Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
In the list of some of the events that lead up to the American Civil War, the last entry was the bombardment of Ft Sumter early on Friday, April 12, 1861 by shore batteries. These four batteries consisted of 7000 troops on Sullivan Island, at Ft. Pulaski and Ft Moultrie and on the area known as the Charleston Battery. This shelling continued throughout Friday, overnight, and all day Saturday, April 13th. The 70 US Army troops in Major Anderson's command returned artillery Friday, stopped overnight to conserve shells, and resumed reduced shelling Saturday. Late Saturday afternoon, Major Anderson surrendered.
April 13,1861-Major Anderson surrenders Ft Sumter with the stipulation that, after a 100-gun salute, all US property, including the flag could be removed from the fort. Ironically, no troops were severely injured or killed during the shelling but an accident during the 100-gun salute killed one soldier.
April 13,1861- The USS Sabine arrives at Pensacola, Fl with a blockading force
April 14,1861- Major Anderson evacuates Ft Sumter by embarking on a transport supplied by the Confederates, transferring to the 'Baltic' and sailing to New York City
April 14-15,1861- Several Southern newspapers call for a march on Washington D.C. and an attack on the capitol
April 15,1861- President Lincoln calls for 75,000 volunteers with a three-month enlistment to protect Washington
April 16,1861-Slavery is abolished in Washington, DC and Pres. Lincoln suspends all trade with states that secede
April 16,1861-Union troops set fire to the arsenal and armory at Harper's Ferry destroying 17,000 muskets. They then abandon the site
April 17,1861-Jefferson Davis invites private armed vessels to attack US ships on the high seas
April 18,1861-Pres. Lincoln offers command of the US Army to Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee - Lee declines
April 18,1861-Virginia Troops occupy Harper's Ferry Armory
April 18,1861-The first of the 75,000 troops, the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, reaches New York City on their way to Washington
April 19,1861-Pres. Lincoln orders a blockade of all ports from Charleston, SC to Texas
April 19,1861-As the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment changes trains in Baltimore, a mob stones the soldiers with four soldiers killed and 12 civilian casualties
April 19,1861-The New York 7th Regiment sets out to defend Washington
April 20,1861-To avoid further street battles, the Baltimore mayor asks that no further troops travel through Baltimore
April 20,1861-Norfolk Navy Yard is partially destroyed, then abandoned by Union Forces
April 20,1861-Saying "I cannot raise my hand against my birthplace, my home, my children", Robert E. Lee resigns his US Army Commission
April 20,1861-The US Government seizes telegraph copies saved from the past year to locate messages from people hostile to the government
April 20,1861-Washington defensive forces fail to arrive from Boston, New York, and Baltimore. Investigation reveals that mobs intend to destroy rail lines between Annapolis and Philadelphia. Pres. Lincoln threatens to suspend 'Habeas Corpus' and arrest the mob leaders for safety of the public. NOTE (Habeas Corpus means that anyone arrested must be released from detention OR brought before a court or judge to decide the legality of detention)
April 20,1861- Pres. Lincoln authorized General Scott to arrest and hold, without trial, anyone dangerous to the public safety, i.e. the mob slowing the arrival of troops to Washington, D.C.
