April 1

1861Washington

Two governments decide at once

By the first of April both capitals had run out of room. Lincoln had ordered a relief expedition made ready; Montgomery had begun to insist that the fort be reduced before it could be reinforced. Seward was still privately assuring Confederate commissioners that Sumter would be given up. It would not be.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 1

1865Aftermath

Charleston in the spring of the surrender

Charleston opened April 1865 as an occupied city with grass in the streets south of Broad, half its wharves burned, and its population — Black and white — living on Federal rations. In the next fortnight Richmond fell, Lee surrendered, the flag went back up over Fort Sumter, and Lincoln was killed.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 47

Entries are dated from the War of the Rebellion official records, the naval official records and contemporary Charleston sources. Browse the whole year.