Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter was built as a protection measure for the bay of Charleston and when South Carolina succeeded from the Union both sides wanted it. The fort was more than just a building it was a symbol of power.

The Union holding Fort Sumter showed the country as a whole that the federal government was still in power over South Carolina. The men and supplies were not enough to hold off an attack, but by the Union holding their ground there made South Carolina look like a joke by succeeding while still having Union forts in their state. "If something is not done pretty soon... the whole country will become disgusted with the sham of independence." The President of the Confederacy knew that the fort was making them look ridiculous that is why he did not want the fort to be re-supplied because then the Union could hold the fort even longer. Jefferson Davis knew that once the rebels showed their muscle by either the Unions surrendering the fort freely or forcefully that more states would succeed with confidence. "The shedding of blood will serve to change many voters in the hesitating states." After the Confederates made the Union surrender the fort a few of the wavering states did indeed join the Confederate side.

In President Lincoln's inaugural address he explained that he did not believe in what the Confederate side was doing by succeeding from the union. He made the point that what they were doing was unconstitutional and that he would "preserve, protect and defend it (the union)." Abraham Lincoln wanted to stop the rebellion by a peaceful act, not by war. Lincoln wanted to exhaust all options and if it had to happen he would go to war with the rebellious states.

To the Union holding Fort Sumter was a symbol of power of America and that the Confederate states were under control of the Union. As long as the Union could hold the Union peacefully the longer the Union could stay in power without having to deal with a war. "Witness the temper manifested by the Republicans in the free states, and even by the Union men in the South." Power and pride rested in that fort and every person in the Union knew so.

The fort was getting low on supplies and the soldiers needed food and other supplies to be brought to them. The Union proceeded to write a letter to the South Carolina governor explaining the situation. "I am directed by the