Fort Sumter

Hi this is Civil War Sallie, while spending time in Charleston I got to tour Fort Sumter. This is where the first shot of the Civil War was fired on April 12, 1861. Construction of the fort was started in 1827. Due to numerous delays construction of the Fort was not yet completed in December 1860 when US Army Major Robert Anderson relocated his 85 men from indefensible Fort Moultrie to what he felt was the safer location of Fort Sumter.

The first shot was fired at 4:30 am on April 12, 1861. The initial attack did not do much damage to the Fort. However, after 34 hours the union garrison knew they were significantly outgunned and agreed to surrender.

While no one died during this first battle of the Civil War, an explosion during the surrender ceremony caused the first death of the Civil War, Private Daniel Hough