Visiting Fort Sumter for Memorial Day

This was the place it all began. In the early morning hours of April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired at a Union force commanded by Maj. Robert Anderson stationed inside Fort Sumter. South Carolina had seceded from the Union and were in the process of occupying Federal forts around Charleston Harbor. Anderson had already moved his men from nearby Fort Moultrie but they were running short on supplies. The small Union force tried in vain to defend the fort from the bombardment. After 34 hours, Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, and the soldiers were allowed to evacuate. The Civil War, America's bloodiest conflict, had started.

During the Civil War, Fort Sumter remained strongly in Confederate hands despite numerous attempts by Union forces later in the war to retake it and control Charleston Harbor. Attempts were also made to seize Morris Island close by, including the famous assault on Fort Wagner made by the 54th Massachusetts. Rifled cannons were used to try to breach Sumter's walls, and most of them were reduced to rubble. The fort's walls originally stood three stories high, now only one remains. Charleston Harbor was evacuated by the Confederates in early 1865 ahead of Sherman's troops. Then, on April 14, 1865, the U.S. flag was again raised over Fort Sumter.

Attempts were made to restore Fort Sumter after the war. The fort was rearmed with Parrott guns and other improvements were made. However, in the later part of the 1800s, Fort Sumter served mainly as a lighthouse station, and it was allowed to fall into disrepair. The Spanish-American War, however, brought new troops and the construction of Battery Huger. New guns were placed in the fort. Battery Huger was then occupied by forces during WWI and WWII, and the rest of the fort was filled in with dirt. In 1948, Fort Sumter became a national monument under the care of the National Park Service.

My family and I visited Fort Sumter a couple weeks ago on Memorial Day. While in the Charleston area, we took the 30 minute boat ride through Charleston Harbor out to Fort Sumter. Once there, we explored the fort and learned about its history. The museum on the island was worth visiting with its collection of artifacts, including the original flag that flew during the Confederate bombardment. The visit was only one hour long, way too short, but it was particularly memorable for me. I participated in a special flag raising ceremony for Memorial Day, in which the fort's five flags were hoisted up. It was a visit to remember!

Links to Learn More:

• Fort Sumter National Monument
• More photos of my visit to Fort Sumter