Battle of Fort Sumter Timeline (April 12th - 14th, 1861)
The Battle of Fort Sumter marked the official start of the American Civil War - the first shots of the conflict were fired there.
Fort Sumter had been built as a defensive position looking towards the Atlantic for British warships. It was located strategically at the mouth of Charleston Harbor to which all manner of shipping passed through on a given day. It held ranged firepower against the Charleston city shoreline and could also reach out to incoming warships miles away. When South Carolina seceded from the Union in December of 1860, this opened the Fort up to new ownership - the Confederates bombarded it beginning on April 12th and claimed it by April 14th. The first shots of the Civil War had been fired and the South drew first-blood.
The Fort was under Southern ownership until the end of the war for it was not until February of 1865 that the Confederates evacuated the battered structure under pressure from General Sherman's advancing forces. The flag of the United States of America was raised once more over the Fort on April 14th, 1865.
There are a total of [ 16 ]Battle of Fort Sumter Timeline (April 12th - 14th, 1861) events in the CivilWarTimeline.net database. Entries are listed below by date-of-occurrence ascending (first-to-last). Other leading and trailing events are also included for perspective.
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COMMAND(S): Robert AndersonARMY FORCE(S):
1st United States Artillery
STRENGTH: 85 menCASUALTIES*:
0 men (0.0%)
U.S. Major Robert Anderson evacuates Fort Moultrie and his garrison relocates to Fort Sumter.
December 27, 1860
Confederate troops take over Fort Moultrie as well as Fort Johnson and Fort Pinkney in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
January 9, 1861
The steamer "Star of the West", laden with supplies and en route to Fort Sumter in Charleston (South Carolina), is fired upon by land-based cannons.
January 12, 1861
Star of the West, a steamer having delivered supplies to Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, returns to New York with her battle-damaged hull resulting from a Confederate attack.
April 6, 1861
President Lincoln notifies the government of South Carolina that general supplies will be sent to Fort Sumter at Charleston Harbor - he gives his assurances that any strengthening of the position will only be made if the Fort is in danger of attack.
April 11, 1861
General P.G.T. Beauregard, a Confederate officer, calls for Fort Sumter to surrender. Commanding Union Major Robert Anderson refuses his demand.
April 12, 1861
With the refusal by Union forces at Fort Sumter to surrender their post, Confederate forces begin their ranged bombardment of the island.
April 12, 1861
At 4:30AM, a gun from Fort Johnson fires a star shell that detonates above Fort Sumter. This is the signal for the surrounding gun batteries to begin shelling the Union-held fort.
April 13, 1861
At 2:30AM, Major Robert Anderson surrenders Fort Sumter to the Confederacy.
April 14, 1861
Having surrendered, Union forces abandon Fort Sumter.
April 24, 1861
USS Niagra, having arrived from Japan, is dispatched to the Charleston Harbor (South Carolina) area near Fort Sumter.
April 29, 1861
Confederate President Jefferson Davis calls a special session of congress to address recent developments - including the capture of Fort Sumter by South Carolinian forces.
April 7, 1863
Union ironclads engage the defenses at Fort Sumter but do not manage to break the will of the defenders.
April 8, 1863
USS Keokuk is lost following its previous day's participation in the engagement at Fort Sumter.
September 8, 1863
A night time Union naval attack fails to retake Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The attack is directed by Admiral John Dahlgren.
April 14, 1865
The United States Flag once again flies over the walls of Fort Sumter - where the first shots of the war were fired.
