Attack on Fort Sumter, 150 years ago, started Civil War

By the time Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as president on March 4, 1861, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America.

The Confederate government demanded the United States government evacuate Fort Sumter, a brick fortress on an island in the harbor of Charleston, S.C. As Lincoln delayed a decision, thousands of Southern troops were positioned in emplacements and forts around the harbor, training artillery on Fort Sumter.

Finally, the president announced on April 6 that he was sending ships to resupply the fort and its 68 soldiers, commanded by Major Robert Anderson. The Confederates made repeated demands that Anderson surrender, but he refused.

At 4:30 a.m. Friday, April 12, the Confederate units, commanded by General P.G.T. Beauregard, began shelling the fort. Union Capt. Abner Doubleday (later famous as the supposed "inventor" of baseball) fired the first artillery round in response around 7 a.m.

The Southern forces, which vastly outnumbered and outgunned the Federal garrison, kept up a steady artillery barrage throughout the day. The Union troops sporadically returned fire but did little damage. Although Northern supply ships arrived Friday afternoon, they could not approach the fort because of Confederate artillery fire.

By Saturday morning, April 13, portions of Fort Sumter were ablaze and the Union troops, suffering from smoke inhalation, could barely get off a few token shots. After enduring 34 hours of bombardment, Anderson surrendered at 2:30 p.m.

Amazingly, no one on either side was killed during the battle. Ironically, a Union cannon exploded while firing a salute as the fort's American flag was lowered on Sunday, April 14, killing two crew members and wounding two others.

The fall of Fort Sumter had little military significance, but tremendous political significance. President Lincoln issued a proclamation stating that powerful forces had seized control of Federal installations in Southern states and calling on the loyal states to supply 75,000 militia troops to the U.S. government to restore order.

Four more Southern states--Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas--then joined the Confederacy, which moved its capital from Montgomery, Ala. to Richmond, Va.

While no one at the time could predict that a bloody, four-year war would follow, people realized the attack on Fort Sumter meant the end of attempts to peacefully resolve the split between North and South.

Doylestown's weekly newspapers, the Bucks County Intelligencer and the Doylestown Democrat, did not publish news of the attack until Tuesday, April 16, four days later. However, daily newspapers in Philadelphia and New York carried the first articles on Saturday, so borough and county residents already knew the war had begun.

The Intelligencer printed the following local news item:

"Stand by the Flag! On Saturday last, after the reception in Doylestown of the news that the rebel forces had attacked Fort Sumter, the weather-worn streamer that had done duty on the Intelligencer flagstaff was hauled down, and a bright new American flag, with 34 stars on its blue field, was run up in its stead. It will float there as an emblem of the majesty and supremacy of the Union as long as it may be insulted and disgraced by traitors in any part of our country. The sight of our national standard in this hour of trial must awaken emotions of patriotism in every heart not utterly destitute of loyal and honest impulses."

Interestingly, the bombardment of Fort Sumter did not make the front page in either Doylestown paper. Both newspapers consisted of four pages of hand-set type, each 20 inches wide and 26 inches high (in comparison, today's Intelligencer is 12-1/2 inches by 21-1/2 inches). The front page had older news articles and advertisements.

News about Fort Sumter appeared on the editorial (second) page as a series of dispatches copied from other newspapers, such as the New York Tribune. Readers had to plow through days of chronological accounts before getting to the most recent events--the surrender of the fort and President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers.

Large-type headlines (then rarely used) left no doubt that the attack meant civil war.

"WAR IN EARNEST!...Surrender of the Fort and Garrison," proclaimed the Intelligencer. The headlines in the Democrat included: "Sumter in Possession of the Rebels! NATIONAL HUMILIATION."

The original newspapers, printed on durable rag paper, still survive in huge bound volumes in the Spruance Library of the Bucks County Historical Society in Doylestown.

The Bucks County Intelligencer, founded in 1804, and the Doylestown Democrat, founded in 1816, took opposing editorial positions before the Civil War.

Enos Pritzer and Henry Darlington, who became editor-publishers of the Intelligencer in 1855, aligned themselves with the newly formed Republican Party and strongly supported the party's opposition to extending slavery into the western territories. The newspaper was the foremost proponent of Republicanism in Bucks County, which then was predominantly Democratic.

The Doylestown Democrat, on the other hand, was the mouthpiece of the Democratic Party and supported the existence and expansion of slavery. "Slavery is a legitimate, useful and expedient institution," the Democrat opined.

William W.H. Davis, editor-publisher of the Democrat since 1858, broke with Northern Democrats who opposed the war ("Copperheads") and joined the fight on the side of the Union.

Davis, who would found the Bucks County Historical Society in 1880, recruited 1,000 soldiers, mostly from Bucks County, to form the 104th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The obelisk on Monument Square in Doylestown honors this unit.

While Davis served in the military for 3-1/2 years, however, the Democrat was edited by John Mendenhall, a Copperhead who published many articles critical of the war.

But in their editorials accompanying the news of Fort Sumter, both the Democrat and the Intelligencer condemned the Southern secessionists as traitors.

The Democrat presciently predicted: "The contest, in all probability, will end in the destruction of negro slavery, and the ruin of all her [the South's] interests." The editorial called on loyal Americans to set aside partisan differences to fight for the preservation of the Union.

The Intelligencer--whose motto proclaimed "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable"--blamed Democrats for resorting to "treason and violence" after losing the presidency in 1860. The editorial said Southern sympathizers in Bucks County "should be branded as traitors" and dealt with accordingly.

Here are excerpts from the editorials in the Bucks County Intelligencer and the Doylestown Democrat of April 16, 1861.

TREASON CONSUMMATED [Intelligencer editorial]

War has begun in earnest. A certain political party, failing to elect its candidate for President and retain possession of the Federal power, has resorted to treason and violence to obtain what was denied by the judgement of the people. Its leaders, while their official power lasted, lost no opportunity of weakening and betraying the Government that had nourished and trusted them. When their traitorous conduct in office became intolerable to the people, they deserted their posts and openly raised the standard of rebellion.

War has been levied against the United States, the public property robbed and destroyed, the Federal army corrupted and betrayed, and our national flag torn down and trampled in the dust. Thus their mad career has proceeded, until on Friday last it culminated in an unprovoked attack upon and bombardment of Major Anderson and a handful of men in Fort Sumter.

We can assure our Democratic friends that every Republican will stand firmly by the Stars and Stripes, and assist and sustain the Administration in its efforts to defeat the schemes of traitors and conspirators. They do not regard Mr. Lincoln as the President of a party; he is the chosen head of the nation, the chief of the whole people, solemnly sworn to execute the laws, and preserve and defend the honor and glory of the Union.

He who engages in a crusade against the Union, or takes up arms to destroy the Government established by our fathers, is an enemy to civil liberty, and justly deserves the doom of a traitor. The great mass of our people are strongly attached to the Union, and cordially approve the policy adopted by the present Administration for its defence and preservation.

We have some men in Bucks county, however, who openly sympathize with the enemies of the Government, and avow their determination to take sides with the rebels whenever the Administration attempts to enforce the laws. We envy not the hearts of these men. They are traitors by their own confessions, and are unworthy of the confidence and respect of all liberty-loving people. The Star-Spangled Banner has no charms for them. They should be branded as traitors.

We all have a mighty interest in the perpetuation of the Government, and self-preservation may make it necessary to first take care of the traitors in our midst, before marching to the sunny South to suppress rebellion there.

THE WAR BEGUN [Democrat editorial]

The storm of civil war, which has so long been threatening, has at last broken over our unfortunate country. The first shot at Fort Sumter wiped out all political parties in the country, and now the issue is made up between patriotism and treason. It is simply a question whether the government shall be sustained or overthrown. He who is not loyal and faithful is a traitor, and will receive the punishment meted out to such everywhere

It is of no moment to inquire which section or party was the original cause of all the troubles that have come upon us, or what construction of the Constitution about slavery be correct, as all these matters give way to the overshadowing necessity of maintaining the honor of our flag, and the stability of our institutions.

The contest is now upon us and let us meet it like men. Let the country be sustained at all hazards. Let it not be said that twenty millions of freemen in the North permitted the national government to be destroyed by less than one fourth of that number in the South. We hope to see the whole power of the nation put forth to crush out this rebellion in such manner that it will be remembered for all time to come.

The conduct of the rebels will have the effect to unite the whole population of the free States in support of the government. Northern passions are hard to inflame, but when once fully aroused, woe betide those against whom they are directed.

The South has brought the calamities, which will be sure to follow, upon herself, and the sympathy once felt for her will be manifested no longer. The contest, in all probability, will end in the destruction of negro slavery, and the ruin of all her interests.

In Pennsylvania, and particularly in the good old county of Bucks, we hope to hear but one opinion. We know our people are loyal to our government, and believe they will prove true when the day of trial shall come.

They will rally almost as one man in support of the government made by Washington, Madison and Jefferson, and will never desert the flag that waved over the fields of Trenton, Yorktown, New Orleans and Cerro Gordo. Let every man for the time forget his partisan feeling in patriotic devotion to his country, and bury the names of Democrat, Republican and Whig in that dearer appellation of American.

What follows are excerpts from some of the news dispatches published in the Bucks County Intelligencer (similar reports ran in the Doylestown Democrat).

WAR IN EARNEST!....FORT SUMTER BOMBARDED...The Fort in Flames, and the Guns Silenced...FORTY HOURS OF CANNONADING...Surrender of the Fort and Garrison...NO LIVES LOST.

EVENTS OF FRIDAY---THE ASSAULT ON FORT SUMTER

CHARLESTON, April 12, 1861---Civil war has at last begun. A terrible fight is at this moment going on between Fort Sumter and the fortifications by which it is surrounded.

The issue was submitted to Major Anderson of surrendering as soon as his supplies were exhausted, or of having a fire opened on him within a certain time.

This he refused to do, and accordingly, at twenty-seven minutes past four o'clock this morning, Fort Moultrie began the bombardment by firing two guns. To these Major Anderson replied with his barbette guns, after which the batteries on Mount Pleasant, Cummings' Point and the Floating Battery, opened a brisk fire of shot and shell.

Major Anderson did not reply, except at long intervals, until between seven and eight o'clock, when he brought into action the two tiers of guns looking towards Fort Moultrie and Stevens iron battery.

Up to this hour (three o'clock Friday afternoon) they have failed to produce any serious effect.

The Stevens battery is eminently successful, and does terrible execution on Fort Sumter. Breaches, to all appearances, are being made in the several sides exposed to fire. Portions of the parapet have been destroyed, and several of the guns there have been shot away.

The excitement in the community is indescribable. With the very first boom of the gun thousands rushed from their beds to the harbor front, and all day every available place has been thronged by ladies and gentlemen, viewing the solemn spectacle through their glasses. Most of these have relatives in the several fortifications, and many a tearful eye attested the anxious affection of the mother, wife and sister, but not a murmur came from a single individual.

Business is entirely suspended. Only those stores are open which are necessary to supply articles required by the army.

Governor Pickens has spent all day in the residence of a gentleman which commands a view of the whole scene, a most interested observer. General Beauregard commands in person the entire operations, and thus far they have moved with the utmost system and success.

THE CONFLICT ON SATURDAY---SURRENDER OF THE FORT

CHARLESTON, Saturday, April 13--Morning---At intervals of twenty minutes the firing was kept up all night on Fort Sumter.

Major Anderson ceased firing from Fort Sumter at 6 o'clock in the evening. All night he was engaged in repairing damages and protecting the barbette guns on the top of the fort. He began to return fire at 7 o'clock this morning.

The ships in the offing appear to be quietly at anchor. They have not fired a gun yet. The entire roof of the barracks at Fort Sumter is in a vast sheet of flame. Shells from Cummings' Point and Fort Moultrie are bursting in and over Fort Sumter in quick succession. The Federal Flag still waves. Maj. Anderson is only occupied in putting out fire. Every shot on Fort Sumter seems to tell heavily. The people are anxiously looking for Maj. Anderson to strike his flag.

CHARLESTON, April 13--Evening---Maj. Anderson has surrendered after hard fighting, commencing at 4-1/2 o'clock yesterday morning, and continuing until 5 minutes to 1 o'clock today.

The American flag has given place to the Palmetto of South Carolina.

Major Anderson stated that he surrendered his sword to General Beauregard as the representative of the Confederate Government. General Beauregard said he would not receive it from so brave a man. He says Major Anderson made a stanch fight, and elevated himself in the estimation of every true Carolinian.

The scene in the city after the raising of the flag of truce and the surrender is indescribable; the people were perfectly wild. Men on horseback rode through the streets, proclaiming the news, amid the greastest enthusiasm.

On the arrival of the officers from the fort, they were marched through the streets, followed by an immense crowd hurrahing, shouting, and yelling with excitement.

THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT

South Carolina has thus formally and willfully inaugurated war and upon no other pretext than that the President desired to save Major Anderson's command from starvation. Under these circumstances an active and vigorous policy has become necessary.

The Attorney General has decided, and the Administration concurs with him in opinion, that the act of 1793 gives full power to the President to call out volunteers for this emergency, and a proclamation summoning 75,000 will be issued immediately, distributed pro rata among the loyal States.

The impression prevails in many quarters that this force should be much larger, in order to exhibit the physical power which the occasion demands. The President was indisposed to do more than his sense of duty regarded as sufficient, or to involve any unnecessary cost.

GOVERNOR CURTIN'S MESSAGE

Governor [Andrew] Curtin, of Pennsylvania, sent a message to the Legislature, on Tuesday last, calling attention to the necessity and importance of putting the militia of the State on a war footing.

He reminds the law-making authorities that during a long period devoted exclusively to peaceful pursuits, the militia system has become wholly inefficient and requires their interference. Many volunteeer companies have not the men required by law. Others are without the necessary arms, and of the arms that are distributed, few are of the modern and effective kinds required in the field.

The Legislature is therefore urged to make immediate provision for the removal of these defects; for the procurement and distributuion of arms to such citizens as may enter into the military service of the State; for the alteration of the old and obsolete arms; and for the establishment of a Military Bureau at Harrisburg.

These measures, the Governor urges, would be wise and proper at any time, but at this juncture, especial and momentous considerations demanding the gravest attention of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, invest the subject with extraordinary interest and importance.

Gov. Curtin has acted wisely in recommending that the Legislature should take steps to arm and equip the militia of the State. Common prudence requires that this course should be taken. The Union cannot and shall not be destroyed by traitors.

The people of Pennsylvania are loyal and patriotic, and they will never consent to the disruption of the Confederacy. The preservation of the Government should be the aim and the first duty of every well-disposed citizen, and all will rejoice that the Keystone State has taken the lead in defensive measures.

The Legislature has promptly passed a bill embodying in its provisions the recommendations of Gov. Curtin, and appropriating $500,000 for arming and equipping the militia of the State.

THE SOUTHERN STATES

The Southern States are already experiencing some of the results of treason. People are fleeing by hundreds from the land of slavery, rebellion and anarchy, to the prairies of the West, where they can settle down in peace and quiet, under a stable government.

The officers of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad have indications of a very large business in the way of carrying emigrants, with their effects, from Virginia and other Slave States, to Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. The company has felt compelled to make extra accommodations for the emigrants.

The imposing show of attractions presented by the Land Department of the Illinois Central Railroad has made quite an impression on these would-be Northerners; and that Department is over-flowing with letters from them, inquiring as to localities and terms. The Chicago Tribune says that a very large emigration of Southerners to that region is expected--they having already learned that treason is one of the most unprofitable speculations in which a State can engage.