Glenbrooke News

by George Beitzel

This week marks the official beginning of the sesquicentennial Civil War years.  On April 12, 1861 at 4:30 am Confederate forces opened fire on Union held Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The firing and counter firing lasted for 34 hours.

During this time about 3500 cannon balls were fired. Confederate hot cannon balls caused several fires inside Fort Sumter doing significant damage to several buildings. There was no loss of life on either side from the exchange of cannon fire. U. S. Major Robert Anderson surrendered to his friend and former West Point student, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard.

During the surrender ceremonies a 100 cannon salute was under way when a cannon exploded killing two Union artillerymen. These were the first casualties of a war that in 4 years would kill over 625,000 men. More than all other U.S wars combined.

Major Anderson was allowed to leave Fort Sumter with his men, equipment and flag. The Union officers and men were taken by ship to New York. They received a large welcome, and then received other military assignments, mostly in the Shenendoah Valley of Virginia.

Later in the war Union forces bombarded and destroyed most of Fort Sumter during several assaults.  In February 1865 General W.T. Sherman captured Charleston and its forts.

On April 14, 1865 now Major General Robert Anderson returned to Fort Sumter and raised the U.S. Flag that he had taken with him in 1861.  This event is little remembered as it is overshadowed by the assassination of President Lincoln later that evening.