time. He obeyed his orders promptly. Soon, on April 12, 1861, at 4:30 a. m., Fort Sumter came under heavy fire in a bombardment that lasted thirty-four hours. At the end of this time, the Union officer in charge of the fort, Major Robert Anderson, brought down the flag of the United States and turned the fort over to the Confederacy. Beauregard had been one of Robert Anderson's students of artillery at the US Military Academy.

Considering how long the bombardment lasted, amazingly no one was killed on either side in the actual shelling. However, directly following the shelling two men were killed. A powder charge exploded when Major Anderson fired a last salute to his flag, taking two of his men to their deaths.

The bombardment of Fort Sumter has been described as spectacular, momentous, as well as anticlimactic. It was the official announcement to the entire world that America was at war with its self.

Lincoln Calls Out Militia

President Lincoln immediately called on the states to place 75,000 militia at the service of the Federal government. All across the Union a rush of enthusiastic men came forward to fight for their country. At the same time four additional states left the Union. Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas were now members of the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War had officially begun.

Sources:

Brewer, Paul. The Civil War: State by State. Thunder Bay Press, San Diego, California, 2004.

Catton, Bruce. Picture History of The Civil War. American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc.,/Bonanza Books, New York, 1982.