By the time of the start of the Civil War, Fort Sumter had been completed and outfitted. In addition, some consideration had been given to the possibility of mortar ships being used in an attack, so the guns on the upper tier had overhead protection. The fort is only garrisoned at 50%, however.
As South Carolina debated succession, Major Robert Anderson purchased additional supplies, and a naval transport reached the fort the day before the vote is carried through. Fort Sumter was filled to the brim with supplies, including food.
When Major Anderson pulled his forces out of Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter now had about 450 of the 650 it was designed for. Furthermore, he dumped all the powder he couldn’t take with him into the sea, spiked the guns, and rolled them into the sea.
The steady demands for the surrender of the fort were unheeded, and General Beauregard ordered the fort bombarded.
After 3 days of continuous fire, Fort Sumter’s overhead protection had proved its worth, while plunging fire from Sumter’s guns had knocked out many of Fort Moultrie’s unprotected high angle guns, and General Beauregard was forced to evacuate the fort as being untenable. Other batteries were also in trouble.
Fort Sumter had held, and the food situation, though serious, was manageable…Major Anderson’s preparations insured that there was sufficient food for two more months, albeit with short rations.
With Fort Sumter secure, Major Anderson sent an emissary to the city government. The merchants would sell food to the garrison at fair market price. In return, the city gets to retain a waterfront that’s not a devastated shambles. A Union force took temporary possession of Fort Moultrie, and any other forts within gun range—this time, taking anything portable back to Fort Sumter, blowing anything non-portable sky high. Additionally, no warlike materials will be moved into the city, on pain of them being bombarded—with collateral damage NOT being a concern.
Now, food in vast quantities fills the fort to the rafters, and the harbor is effectively closed. No one outside the firt knows how much ammunition the Americans have—but it was supposedly well stocked.
How does the Union react, when word comes that a heroic defense against overwhelming odds was successful? And what’s the reaction in the south? Do Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina join with the others in their secession?
As South Carolina debated succession, Major Robert Anderson purchased additional supplies, and a naval transport reached the fort the day before the vote is carried through. Fort Sumter was filled to the brim with supplies, including food.
When Major Anderson pulled his forces out of Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter now had about 450 of the 650 it was designed for. Furthermore, he dumped all the powder he couldn’t take with him into the sea, spiked the guns, and rolled them into the sea.
The steady demands for the surrender of the fort were unheeded, and General Beauregard ordered the fort bombarded.
After 3 days of continuous fire, Fort Sumter’s overhead protection had proved its worth, while plunging fire from Sumter’s guns had knocked out many of Fort Moultrie’s unprotected high angle guns, and General Beauregard was forced to evacuate the fort as being untenable. Other batteries were also in trouble.
Fort Sumter had held, and the food situation, though serious, was manageable…Major Anderson’s preparations insured that there was sufficient food for two more months, albeit with short rations.
With Fort Sumter secure, Major Anderson sent an emissary to the city government. The merchants would sell food to the garrison at fair market price. In return, the city gets to retain a waterfront that’s not a devastated shambles. A Union force took temporary possession of Fort Moultrie, and any other forts within gun range—this time, taking anything portable back to Fort Sumter, blowing anything non-portable sky high. Additionally, no warlike materials will be moved into the city, on pain of them being bombarded—with collateral damage NOT being a concern.
Now, food in vast quantities fills the fort to the rafters, and the harbor is effectively closed. No one outside the firt knows how much ammunition the Americans have—but it was supposedly well stocked.
How does the Union react, when word comes that a heroic defense against overwhelming odds was successful? And what’s the reaction in the south? Do Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina join with the others in their secession?