FORT SUMTER NATIONAL PARK: The Construction and History
March 1, 2011: Ranger Rick Hatcher, a 17 year veteran of the National Park Service and a native of Virginia, gave us a historical perspective of this major monument in a way that was both informative and entertaining. After the war of 1812 the Federal government began to build a series of forts on all major harbors from Maine to Key West. Although Charleston already had three forts [Moultrie, Johnson and Castle Pinckney] they were considered obsolete. Therefore work began in 1829 on shoals in the main harbor entrance. Over 109,000 TONS of rock were shipped in from New England to make the foundation. The Fort itself has 5′ thick walls, three tiers, room for 135 guns, and was designed to hold 650 officers and men. In 1833 it was named for General Thomas Sumter, a native of Virginia.
In 1860 the Fort had been under construction for 31 years, but was still only 90% complete. Ranger Rick cited this is a typical Federal project! At this time, the total Army had 16,000 soldiers and 5 generals, most of whom were assigned to the western territories.
On April 12, 1861 General Beauregard, commanding the Confederate Army, ordered the attack on the Fort. Six hundred rounds hit the walls, which held, but within the walls there was fire and total destruction. To the Federal government this attack was viewed as an insurrection; to the South it was viewed as a second revolution. Charleston was chosen as the site of this first attack as it was the most important shipping center in the nation at that time and the Confederacy felt that it had to keep the harbor open.
Later the union attacked with huge Dahlgren cannons that could fire a 440lb cannonball. The three story fort was reduced to the height of one third by the fierce firepower.
In 1898 the fort was changed with the addition of a huge concrete structure within its walls. This new fort housed two 12″ artillery pieces which weighed 53 tons each and could fire a 1100LB projectile. They stayed in place until World War II when they were converted to scrap metal and several anti U-Boat guns were installed.
Reported by Fred Sales, Keyway Committee