2. Just to make sure everyone remembers: What is secession? What state was the first to secede? And…what is this cartoon trying to say?

3. After South Carolina seceded on December 20 th, 1860 the provisional Confederate government blockaded a Union garrison inside Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, SC.

4. Ft. Sumter

5. Ft. Sumter restored today Ft. Sumter after the battle

6. The northern (shipping channel) side of Ft. Sumter

7. The southern side of Ft. Sumter

8. Looking out from Ft. Sumter

9. Back to the story…when South Carolina seceded I took my garrison of 85 men from mainland SC and moved them to Ft. Sumter for more security. Union Major Robert Anderson

10. The state immediately demanded that Anderson and his men leave the fort, claiming that Sumter was the property of South Carolina and that they were trespassing on sovereign territory…

11. Just because you claim to be sovereign, does not mean you are! After all, hopefully we all remember what I said about secession…??? SECESSION IS ILLEGAL!

12. So, Lincoln was in a really tough situation… - South Carolina demanded the troops leave sovereign territory… - But, Lincoln refused to recognize South Carolina’s sovereignty… - And the troops were starting to need supplies… - But, in his First Inaugural Address, Lincoln promised not to start a war…

13. Basically…I began to demand that the state of South Carolina allow ships in to resupply Ft. Sumter, but the state government blockaded the entrance to the harbor…so…yah…

14. - Ft. Sumter was a U.S. Army base on an island in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina - When South Carolina seceded (Dec. 20, 1860) 85 U.S. Army troops were trapped inside Ft. Sumter - Abraham Lincoln did not recognize secession and demanded South Carolina allow the troops to be resupplied - South Carolina refused and blockaded Ft. Sumter

16. 7 States had seceded from the Union: South Carolina – December 20, 1860 Mississippi – January 9, 1861 Florida – January 10, 1861 Alabama – January 11, 1861 Georgia – January 19, 1861 Louisiana – January 26, 1861 Texas – January 1, 1861

17. By now, things were way more complicated…on Feb. 8, 1861 the Southern Confederacy was formed and a debate began to rage therein as to just who owned Fort Sumter: The Confederacy? or South Carolina? Given the philosophical foundations of the CSA, why might SC argue that they have a right to the fort? CSA President Jefferson Davis

18. Meanwhile, the U.S. troops inside Ft. Sumter desperately need supplies Inside Ft. Sumter

19. Around this time the CSA decided that Fort Sumter was the territory of the Confederacy and not the state…though, of course, everyone agreed that South Carolina’s sovereignty was guaranteed as outlined in the CSA Constitution… Just to refresh, what politicians previously supported states’ rights? CSA President Jefferson Davis

20. In the past, what statement(s) did Lincoln make that the South did not believe?

21. Most members of the CSA simply did not believe Lincoln…and even those who did feared that allowing the supply ships in would threaten CSA sovereignty in the area and would represent de facto acceptance of the Union garrison’s position there… CSA President Jefferson Davis

22. On April 10 they sent me orders to prepare for a bombardment if it became clear that the fort would be resupplied! Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard

23. I immediately sent a letter to my former West Point instructor and mentor, Major Anderson, demanding the surrender of the fort… Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard

24. Union Major Robert Anderson Well, though we go back a long way…Lincoln has specifically ordered me not to surrender Fort Sumter...so…NO!

25. - Standoff had lasted for four months - U.S. troops in Ft. Sumter were desperate for supplies - Union supply ships arrived but were not allowed through the Confederate blockade - Confederate Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard was ordered to demand the surrender of the trapped Union forces - Union Garrison Commander Major Robert Anderson was ordered not to surrender by Abraham Lincoln

26. Time Out Both sides take a day to analyze their respective positions

28. Before the cannons opened fire, 65 year old Edmund Ruffin, a prominent slave owner and secessionist from Virginia (which, if you recall, had not yet seceded) who had moved to South Carolina after secession, was given the honor of firing the first shots in the assault on Fort Sumter…and, therefore, he fired the first shot of the American Civil War!

29. Ft. Moultrie Ft. Johnson 1 Mile Cummings Point The floating battery of Charleston Harbor (the first CSA ironclad)

30. The Union forces respond with rifle fire, having been ordered not to use cannons. The cannons which could respond were all in unprotected areas so the artillerymen would have been easy targets and they also had limited ammunition.

31. The Bombardment of Ft. Sumter

32. April 11, 1861: Time Out - Both sides wait and analyze their positions April 12, 1861: The Bombardment Begins - Confederate forces at Ft. Johnson, on the coast of Charleston Harbor, open fire on Ft. Sumter (4:30am) - Union forces respond with rifle fire - Union troops ordered not to use cannons - Cannons were placed in unprotected, exposed areas - Use would have led to many Union deaths

34. Around noon, Confederate artillery hit the flag post in Ft. Sumter and the Union flag fell. After the flag failed to rise again, Confederate envoys rowed across the harbor, thinking this a sign of surrender.

35. Well…I hadn’t planned to surrender, but this is stupid…who cares what Lincoln says. We give up! But…if we are to surrender you must agree to let us go home peacefully, keep the flag, and fire off a 100 gun salute in honor of our nation!

36. P.G.T. Beauregard agreed and so Robert Anderson prepared a telegram to notify Lincoln of the bad news…

37. April 13, 1861: Union Surrender - Bombardment had lasted for 32 hours straight - Union flag shot down; before it could be replaced Confederate envoys arrived thinking it was a sign of surrender - 2:30pm Major Anderson decides to surrender Ft. Sumter, without Lincoln’s approval

38. Union forces evacuated the fort peacefully and Confederate troops allowed them to go.

39. Nobody was injured during the bombardment, however one Union artillerist was killed, and three wounded (one eventually died from those wounds), when a cannon exploded prematurely when firing the evacuation salute, which was stopped at 50 after the accident rather than the agreed upon 100.

40. Edmund Ruffin was given the honor of being the first Confederate through the gates and the Stars and Bars was swiftly raised over Sumter

42. April 14, 1861: Union Forces Evacuate Ft. Sumter - No casualties on either side during bombardment - Confederate forces allow Union forces to leave freely - One Union artillerist killed, three wounded (one of which eventually died from those wounds), when a cannon exploded prematurely when firing a salute during the evacuation