Fort Sumter

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Jenny, Kyle and I went to Ft. Sumter in Charleston, where fighting began in the Civil War exactly 150 years ago on April 12, 1861.

Ft. Sumter, built in 1829 in a series of coastal forts built following the war of 1812, rests on dredged fill from Charleston Harbor and is accessible only by boat.
It’s small, REALLY small. It’s AMAZING how CLOSE that Ft. Sumter is to Sullivan’s Island
and to James Island.

The 85 soldiers stationed at Ft. Sumter on April 12, 1861 were “sitting ducks” as artillery shells rained down on them from both James and Sullivan’s islands. After 34 hours of continuous shelling, that seriously damaged perimeter walls, and completely destroyed the main gates, and the resulting fires that completely burned their living quarters, and surrounded Ft. Sumter’s ammunition magazines, Major Robert Anderson and his men abandoned Ft. Sumter to the Confederates on April 14, 1861.

In the movie “Glory”, starring Matthew Broderick, Union troops, trying to retake Ft. Sumter from the Confederates, land at the lighthouse on James Island and move northwards towards Ft. Sumter. The volunteer guide told us that in the movie that the ocean is on the left, instead of on the right. Oh well, that’s Hollywood! (Other than that little detail, it’s a great movie.)

Visiting Ft. Sumter made history come alive!

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Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan’s Island, dates back to the War of Independence. Built of Palmetto tree trunks and sand, on June 28, 1776 Col. William Moultrie, and his 400 men, fought a day-long battle heavily damaging British ships attacking Charleston Harbor, forcing the them to retreat. Some time after the attack, Col. Moultrie was given the honor of designing South Carolina’s flag. His flag featured a white crescent moon on a dark blue background.


A palmetto tree was later added to his flag, representing the relatively crude walls (palmetto tree trunks) first constructed under his command.

Of course, no trip to Charleston would be complete without