Oh, Im so confused. Can you help me with history?

Question

Im not american, but Im studying american history and they are talking about the battle of Fort Sumpter, and Im just a little confused. Eventually both Confed. and Union attacked the Fort?

What was their objective, then? To keep if from the opposing force's hands?

Argh.

Im so confused.

Answer 1

Fort Sumter, a fortification built on a sandbar in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. It was the scene of the first military action in the American Civil War. The original brick fort, begun in 1830, was unfinished in December, 1860, when Major Robert Anderson moved his 129 Regular Army men there from nearby Fort Moultrie. South Carolina had just seceded from the Union, and Anderson felt he could defend Fort Sumter more effectively than Fort Moultrie.

The fort soon was besieged by Confederate volunteers under General Pierre G. T. Beauregard. A relief ship, Star of the West, was driven out to sea by Confederate ships and shore batteries. On April 12, 1861, Beauregard began bombarding the fort, and it surrendered April 13. Fort Sumter was attacked twice, without success, by Union forces in 1863. The Confederates held the fort until the approach of General William T. Sherman's Union army in February, 1865, caused them to abandon it. In 1948 Fort Sumter was made a national monument.

In other words, Fort Sumter was a Union fort. When South Caroline seceded, it wanted the Union out of the fort.

Answer 2

the union had control of fort sumpter before the start of the war and confederates started the war by firing on fort sumpter and taking the fort.  later in the war when then union was advancing south they ended up attacking the fort because of its strategic value.

hope that helps

Answer 3

On April 10, 1861, Brig. Gen. Beauregard, in command of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, demanded the surrender of the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Garrison commander Anderson refused. On April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, which was unable to reply effectively. At 2:30 pm, April 13, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison on the following day. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Although there were no casualties during the bombardment, one Union artillerist was killed and three wounded (one mortally) when a cannon exploded prematurely while firing a salute during the evacuation on April 14.

Answer 4

HERE IS SOME MORE INFO

Answer 5

Maybe these websites will help you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sumter

http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/graph...

http://www.nps.gov/fosu/

Answer 6

Following is a ‘brief description of events leading to the firing on Fort Sumter.  It is meant to provide context which belies the often asserted contention that the first shots of the Civil War (actually the American War of the 1860s since the Confederacy never wanted to take over the Union’s Federal government) were by the Confederacy and on Fort Sumter and thereby implying that the

Confederacy began the war.  In fact the first shorts were long before Fort Sumter and the Union (particularly President Lincoln) forced the beginning of this war.

In the events leading to instigation of hostilities of the 1860s war, much is made of President Lincoln’s activities pro and con and that is only right.  However, a case could be made that when Lincoln took office events were well on their way to war due to inaction of President Buchanan.

James Buchanan was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania the year that the Bill of Rights was ratified, 1791.  He was admitted to the bar at the young age of 21 and elected to the State legislature at only 23.  At age 30 he began a ten year period as a Congressional Representative, followed with an appointment as Minister to Russia, elected as United States Senator, Polk’s Secretary of State and minister to Great Brain.  He was President from 1857 – 1861 and a bachelor.  Imagine such a career and then to be President as the country began to come apart.

In part his challenges could be seen in his cabinet members, none of which were from the prior president.  They included; Secretary of State Lewis Cass of Michigan; Secretary of the Treasury Howell Cobb of Georgia; Secretary of War John Floyd of Virginia; Secretary of the Interior Jacob Thompson of Mississippi; Secretary of the Navy Issac Toucey of Connecticut; Postmaster General Aaron Brown of Tennessee; and Attorney General Jeremiah Black of Pennsylvania.  The clouds of the coming war began to impact this cabinet.

Cobb’s sympathy was with the South and he resigned in December of 1860 followed shortly by Thompson.  John Dix of New York became Secretary of the Treasury and Thompson was replaced in Interior by his chief clerk.

Cass felt that Buchanan was too timid with the growing troubles and he also resigned in December of 1860 resulting in Black being transferred Secretary of State and Edwin Stanton of Ohio was made Attorney General.  Stanton was an aggressive supporter of the Union and his proactive approach contributed to Floyd resigning and being replaced by Joseph Holt of Kentucky.

Things other than the South brought pressure to bear on Buchanan’s administration with such as talk of war with Britain.  There was also trouble with the Mormons who had become incensed because Utah was refused admission to the union.  Under the rule of Brigham Young federal judges were defied and they and other federal officials were driven from the territory.  Alfred Cumming (Superintendent of Indian Affairs was sent (with an army of 2,500) to displace Brigham Young as Territorial Governor.  The Mormons resisted (1857) and the new Territorial Governor Cumming declared the territory in a state of insurrection.  Due to the efforts of Thomas Kane (who entered the territory with conciliatory letters from President Buchanan) by May of 1860 Pardons were given and the troops were withdrawn.

There was also financial distress in the federal government which by 1857 had a treasury so lacking that for a time their own officers couldn’t be paid.  Minnesota was admitted to the union in 1858 and so was Oregon in 1859.  

In March 1857 Chief Justice Taney delivered the decision for Dred Scott v. Sanford with concurrence by associate justices Wayne Nelson, Grier, Daniel, Campbell and Catron.  While this was obviously the law of the land, it did nothing to quell those on either side of the slavery question.

New stress with England arose in 1859 over possession of the Island of San Juan near the Island of Vancouver in the Northern Pacific.  American General Harvey (commander Washington Territory) sent reinforcements to the force stationed on San Juan.  The British Governor protested and declared that he would land his own troops unless General Harvey stopped and he refused.  General Scott was sent to negotiate and he was successful in settling the current situation but not issue (it lasted until 1872)

Other things drew the interest of the federal government with such as the discovery of large lodes of coal throughout the nation, gold discovered at Pike’s Peak.  Silver discovered at the Comstock Lode, minerals discovered throughout the Rocky mountains, and in 1859 oil was struck in Titusville Pennsylvania.  

The coming presidential election didn’t quiet down anything.  The Democratic convention was held in Charleston, South Carolina and the pro-slavery Caleb Cushing (Massachusetts) was Chairman.  Discussions got so hot that extremists with drew to form a Constitutional Convention (headed by James Bayard of Delaware) in Richmond in June.  The regular convention broke up to meet again 18 June in Baltimore.  Those supporting secession attended Baltimore and demanded recognition and were refused.  Then Stephen Douglas  of Illinois was the Baltimore nomination for president with Herschel Johnson of Georgia for vice president.

Those for secession did their own nominations with John Breckinridge of Kentucky for President and Joseph Lane of Oregon for vice president.  Earlier the National Constitution had selected John Bell of Tennessee for President and Edward Evert for Vice president.  Of course in May the Republican Party selected Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for President and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine for vice president.  

These Parties promoted the following propositions:

The Northern Democrats wanted the people of each territory to decide the question of slavery in that territory.

The Southern Democrats declared that it was the right and duty of Congress to protect slavery in the territories.

The Republicans asserted that it was the right and duty of congress to forbid slavery in the territories.

The National Constitutional Party pledged to support the Constitution, the union, and the enforcement of the laws.

The election had the following results:

Candidate States Popular Vote Electoral Vote

Lincoln 17 1,866,352 180

Breckinridge 11    845,703   72

Bell   3    589,581   39

Douglas   2 1,375,157   12

And we think that the 2000 election was contentious.  

With Lincoln clearly the winner the die was cast.  The State Convention of South Carolina met in Charleston 17 December 1860 and on the 20th the unanimously adopted secession.

South Carolina then appointed ministers to proceed to Washington and treat with for United States property within the borders of South Carolina.  The ministers were refused recognition by President Buchanan.  At the same time South Carolina invited other States to join them.

While the North responded to President Buchanan’s proclamation recommending 4 July 1861 as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, South Carolina began to prepare for the eventuality of war because as the first to secede it was most likely that hostilities would begin there.  The natural step was to strengthen the defenses of Charleston Harbor which had Castle Pinckney, Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie and Fort Johnson with Fort Sumter the strongest.  

Fort Sumter had been occupied in October of 1860 by Colonel Gardner who attempted to increase the supply of ammunition.  Secretary of War Floyd promptly removed him due to these actions.  Major Robert Anderson succeeded Gardner.  Major Anderson’s intent was to strengthen his defenses and he wrote to Adjutant General Cooper in Washington urging such steps.  As with others in Washington Cooper was a secessionist and he made sure no such actions were taken.  Anderson noted in a letter to Washington shortly after the South Carolina ordinance of secession, that a steamer was stationed near Fort Sumter, with the obvious purpose keeping out all government re-enforcement of the Fort Sumter and that it also seemed obvious this steamer would be involved in sizing Fort Sumter in the event that the union didn’t hand it over to South Carolina.  

Being a military man Anderson knew that it would be impossible for his command to defend the four forts and decided to focus on Fort Sumter.  Knowing that the people of Charleston were watching him, a show was made to move into Fort Johnson with the Women and Children (the garrison’s families) being taken to Fort Johnson.  During the night of 26 December 1860 the garrison moved to Fort Sumter as others of the command spiked the guns, burned the carriages and cut down the flag staff of the other forts.  Anderson sent a letter to Adjutant General Cooper informing of this action, but this letter was preceded by a telegram from the people of Charleston to the War office.

It should not be surprising that tempers ran high with the people of Charleston. The authorities declared that Major Anderson’s act was a virtual declaration of war, with hundreds of young men demanding to attack Fort Sumter.  Although such an act was not allowed, Fort Moultrie and Castle Pinckney were occupied by forces of South Carolina with the custom-house and post office also sized, and the militia took possession of the government arsenal.  The union revenue cutter “William Aiken” was surrendered by its commanding office.  As a tone of the times, when Major Anderson asked of the new commander of Fort Moultrie by what authority did he occupied it, the reply was, “By the authority of the sovereign State of South Carolina, and by the command of her government.”

This act of Major Anderson and the response of South Carolina began to solidify pressure in the North for President Buchanan to act.  This is when he made the strong unionist Edwin Stanton the Attorney General.  The unarmed steamer “Star of the West” was sent to Charleston with supplies for Major Anderson.  Buchanan’s Secretary of the Interior Thompson was so offended by this act that he resigned going back to Mississippi to work in support of secession.  On 9 January 1861 the “Star of the West” approached Fort Sumter and a battery on Morris Island fired on her and she replied by running up the Stars and Stripes.  The battery continued to fire with Fort Moultrie joining in and, two steam tugs and an armed schooner moved out to intercept.  The “Star of the West” put about and returned to New York.  It is my understanding that this date and action is the official beginning of the Civil War.

Interestingly Major Anderson was not aware of the coming of the supply steamer.  He demanded from South Carolina Governor Pickens the meaning of the firing on the flag (of the Star of the West) further declaring that if now disavowed that he (Major Anderson) would accept the firing as an act of war and he would respond by not allowing vessels to pass within range of his guns.  The governor responded by stating that this was an act of the State of Carolina.

These events spurred other Southern States to move forward to secession, meeting on 4 February 1861 which converted itself into a “Congress” and by 9 February 1861 all members taking the oath of allegiance and then electing President Davis and Vice President Stephens.  

It is also interesting to note (in the context of the Forts of Charleston) that when Louisiana seceded 26 January 1861 the U.S. Mint at New Orleans was sized and more than $1,300,000 in double eagles and silver half dollars were struck until the bullion was depleted in May of 1861 and the U.S. dies were destroyed.  There were other U.S. forts in the South (such as in Florida) which were also sized.

With all of these events the firing on Fort Sumter had not yet occurred.  The American States teetered on the brink of war and yet the full move to war waited one more player on the stage and soon President Lincoln would take the reins of the federal government firmly into his control.

On the morning after the inaugural festivities (5 March), Lincoln went to his office and found a report from Major Robert Anderson, written on February 28, which had reached Washington on Inauguration Day. Anderson reported that he had made an examination of his provisions and found that his supplies would be exhausted in about four to six weeks. Equally disconcerting, Anderson reported that he and his staff agreed that it would take a considerable land and naval force to relieve and reinforce the fort. He estimated it would take no less than "twenty thousand good and well-disciplined men."

Lincoln presented the information to General Winfield Scott for evaluation and received a gloomy response that evening. Scott, who had earlier advised the reinforcement of Sumter, now stated that the time had passed to save the fort. "I now see no alternative but a surrender, in some weeks," Scott argued. "Evacuation seems almost inevitable . . . if, indeed, the worn out garrison be not assaulted & carried in the present week."

On this same date General P.G.T. Beauregard received orders from Montgomery to prevent the reinforcement of Fort Sumter "at all hazards" by the "use of every conceivable agency." He was informed that Sumter was "silent now only because of the weakness of the garrison. Should re-enforcements get in, her guns would open fire upon you."

Faced with the shocking news from Major Anderson and the conflicting recommendations about what to do, Lincoln took the following steps:

On March 11, he issued General Scott a broad reminder to "exercise all possible vigilance for the maintenance of all the places within the military departments of the United States." He specifically directed Scott to reinforce Fort Pickens (Florida), the more accessible of the two forts.

The following day, March 12, Scott dispatched orders to Captain Israel Vogdes, commander of the army's troops aboard a ship lying off Fort Pickens, to "re-enforce Fort Pickens" and to hold the fort. The message was taken a board the steamer Crusader, which left New York for the Gulf of Mexico on March 15. In taking this action, Lincoln was, in effect, terminating the truce that the Buchanan administration had arranged with Florida.

On 8 April 1861 President Lincoln notified Governor Pickens of South Carolina that he was resolved to provision Fort Sumter at all costs.  General Beauregard telegraph the Confederate Secretary of War for instructions and was told (9 April) to compel evacuation of Fort Sumter without delay.  Beauregard sent to of his staff to Major Anderson to demand surrender, he refused and further informed that provisions were so low that they could not hold out much longer.  Beauregard notified Anderson that if he would name a day of surrender and not use his guns on the confederates, unless attacked, Beauregard would not attack him.  Anderson named 15 April unless he should receive supplies or orders from Washington.  Beauregard could not accept such conditions because he knew that a fleet with provisions and re-enforcements was then off the harbor.  Beauregard told Anderson that he would open fire within the hour (12 April 1861 4:30 A.M.).  

Answer 7

Fort Sumter to the North was the most important port for the South and manufacturing. It started as a stand off nobody attacking anybody. A union soldier gave the first shot and things took off. The objective was really for the union intimidation so show that they had the power to destroy the south and for the south they were proving that they would not back down. I hope it helps a little...you can always get in touch if you have any other specific questions...I am a big civil war buff

Answer 8

It was the first battle in the American Civil War. Fort Sumter was a strategic position that both sides wanted. It was already occupied by Union forces, and Brig. Gen. Beauregard, in command of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, demanded the surrender of the fort. South Carolina wanted to secede from the Union and Fort Sumter was still occupied by Federal troops. If these troops remained there, then they could control all traffic that entered/departed the Charleston harbor.The fort served as an arsenal, which wold have supplied the South Carolina troops with munitions and other provision. It was also right on a harbor, which was a strategic defense position for South Carolina. Add to it that had the only garrison in the area, and it became a prime target for the South to take hold of.