This day in Charleston
2 entries · 1860–1862
After dark on the day after Christmas, Major Anderson spiked Fort Moultrie’s guns, burned their carriages, and moved his whole command by boat to Fort Sumter without permission from Washington and without a shot being fired. Charleston woke to find the United States flag over the strongest work in the harbor. Everything that followed followed from that night. Fort Sumter →
Official Records, Series I, Vol. 1
A circular from the First Military District: “In case the proposed attack upon this harbor is known beforehand special directions will be given for the service of the different batteries. As, however, it may happen that a surprise may be” attempted, standing instructions followed. The ironclads came fourteen weeks later, in daylight, and were expected.
Official Records, Series I, Vol. 14
Entries are dated from the War of the Rebellion official records, the naval official records and contemporary Charleston sources. Browse the whole year.