Fort Sumter Case Study

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Fort Sumter construction was part of the 50 forts started during 1829 as part of a costal garrison, Congress implemented this third system in 1817 to control access to Charleston Harbor. Built out of thousands of tons of granite, this man-made island measured only 2.4 acres and the fort built to sustain roughly 650 soldiers and 135 artillery pieces. (History.com staff, 2009) The construction of the outer fortification and the island were completed in 1860, however the interior armaments were still uncompleted. “To prove it was a country, the South had to prove that it had sovereignty over its territory.” (F. Bordewich, 2011). The Confederate Militia viewed Fort Sumter as one of the last remaining hurdles in Charleston Harbor. South Carolina would secede from the Union on December 20th, 1860, the Union would later relinquish control of this fort into confederate control for over four years. Located on James Island, Fort Johnson would later fire the first shot at Fort Sumter that would start the Civil War. On December, 26th 1860 Major Robert Anderson and his two companies of men elected to defend the unfinished Fort Sumter, instantly this fort would become the only Union outpost located in Charleston. Shortly …show more content…
Major Anderson’s loyalty and obligation to his government, he refused to surrender Fort Sumter on multiple occasions. He was holding out for re-enforcements from the Union that was unable to make it to the fort. The Confederate troops successfully took control of Fort Sumter with the surrender of Maj. Anderson. With over 3,000 rounds fired by the Confederacy the only two casualties resulting from a miss fire during the 100 round salute battery, in a way it was also a victory for the Union. This battle showed the military leaders that with enough cannons, shells, and motivation, even the strongest of walls will crumble to the