Battle of Fort Sumter

Battle of Fort Sumter
Part of the American Civil War
Bombardment of Fort Sumter by Currier & Ives.
Date April 12–13, 1861 Location Charleston, South Carolina 32°45′8″N 79°52′29″W / 32.75222°N 79.87472°W / 32.75222; -79.87472Coordinates: 32°45′8″N 79°52′29″W / 32.75222°N 79.87472°W / 32.75222; -79.87472 Result Confederate victory Beginning of the American Civil War
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Robert Anderson	P. G. T. Beauregard
Units involved
1st United States Artillery	Provisional Forces of the Confederate States
Strength
85	500–6,000 (estimated)
Casualties and losses
0	0

Confederate victory

The Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12–14, 1861) was the bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina by the Confederate States Army, and the return gunfire and subsequent surrender by the United States Army that started the American Civil War. Following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the U.S. Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. On 26 December 1860, Major Robert Anderson of the U.S. Army surreptitiously moved his small command from the vulnerable Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island to Fort Sumter, a substantial fortress built on an island controlling the entrance of Charleston Harbor. An attempt by U.S. President James Buchanan to reinforce and resupply Anderson using the unarmed merchant ship Star of the West failed when it was fired upon by shore batteries on 9 January 1861. South Carolina authorities then seized all Federal property in the Charleston area except for Fort Sumter.

During the early months of 1861, the situation around Fort Sumter increasingly began to resemble a siege. In March, Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard, the first general officer of the newly formed Confederate States Army, was placed in command of Confederate forces in Charleston. Beauregard energetically directed the strengthening of batteries around Charleston harbor aimed at Fort Sumter. Conditions in the fort, growing ever dire due to shortages of men, food, and supplies, deteriorated as the Union soldiers rushed to complete the installation of additional guns.

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