South Carolina

November 10, 1860.   Columbia:   The South Carolina legislature passes a law calling for a convention at Columbia on Dec. 17 to consider secession.   U.S. Senators James Chestnut, Jr. and James H. Hammond resign their seats. ^{Long 4}

November 13, 1860.   Columbia:   The South Carolina legislature resolves to raise 10,000 troops to defend the state. ^{Long 5}

December 17, 1860.   Columbia:   The South Carolina convention votes 159 - 0 for secession.   It will formally secede on December 20. ^{Long 11}

December 11, 1860.   Ft. Moultrie:   Maj. Don Carlos Buell is sent by the War Department on behalf of Sec. of War Floyd to say that reinforcement will not be sent so as not to aggravate the state of affairs between the U.S. and South Carolina.   The commander of the First U. S. Artilllery Battalion, Maj. Robert Anderson, a native of Kentucky, is not to take any actions that would be perceived as hostile, but he was to hold the forts and defend them, if necessary.   He is authorized to place his troops into any fort to increase its resistance if attacked or threatened. ^{Long 15}

December 17, 1860.   Columbia:   In the Baptist church, the South Carolina convention votes 159 - 0 for secession.   Another resolution establishes a committee to draft the ordinance of secession and then adjourns to Charleston, Institute Hall, because of smallpox in the city.   From Charleston, it will issue its ordinance of secession on December 20, which dissolves the state from the U.S.A. ^{Long 11-13}

December 21, 1860.   Washington:   The four South Carolina congressmen resign from the U.S. House of Representatives, their letter of resignation being presented to Congress on Dec. 24.   However, their names remain on the roll to indicate that the South Carolina secession is not recognized. ^{Long 14-15}

December 26, 1860.   Ft. Sumter:   Maj. Robert Anderson transfers his small garrison of 85 men from the vulnerable Ft. Moultrie on the shore of the Charleston harbor to the more defensible Ft. Sumter on a rocky island in the harbor. ^{Long 15}

December 27, 1860.   Charleston harbor:   South Carolina militia seize Ft. Moultrie and Castle Pinckney.   U.S. Revenue Cutter, William Aiken surrenders to militia. ^{Long 16}

December 28, 1860.   Washington:   South Carolina commissioners are received by Pres. Buchanan as "private gentlemen", since he cannot recognize them as representatives of a sovereign power.   They want Federal troops withdrawn from Charleston, but Buchanan is indecisive.   He has hopes of confining the secession to S. Carolina. ^{Long 16}

December 30, 1860.   Charleston:   South Carolina state militia seize the Federal Arsenal at Charleston.   South Carolina has now seized all federal property in Charleston except Ft. Sumter. ^{Long 17}

January 2, 1860.   Charleston harbor:   South Carolina militia seize Fort Johnson, no longer an active military base. ^{Long 21}

January 5, 1860.   New York:   The merchant vessel, Star of the West, Capt. John McGowan, leaves for Ft. Sumter with supplies and 250 troops under the command of U.S. Army Lieutenant Charles R. Wood.   It had been substituted for the naval vessel, USS Brooklyn, stationed at Norfolk, VA, by Gen. Scott to reduce its a military appearance. ^{Long 22}

January 8, 1861.   Washington:   Sec. of Interior Jacob Thompson of Mississippi resigns.   He and others learn that the Star of the West is heading for Ft. Sumter to supply and reinforce it, so they telegraph a warning to city authorities. ^{Bowman 42}

January 9, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   The S. Carolina artillery militia fire on the USS Star of the West as it tries to deliver supplies and 250 northern troops from New York to Ft. Sumter.   After being fired upon by a battery at Morris Island, its officers decide that it cannot reach the fort safely, so it retreats to New York.   Maj. Anderson protests the firings from Fort Moultrie and Morris Island, but Gov. Pickens responds that sending reinforcements would be considered a hostile act to the newly independent country of South Carolina.   Anderson sends messages north and many of the jubiland people of Charleston think the war has finally started.   However, after the affair calmed down, the fort is still in Federal hands and the confrontation continues. ^{Long 23-24}   This overt act of aggression against a U.S. ship could have been considered the official beginning of the Civil War, but the Pres. Buchanan prefers to remain concilliatory.

January 11, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   Sout Carolina authorities demand the surrender of the fort, which is summarily refused by its commander, Maj. Robert Anderson. ^{Long 25}

March 1, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   The Confederacy. assumes control of military affairs at Charleston.   Pres. Davis names Brig. Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard commander of the area, which he will assume on March 3.   Maj. Anderson tells Washington that time is running out and he needs either to be evacuated or reinforced soon.   Southerners had been providing food, but batteries were being built and troops drilled on shore. ^{Long 43}

March 4, 1861.   Washington:   Maj. Anderson's message of Feb. 28 arrives in Washington.   It says that unless the area is reinforced with 20,000 troops, Fort Sumter cannot be held or reinforced. ^{Long 45}

March 11, 1861.   Washington:   Gen. Winfield Scott says that it would be several months before Ft. Sumter could be reinforced.   It would take a fleet of war vessels, transports, 5,000 regular troops and 20,000 volunteers. ^{Long 48}

March 29, 1861.   Washington:   After much discussion among himself, Gen. Winfield Scott and his cabinet members, Pres. Lincoln decides to resupply and reinforce Fort Sumter in the Charleston harbor and Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island, off the coast of Pensacola.  He signs a sealed order for the USS Powhatan, Lieutenant David Dixon Porter, to reinforce Fort Pickens. ^{Long 51,52}

April 3, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   South Carolina troops fire upon the federal schooner, Rhoa H. Shannon while it attempts to provision troops at Ft. Sumter.   The ship retreats. ^{Bowman 49}

April 5, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   Sec. of Navy, Gideon Wells, orders the battleship USS Powhatan, 2,415-ton side-wheel steamer, USS Pawnee, USS Pocahontas, and Revenue Cutter, Harriet Lane to provision Ft. Sumter.   Unknown to him, Powhatan had already secretly been ordered by Pres. Lincoln to provision Ft. Pickens. ^{Long 54}

April 6, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   Pres. Lincoln delivers a message to Gov. Francis Pickens that an attempt will be made to supply the fort with provisions only, and that if there is no resistance, no reinforcements would be made.   On April. 7, Brig. Gen. Beauregard informs Maj. Anderson that no further communications between the fort and the city will be permitted.   On April 8, the Revenue Cutter Harriet Lane leaves for Ft. Sumter with supplies, but no troops. ^{Long 54-55}

April 10, 1861.   Montgomery, AL:   Sec. of War, Leroy Pope Walker, telegraphs Brig. Gen. Beauregard at Charleston that if an attempt is made to supply the fort he should demand its evacuation and, if refused, reduce it.   Meanwhile, at Charleston, a Confederate floating battery anchors near Sullivan's Island and Confederate troops move into forts, batteries, and earthworks around Fort Sumter. ^{Long 55}

April 11, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   Fearing immediate Union naval provisioning by a ship ordered to proceed on April 6 by Pres. Lincoln, South Carolina forces now under Brig. Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard demand the immediate surrender of Fort Sumter, but it is refused by Maj. Robert Anderson. ^{Schles 279}

April 12, 1861.

Ft. Sumter:   Ex-U.S. navy Lt. Gustavus Vasa Fox of Massachusetts arrives on the civilian steamer, Baltic too late in his attempt to relieve the fort with supplies and troops.   After the Buchanan and Lincoln administration earlier rejected his plan to relieve the fort with 1 supply ship, the Baltic, 3 small warships, 3 tugs and 3 armed launches set off from a ship located 4 miles out in the harbor, Pres. Lincoln saw the merit in his plan and authorized it on March 30.   His flotilla set out from New York on April 9, but the diversion of the Powhattan to Ft. Pickens with his 3 launches and crews plus a severe gale that scattered the tugs delays and reduces the effectiveness of the mission.   He can only watch the surrender of the fort on April 14.   (For his obvious acumen, daring and bravery, Fox will be appointed chief clerk of the Navy on May 9, and Asst. Sec. of the Navy on August 1, a position he will hold for the remainder of the war.   He proved to be a superb planner and administrator.) ^{History n.p.}

April 12, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   At 12:45 a.m., Brig. Gen. Beauregard's messengers again request the immediate evacuation of the fort.   Maj. Anderson responds at 3:15 a.m. that he will evacuate on Apri. 15 at noon if he does not receive additional supplies or further orders from the Federal government.   This response is unacceptable to the Confederates because they know that a Federal supply ship is on the way.   Therefore, at 4:30 a.m., harbor batteries begin cannon fire against Ft. Sumter.   The Fort answers the fire with its cannons at 7:00 a.m. ^{Long 56,57}

April 13, 1861.

Ft. Sumter:   At 2:30 p.m., with no food remaining and no purpose served by bombarding the shore batteries, federal troops at Ft. Sumter surrender.   The expenditure of 4,000 shells produces a few wounded, but no deaths at the fort.   The supply ships arrived during the bombardment, but could not complete their mission.   The event is cheered by the jubilant Charleston troops and onlookers. ^{Long 57}

April 14, 1861.

Ft. Sumter:   Major Anderson and his men leave Ft. Sumter by ship that moves to northern waters after a surrender ceremony.   As cannon are fired to salute the flag, powder ignites and explodes, killing two and injuring four men.   This brief battle will mark the official beginning of the Civil War because it triggers a call to arms by Pres. Lincoln. ^{Bowman 51}   (Back to Main Events)   (Back to Battles)