Crisis At Ft. Sumter

Countdown To Civil War

US Army has had troops stationed in various Southern Port Cities for years.

Major Robert Anderson is in charge of US troops near Charleston, SC (to protect the harbor)

Fort Is Under Construction

Countdown To Civil War

• Dec. 20, 1860 SC first state to secede Union

• Christmas Day, 1860 Major Robert Anderson, commanding US troops outside of Charleston, SC moved his men into Ft. Sumter

• SC Militia seize the arsenal (guns & ammo storage) and prepare “defenses”.

Rebel Militia

Where will you put your defenses?

You have 8 “Batteries” (small groups of cannons)

Analyze your map – where will you put them?

Draw lines or for accuracy draw: shows cannons

Lincoln’s Situation

• Lincoln and other Yankee Politicians have tried several compromises for the 7 Southern States to return to the Union

The Confederacy declined returning. They are proud to be independent!

Former Pres. Buchanan basically has done nothing other than send a supply ship. The

Rebels shot at it and it steamed away without delivering much needed supplies.

America’s General-In-Chief recently suggested to Lincoln just give Fort Sumter to the Rebels since food is running out and they will starve.

Lincoln has a strategy

• Since war looked likely – make the Rebels start it.• How could this work in the country’s favor?

Lincoln’s Situation

Lincoln knows the following states did not secede with the Confederacy:

VA, MD, AR, NC, TN, KY, DE

It’s really important to Lincoln VA & MD Both don’t secede.

WHY?

Lincoln’s Not-So-Secret Plan

• Ft. Sumter will run out of food by April 15th.

• If you were Lincoln, what would you do to “provoke” the Rebels to fire at the fort?

As the ship left for Ft. Sumter

Lincoln telegraphed the Governor of South Carolina and told him only food was going arrive so the guys won’t starve to death.

The Confederacy now must act or face humiliation if food arrives @ Fort Sumter and the US flag stays waving.

Commander of Rebel-ConfederatesP.G.T. Beauregard

4:30 am April 12th, 1861

General P.G.T. Beauregard sent a letter out to Fort Sumter and warned them if they do not surrender by 4am the Confederates will fire upon the fort.

Major Anderson refuses and readied his men to brace for an attack.

At 4:30 am the Civil War began.

The Confederate Flag Now Waves

Go to the wiki page under Telegraphs

DOWNLOAD: TELEGRAPH #1

Next Comes:H.I. = Human Interest

Find a factoid about this Civil War event. Think in terms of a story that brings “life” into this event about people or is good “trivia”.

Start it with H.I.

Last Comes: R=Results

Each telegraph message will conclude with descriptions-facts that show why this event is important towards the progress of the war.

If event is a battle: Who won? Casualties

If event is political: How does it impact the war?