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The Election of Abraham Lincoln

  • Date: November 1860

  • Event: Election of Abraham Lincoln as President

    • Provoked the secession of Southern States from the Union.

    • South Carolina was the first state to leave.

    • By February 1861, six additional states had joined.

Establishment of the Confederacy

  • Constitutional Convention: Convened in February 1861 to form the Confederacy.

    • Expectations were for peaceful secession; leaders did not foresee conflict.

    • Outcome: Their expectations were incorrect, leading to the civil war.

Fort Sumter

  • Location: Charleston, South Carolina

  • Significance: Perceived as a symbol of independence by South Carolina.

    • Union forces stationed there were viewed as a threat to their sovereignty.

    • For Lincoln, abandoning the fort would signify acknowledging South Carolina's independence.

  • Initial Situation:

    • Lincoln informed of the garrison's predicament (lack of supplies).

    • Decision: Order a relief expedition to provide supplies.

  • General Beauregard:

    • Confederate military commander, aimed to force evacuation of Fort Sumter.

    • Planned to use threats first, followed by bombardment if necessary.

Events Leading to the Bombardment

  • April 11, 1861:

    • Two Confederate aides delivered a demand for surrender to Major Anderson (Union commander).

    • Major Anderson's Response:

      • Refused to surrender but mentioned the fort would soon be starved out.

      • Communicated his position to Beauregard by 5:15 P.M.

  • Instructions from Confederate Secretary of War:

    • Beauregard ordered to avoid unnecessary bombardment.

    • If Anderson could not agree to obligations, bombardment could proceed.

Communication Attempts

  • April 12, 1861:

    • A second communication sent to Major Anderson after his refusal.

    • Anderson indicated he would evacuate by the 15th but refused to surrender under conditions requested.

    • Notification sent at 3:20 A.M. that bombardment would commence within one hour.

The First Shot

  • April 12, 1861, 4:30 A.M.:

    • The first shot of the Civil War was fired at Fort Sumter from a ten-inch mortar.

    • The shot created panic and tension across Charleston, waking citizens and military alike.

    • Perceived as a significant escalation - "the Rubicon was passed".

Overall Impact and References

  • The bombardment initiated a series of events leading to full-scale war between the North and South.

  • References:

    • Stephen Lee’s account from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, edited by Buel, Johnson; McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom; and Niven's The Coming of the Civil War.

Problems Faced by Fort Sumter When Lincoln Took Office

  1. Isolation and Supply Shortages: Fort Sumter was cut off from resupply efforts by the secession of Southern states, leading to a critical lack of provisions and ammunition for the Union garrison stationed there.

  2. Political Tensions: The fort's location in Charleston, South Carolina, made it a flashpoint for tensions between the Union and Confederate states. Its presence was seen as a direct threat to Southern sovereignty.

  3. Strategic Dilemma: Lincoln had to balance the necessity of maintaining a federal presence in the fort against the political implications of resupplying it, which could be viewed as an act of aggression.

  4. Military Threat: Confederate forces, led by General Beauregard, were poised to take action against Fort Sumter, increasing the urgency for Lincoln to decide on a course of action regarding the fort's defense.