Fort Sumter - American Civil War - HISTORY.com Google Fort Sumter: Construction and Design Fort Sumter was first built in the wake of the War of 1812 (1812-1815), which had highlighted the United States’ lack of strong coastal defenses. Named for Revolutionary War general and South Carolina native Thomas Sumter, Fort Sumter was one of nearly 50 forts built as part of the so-called Third System, a coastal defense program implemented by Congress in 1817. The three-tiered, five-sided fort’s coastal placement was designed to allow it to control access to the vital Charleston Harbor. While the island itself was only 2.4 acres in size, the fort was built to accommodate a garrison of 650 soldiers and 135 artillery pieces. Did You Know? There were no casualties during the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter at the start of the American Civil War. The only Union deaths came during the evacuation: One soldier was killed and another mortally wounded in an accidental explosion during a planned 100-gun salute.

Construction of Fort Sumter first began in 1829 in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, on a manmade island built from thousands of tons of granite. Building ground to a halt in the 1830s amid a dispute over ownership of the stretch of the harbor, and did not resume until 1841. Like many Third System fortifications, Fort Sumter proved a costly endeavor, and construction slowed again in 1859 due to lack of funding. By 1860 the island and the outer fortifications were complete, but the fort’s interior and armaments remained unfinished. Fort Sumter: The First Battle of Fort Sumter Construction of Fort Sumter was still underway when South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860. Despite Charleston’s position as a major port, at the time only two companies of federal troops guarded the harbor. Commanded by Major Robert Anderson (1805-1871), these companies were stationed at Fort Moultrie, a dilapidated fortification facing the coastline.

Recognizing that Fort Moultrie was vulnerable to a land assault, Anderson elected to abandon it for the more easily defensible Fort Sumter on December 26, 1860. South Carolina militia forces would seize the city’s other forts shortly thereafter, leaving Fort Sumter as the lone federal outpost in Charleston. A standoff ensued until January 9, 1861, when a ship called the Star of the West arrived in Charleston with over 200 U.S. troops and supplies intended for Fort Sumter. South Carolina militia batteries fired upon the vessel as it neared Charleston Harbor, forcing it to turn back to sea. Major Anderson refused repeated calls to abandon Fort Sumter, and by March 1861 there were over 3,000 militia troops besieging his garrison. A number of other U.S. military facilities in the Deep South had already been seized, and Fort Sumter was viewed by many as one of the South’s few remaining hurdles to overcome before achieving sovereignty. With the inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) in March 1861, the situation soon escalated.

Knowing that Anderson and his men were running out of supplies, Lincoln announced his intention to send three unarmed ships to relieve Fort Sumter. Having already declared that any attempt to resupply the fort would be seen as an act of aggression, South Carolina militia forces soon scrambled to respond. On April 11, militia commander P.G.T. Beauregard (1818-1893) demanded that Anderson surrender the fort, but Anderson again refused. In response Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter shortly after 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861. U.S. Captain Abner Doubleday (1819-1893)—later famous for the myth that he invented baseball—ordered the first shots in defense of the fort a few hours later. Beauregard’s 19 coastal batteries unleashed a punishing barrage on Fort Sumter, eventually firing an estimated 3,000 shots at the citadel in 34 hours. By Saturday, April 13, cannon fire had broken through the fortress’s five-foot-thick brick walls, causing fires inside the post.

With his stores of ammunition depleted, Anderson was forced to surrender the fort shortly after 2 p.m. in the afternoon. No Union troops had been killed during the bombardment, but two men died the following day in an explosion that occurred during an artillery salute held before the U.S. evacuation. The bombardment of Fort Sumter would play a major part in triggering the Civil War. In the days following the assault, Lincoln issued a call for Union volunteers to quash the rebellion, while more Southern states including Virginia , North Carolina and Tennessee cast their lot with the Confederacy. Fort Sumter: Later Civil War Engagements Following Beauregard’s bombardment in 1861, Confederate forces occupied Fort Sumter and used it to marshal a defense of Charleston Harbor. Once it was completed and better armed, Fort Sumter allowed the Confederates to create a valuable hole in the Union blockade of the Atlantic seaboard. The first Union assault on Fort Sumter came in April 1863, when Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont (1803-1865) attempted a naval attack on Charleston.

Commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Du Pont arrived in Charleston with a fleet of nine ironclad warships, seven of which were updated versions of the famed USS Monitor. While Du Pont had hoped to recapture Fort Sumter—by then a symbol of the Confederate rebellion—his attack was poorly coordinated and met with unfavorable weather conditions. In collaboration with Fort Sumter, Confederate batteries commanded by P.G.T. Beauregard hammered the ironclad fleet with artillery fire, and underwater mines posed a constant threat to the ships’ hulls. Outgunned and unable to properly maneuver in heavy currents, Du Pont’s fleet eventually withdrew from the harbor after taking over 500 hits by Confederate guns. Only one Union soldier was killed during the battle, but one of the ironclads, the Keokuk, sank the next day. Five Confederates were killed during the attack, but the damage to Fort Sumter was soon repaired and its defenses improved. Confederate soldiers even managed to salvage one of the Keokuk’s 11-inch Dahlgren guns and mount it on the fortress.

In July 1863 Union troops laid siege to Fort Wagner, a valuable post on Morris Island near the mouth of Charleston Harbor. After being met with heavy fire from Fort Sumter, Union General Quincy Adams Gillmore (1825-1888) turned his guns on the fort and unleashed a devastating seven-day bombardment. On September 8 a force of nearly 400 Union troops attempted to land at Fort Sumter and capture the post by force. Union Rear Admiral John Dahlgren (1809-1870) mistakenly believed the fort was manned by a skeleton crew, but the landing party was met by over 300 Confederate infantry, who easily repulsed the assault. Following the failed infantry attack, Union forces on Morris Island recommenced their bombing campaign on Fort Sumter. Over the next 15 months, Union artillery effectively leveled Fort Sumter, eventually firing nearly 50,000 projectiles at the fort between September 1863 and February 1865. Despite suffering over 300 casualties from the Union bombardments, the beleaguered Confederate garrison managed to retain control of the fort until February 1865.

Only when Union General William T. Sherman was poised to capture Charleston did the Confederates finally evacuate. Union forces would reclaim Fort Sumter on February 22, 1865. Robert A. Anderson and Abner Doubleday, the two commanding officers from the original siege of Fort Sumter, would both return to the fortress on April 14, 1865, for a flag raising ceremony. Fort Sumter: Post-Civil War Use After the Civil War the derelict Fort Sumter was rebuilt and partially redesigned. It would see little use during the 1870s and 1880s and was eventually reduced to serving as a lighthouse station for Charleston Harbor. With the start of the Spanish-American War (1898), the fortress was rearmed and once again used as a coastal defense installation. It would later see service during both World War I (1914-18) and World War II (1939-45). In 1948 Fort Sumter was decommissioned as a military post and turned over to the National Park Service. It now attracts over 750,000 visitors every year.

Tags Charleston History: A Glimpse into the Past of One of America’s Oldest Cities Charleston History A Historical Time-line Discover Charleston History, rich with old world culture and architecture. This Holy City is one of the oldest cities in America and envelops southern traditions and its historical significances while sharing them with its visitors. To follow is a simple time-line of Charleston’s most prominent historical events that has led it to the great city it is today. Early Days of Charleston History 1663 King Charles II of England granted the territory known as Carolina to eight trustworthy friends known as the Lords Proprietors. 1669 Settlers leave from London in three ships; the Albemarle, Port Royal and Carolina. 1670 Charles Town (or Charlestown, named for the King of England) was founded on the west side of the peninsular river and announced as the capitol of Carolina. This original settlement is honored today as a National Historic Site known as Charles Town Landing. Lord Anthony Ashley-Cooper chose the location and deemed the town’s purpose to be that of a successful and great port. Charleston history begins to unfold.

1680 Charles Town was moved to Oyster Point on the peninsula after other settlers from England, Barbados and Virginia made their way to the area, increasing the population. 1695 Charles Town had to continuously fight oncoming attacks from both land and sea. Opposition from Spain and France, as well as from Native Americans and even pirates forced the city to barricade itself for protection. Today, the only standing buildings from this walled city is the Powder Magazine (still open to the public) that housed the gun powder and ammunition for the city and the Pink House which was a tavern and gathering place, both were built in 1710. Grand Modell laid out plans to create a “regular town” and centered it on the land of Meeting and Broad Streets. This was to be their Civic Square, later to be known as it is today as the Four Corners of Law (God’s Law – St. Michael’s Episcopal Church build in 1752, State Law - County Court House, originally the State House built in 1752, City Law - Old City hall, originally a bank built in 1801, Federal Law - the Federal Court House built in 1886).

1682 St. Philip's Episcopal (the first Anglican church) was built. It was eventually destroyed by fire and relocated to its current location on Church Street. 1770 Charles Town had established itself as a bustling trading center, boasting the wealthiest and largest city south of Philadelphia. It became the fourth largest port behind Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Population size was up to 11,000, more than half of which were slaves. Descendants came from Bermuda, the Caribbean, Scotland, France, Ireland and Germany contributing to today’s prominence of Jewish, Catholic and Protestant denominations. Slaves also contributed to Charles Town’s religious make up with the construction of the Old Bethel United Methodist Church in 1797, and the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in 1791. Nearby wealthy plantations harvested rice and indigo. Combining these profitable fares with the naval shipping industry, Charles town became the cultural and financial epicenter of the South which played a huge role in Charleston history. 1736 The first American theatre opened, but was converted to the Planters Hotel in the 19th century, later to revert back to what is now known as Dock Street Theater.

1737 The South Carolina Society was founded by the French Huguenots. 1740 A warehouse district was established along East Bay Street. It later came to be known as Rainbow Row when it was renovated and painted Caribbean colors in the 1900’s. 1748 The Charleston Library Society was established by wealthy Charlestonians who later contributed to the founding of the College of Charleston. 1766 The German Friendly Society was established. 1767 The Old Exchange Building was built. 1770 A prominent highlight of Charleston history: The College of Charleston was established. It is the oldest college in South Carolina and the 13th oldest in the United States. 1771 The Old Exchange Building was completed and is currently one of the oldest buildings in the country. It’s been famously known for holding signers of the Declaration of Independence in its dungeons, hosting events for George Washington, the US Constitution ratification and the stolen tea from trade ships. It has also been used as a US Post office and the first Confederate Post Office. Today it is a museum, open to the public. 1773 The first American museum opened to the public on January 12.

The Charleston Museum Society is the oldest museum in America. Revolutionary War/ Declaration of Independence in Charleston History 1776 Declaration of Independence is read and signed, partly as a result of the efforts of elected Charles Town delegates in 1774 to succeed from the British crown. Church’s became targets for British war ships so the steeples were painted black to camouflage with the night sky. Charles Town survived a British siege thanks to the command of William Moultrie at Sullivan’s Island. 1780 The British had control over Charles Town for two and a half years. 1782 After a British retreat, the city officially changes its name to Charleston. 1788 A separation from Federal Government by Carolinians brought about the moving of the State Capitol to Columbia which was declared the new State Capitol. 1792 The State Capitol previously housed in Charleston had been rebuilt to become the Charleston County Courthouse 1793 Cotton became the face of South Carolina plantation crops, heavily labored by slaves. Most trade work was performed by slaves in Charleston, many of whom, along with other black Charlestonians, spoke Gullah (a combination of African, Portuguese and English words).

1801 The Hibernian Society was founded by Irish immigrants. 1822 The discovery of a massive slave revolt, master-minded by Denmark Vesey led to higher restrictions for free blacks, slaves and their white supporters. Hundreds of them were held in the Old City Jail. By this time the Charleston population was majority black. 1824 Another prominent highlight of Charleston history: The Medical College of South Carolina (MUSC) was established. 1832 South Carolina announced an ordinance of nullification, making aware their refute with the Federal Government. Since Charleston was one of the busiest ports in the county, the Federal Government soon occupied the city to take tariffs by force. A struggle that lasted for decades. Eventually an agreement lessened tariff demands, but the issues would never go away for years to come. 1840 The city center shifted to the Market Hall and Sheds where fresh meat and produce were bartered, now known as the Old City Market where local vendors still offer their wares. The near location of docking ships also offered the ease of slave trade. 1849 Construction began on the United States Customs house, but would soon be interrupted by activities of the Civil War.

American Civil War in Charleston History 1860 December 20 - South Carolina was the first state to vote for succession from the Union due to the fact that the man elected to office, Abraham Lincoln, displayed a platform that was “hostile to slavery.” 1861 January 9 – The first shots of the Civil War were made by Citadel Cadets in Charleston Harbor at Union Ships. April 12 – A pivitol point in Charleston history occued when a bombardment on Union-held Fort Sumter, lasting 34 hours, was instigated by General Pierre G. T. Beauregard of the Confederate Army. Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort. 1863 The first submarine warfare took place. 1864 CSS H.L. Hunley sinks the Housatonic bringing all its crew members to their underwater grave. 1865 Union troops move into Charleston ultimately defeating and taking control of the ruined city. While reconstruction of Charleston took place, Federal arms maintained their positioning within the city. 1867 The Avery Institute was established as Charleston's first free secondary school for blacks.

The Porter Military Academy was created for former soldiers and orphaned boys and later united with the Gaud School and became what is still a prominent school of the area, Porter-Gaud School. 1885 A massive 125 mile-per-hour hurricane leveled the city and 90 percent of its homes. 1886 The Great Earthquake at an estimated 7.5 magnitude, damaged 2000 buildings and could be felt from Bermuda to Boston. 1889 The William Enston Home was constructed for Charleston’s elderly and disabled. 1896 The United States Post Office and Courthouse opened its doors signifying a new beginning for the rebounding city. 20th Century Charleston History 1920 The beginning of organized historic preservation took hold and is now known as the Preservation Society of Charleston. 1925 Porgy was written by Dubose Heyward , a novel in Cabbage Row, aka Catfish Row. 1925 A dance called "The Charleston" becomes a craze. 1928 A private-owned Charleston Airport was commissioned that officially opened in 1929. 1929 The Grace Memorial Bridge was built to connect Charleston to Mt. Pleasant.

It was the largest continuous-truss type bridge in the world. 1934 George Gershwin wrote America’s first opera, "Porgy and Bess." 1963 Rivers High was the first high school in South Carolina to become integrated. 1966 The Silas N. Pearman Bridge was built connecting Charleston to Mt. Pleasant due to the increased transportation demand between these two land masses. The Grace Memorial Bridge remained open. 1977 Spoleto Festival USA took place for the first time and announced Charleston as its permanent American home. 1989 Hurricane Hugo, a category 4 storm devastates Charleston. 1995 Wreck of CSS H.L. Hunley submarine discovered under 3 feet of silt off Sullivan's Island by Clive Cussler's team of divers. 2000 Wreck of CSS H.L. Hunley recovered from Sullivan's Island and transported to a laboratory in North Charleston. Modern Day Charleston History Charleston is a Lowcountry city also known as the Holy City or Chucktown to some locals. It is a tourist haven of the South, educating and thrilling its visitors with historical pride and great architectural presence.

Attractions and tours are abundant and often showcase the lifestyles and times of old Charleston for the preservation of Charleston history. Luxury hotels, great dining, shopping and art also play an important role in today’s city. Charleston is still a working port and is considered the second largest container port in the US. Major National and International events that call Charleston ‘home’ are: Spoleto Festival USA Professional sports teams housed in Charleston are: Charleston Battery - Soccer Charleston RiverDogs - Baseball South Carolina Stingrays - Ice Hockey SPAWAR took over as the largest employer in the greater Charleston area in 2004. The institution formerly holding that position was MUSC. However, the city is growing fast in information technology jobs and corporations with companies such as Blackbaud, Modulant, CSS and Benefitfocus. July 16, 2005 the new Arthur Ravenel, Jr. bridge opened, connecting Charleston to Mt. Pleasant and replacing the two older bridges which were demolished. It is the largest cable-stayed bridge in the North America. Accolades and Awards Charleston has been hailed as the “best-mannered” city by top American etiquette expert, Marjabelle Young Stewart since 1995.

The city has been chosen for sixteen straight years as a Top 10 US Travel Destinations by Conde Nast Traveler. Charleston is listed as the number 4 Top Destination by Travel & Leisure Magazine in 2009. Southern Living Magazines 2009 Readers Choice Awards has chosen Charleston as their Favorite Southern City. Thank you for visiting Charleston History: A Historical Time-Line. For more, in-depth information on Charleston history, visit our Charleston Museums page. The First Shot of the Civil War, 1861 The First Shot of the Civil War The Surrender of Fort Sumter, 1861 Printer Friendly Version >>> The election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860 provoked the secession of the Southern States from the Union. South Carolina was the first to leave. By the time of the convening of a constitutional convention to establish the Confederacy in February 1861, six other states had joined her. The majority of the Southern leaders who attended the convention expected a peaceful secession; they did not anticipate that their action would lead to bloody conflict. They were wrong. Fort Sumter, lying in the harbor off the city of Charleston, South Carolina, would prove the point.

Firing on Fort Sumter From a contemporary illustration. After her secession from the Union, South Carolina perceived herself as a sovereign state - the presence of Union forces in an armed fortress whose guns commanded her principal harbor was intolerable as it belied her independence. For President Lincoln the voluntary abandonment of this fortress was equally intolerable as it would be a tacit acknowledgment of South Carolina's independent status. Lincoln learned that the garrison at Fort Sumter was in trouble on the day he took office in March 1861. The garrison was running out of food and supplies and had no way of obtaining these on shore. The President ordered a relief expedition to sail immediately and informed the Governor of South Carolina of his decision. Alerted, General P.G.T Beauregard, commander of the Confederate military forces, realized he had to quickly force the evacuation of the fort before the relief expedition's arrival. He would try threats first, and if these failed he would bombard the fort into submission.

"...that shot was a sound of alarm that brought every soldier in the harbor to his feet." On the afternoon of April 11, waving a white flag, two members of General Beauregard's staff were rowed across Charleston's harbor to Fort Sumter carrying a written demand for surrender. One of the emissaries - Stephen D. Lee - wrote of the experience after the war: "This demand was delivered to Major Anderson at 3:45 P.M., by two aides of General Beauregard, James Chesnut, Jr., and myself. At 4:30 P.M. he handed us his reply, refusing to accede to the demand; but added, 'Gentlemen, if you do not batter the fort to pieces about us, we shall be starved out in a few days.' The reply of Major Anderson was put in General Beauregard's hands at 5:15 P.M., and he was also told of this informal remark. Anderson's reply and remark were communicated to the Confederate authorities at Montgomery. The Secretary of War, L.P. Walker, replied to Beauregard as follows:" 'Do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter.

If Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that in the meantime he will not use his guns against us, unless ours should be employed against Fort Sumter, you are authorized thus to avoid the effusion of blood. If this, or its equivalent, be refused, reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be most practicable.' " The same aides bore a second communication to Major Anderson, based on the above instructions, which was placed in, his hands at 12:45 A.M., April 12th. His reply indicated that he would evacuate the fort on the 15th, provided he did not in the meantime receive contradictory instructions from his Government, or additional supplies, but he declined to agree not to open his guns upon the Confederate troops, in the event of any hostile demonstration on their part against his flag. Major Anderson made every possible effort to retain the aides till daylight, making one excuse and then another for not replying. Finally, at 3:15 A.M., he delivered his reply.

In accordance with their instructions, the aides read it and, finding it unsatisfactory, gave Major Anderson this notification:" 'FORT SUMTER, S.C., April 12, 1861, 3:20 A.M. - SIR: By authority of Brigadier-General Beauregard, commanding the Provisional Forces of the Confederate States, we have the honor to notify you that he will open the fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time. We have the honor to be very respectfully, Your obedient servants, JAMES CHESNUT JR., Aide-de-camp. STEPHEN D. LEE, Captain C. S. Army, Aide-de-camp.' "The above note was written in one of the casemates of the fort, and in the presence of Major Anderson and several of his officers. On receiving it, he was much affected. He seemed to realize the full import of the consequences, and the great responsibility of his position.

Escorting us to the boat at the wharf, he cordially pressed our hands in farewell, remarking, 'If we never meet in this world again, God grant that we may meet in the next.' It was then 4 A.M. Captain James at once aroused his command, and arranged to carry out the order. He was a great admirer of Roger A. Pryor, and said to him, 'You are the only man to whom I would give up the honor of firing the first gun of the war'; and he Fort Sumter after the battle The Confederate Flag flies above it offered to allow him to fire it. Pryor, on receiving the offer, was very much agitated. With a husky voice he said, 'I could not fire the first gun of the war.' His manner was almost similar to that of Major Anderson as we left him a few moments before on the wharf at Fort Sumter. Captain James would allow no one else but himself to fire the gun.

The boat with the aides of General Beauregard left Fort Johnson before arrangements were complete for the firing of the gun, and laid on its oars, about one-third the distance between the fort and Sumter, there to witness the firing of 'the first gun of the war' between the States. It was fired from a ten-inch mortar at 4:30 A.M., April 12th, 1861. Captain James was a skillful officer, and the firing of the shell was a success. It burst immediately over the fort, apparently about one hundred feet above. The firing of the mortar woke the echoes from every nook and corner of the harbor, and in this the dead hour of the night, before dawn, that shot was a sound of alarm that brought every soldier in the harbor to his feet, and every man, woman and child in the city of Charleston from their beds. A thrill went through the whole city. It was felt that the Rubicon was passed. No one thought of going home; unused as their ears were to the appalling sounds, or the vivid flashes from the batteries, they stood for hours fascinated with horror." References: Stephen Lee's account appears in: Buel, Clarence, and Robert U.

Johnson, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. I (1888, reprinted. 1982); McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (1988); Niven, John, The Coming of the Civil War 1837-1861 (1990). How To Cite This Article: "The First Shot of the Civil War: The Surrender of Fort Sumter, 1861" EyeWitness to History, (2006). Fort Sumter returned the Confederate fire. The artillery duel continued throughout April 12 and into the following day. Slowly, the fort was being destroyed. Fire broke out and threatened to explode the gunpowder stored in the fort's magazine. At mid-day on April 13 a white flag of surrender was raised and the garrison evacuated the fort on the 14th. The next day, President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to help put down the rebellion. Amazingly, there were no deaths on either side during the battle.

WPS - Port Charleston review Port Charleston Review and History The Port of Charleston is an important port on the United States' Atlantic Coast. It is also a historic urban center with roots deep in the history of the country. Located on the estuaries where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet, the Port of Charleston is on South Carolina's central coast some 138 kilometers northeast of the Port of Savannah , Georgia, and about 245 kilometers southwest of the Port of Wilmington , North Carolina. In 2008, almost 112 thousand people lived in the Port of Charleston, and more than 644 thousand lived in the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area. The United States Navy employs more people in the Port of Charleston than any other organization. The second largest employer in the Port of Charleston is the Medical University of South Carolina. The Port of Charleston is the sixth biggest container port in the United States by cargo value, and it is a mainstay of the local economy. Tourism is also an important economic sector for the Port of Charleston, with more than four million visitors each year. Port History Before Europeans arrived in the area of the Port of Charleston, the area was inhabited by the Cusabo family of tribes.

The Kussoe subtribe was the first to come into conflict with European settlers. When the colony declared war on them, the Kussoe went into hiding, remaining in the area. The Stono subtribe of the Cusabo also fought with the colonists. In the end, the indigenous peoples were forced to pay symbolic tribute of one deerskin a month, yet they were able to continue to live in the area of the Port of Charleston. By the end of the 1600s, the Cusabo peoples were living peacefully with the new settlers in their own villages with their own identity. They hunted the "vermin" of wolves and other predators on the settlers' livestock, and they caught run-away slaves. Charles II of England granted a charter for the Carolina territory in 1663 to his loyal friends known as the Lords Proprietors . After seven years, they established the first settlement of Charles Town on the west bank of the Ashley River. One of the Lords, Anthony Ashley-Cooper , selected the site for a future port. The Port of Charleston became the capital of the Carolina colony. The new Port of Charleston was attacked often by French and Spanish ships who also claimed the region.

The indigenous peoples and pirates also created more than a few problems for the young settlement. The colonists built a wall around the new city to protect it. Two of the original buildings from the walled city still stand today. By 1680, a plan had been devised for the settlement with a central Civic Square. The first Anglican church was built in 1682. The Port of Charleston's oldest surviving church, St. Michael's Episcopal Church, was built on the square in 1752. The next year, the capitol building was built on the other side of the square, indicating the growing importance of the Carolina colony to the British. Most of the first settlers of the Port of Charleston came from England, but other groups also came to the new settlement. Wealthy colonists from Boston summered in the Port of Charleston. Trade with Bermuda and the Caribbean was brisk. Migrants came to the Port of Charleston from France, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany. A Jewish cemetery was established in the Port of Charleston in 1762. By the early 19th Century, the Port of Charleston was home to the biggest and richest Jewish community in North America.

Slaves were also a large part of the Port of Charleston's population. In 1791, a group of African Americans, both free and slaves, organized the Emanuel A.M.E. Church . In 1797, free black residents and slaves helped create the Old Bethel United Methodist Church , the second oldest such church in the United States. In 1773, the first American museum opened in the Port of Charleston. At this time, the population was still growing with people moving from the northern areas of the colony and from colonies to the north like Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Native Charlestonians thought the newcomers were relatively uncivilized, and struggles between the Port of Charleston elite and the "upcountry" people continued for several generations. By the middle of the 1700s, the Port of Charleston was a busy trade center for the Atlantic trade of the southern colonies. By 1770, it was the colonies' fourth biggest port, and some 11 thousand people lived in the Port of Charleston, more than half of them slaves. Rice and indigo grown by planters in the coastal lowlands were profitable exports.

The Port of Charleston had become known as the economic and cultural center of the South. While Boston was having its famous Tea Party before the American Revolution , residents of the Port of Charleston confiscated tea and stored it in the local Exchange and Custom House . In 1774, representatives from the Carolina colony gathered in the custom house in the Port of Charleston to select delegates to the Continental Congress . The colony declared independence from the British crown on the steps of the Exchange. British forces attacked the Port of Charleston twice during the Revolution. Expecting support from Loyalists in the colony, the British tried to seize the Port of Charleston. However, the Loyalist support did not come, and the Second South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army defeated the British. The existing Loyalists were not well organized, but those who left Carolina had convinced London of their support. As late as 1780, the British still expected the Loyalists to rise in opposition to the new United States. In 1780, the British returned to the Port of Charleston with a much larger force. The Siege of Charleston became the greatest defeat for the Americans during their Revolution.

When the main body of British troops returned to New York, Charles Cornwallis and eight thousand redcoats remained to build forts in the Carolina colony and rally the Loyalists. Guerilla militias took many of the forts, but the British held control of the Port of Charleston until late 1782. In 1788, Carolinians met in the Port of Charleston to ratify the new country's constitution. While they all supported a Federal government, the citizens were divided on the location of a capital for the State of South Carolina. After a questionable fire destroyed the Capitol building, Columbia was declared the new state capital. When the old capitol building was rebuilt in 1792, it became the Charleston County Courthouse. After the Revolution, the Port of Charleston continued to grow in culture and commerce to become the center of the antebellum South. The growing Port of Charleston was a cultural and social center, particularly for the planters and merchants of the city. In 1736, America's first theater was built in the Port of Charleston.

In the 1800s, the Planter's Hotel was built on the site to give wealthy planters a place to stay when they came for the horse-racing season. Many new benevolent societies were formed in the Port of Charleston by the different immigrant groups. In 1748, the Charleston Library Society was established so that the Port of Charleston could keep up with the philosophical and scientific movements. The same group founded the College of Charleston , the thirteenth oldest university in the United States, in 1770. As the southern plantation economy grew after the Revolution, the Port of Charleston thrived. With the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, the Port of Charleston began to export large volumes of cotton. Slave labor was critical to the economy of the city and the region. They worked as laborers, artisans, workers in the market, and domestics. When the Charleston Market was founded in 1807, it became a center for the African-American community of both free blacks and slaves. By 1820, over twenty thousand people lived in the Port of Charleston, a majority of them black.

In 1822, a plan for a slave revolt was discovered that led to the severe restriction of activities of both slaves and free blacks within the Port of Charleston. The black and white supporters of the revolt were arrested in the Old Jail. The panic over the possible violence led to the construction of a new arsenal in the Port of Charleston. The early 19th Century was a time of continued growth and prosperity for the Port of Charleston. New banks were established that handled the international transactions brought by the Port of Charleston and export trade. By 1840, the Market Hall and Sheds was the Port of Charleston's commercial hub, handling daily deliveries of fresh produce and meat. As the 19th Century progressed, the free white population of the State grew more committed to the concept that states' rights were more important than Federal authority over them. Controversy arose over the role of the Federal government in the State's commerce, society, and government. In 1832, the State passed a measure allowing the State to repeal Federal laws, primarily those dealing with tariffs. Federal troops arrived in the Port of Charleston to collect tariffs by force.

Eventually, a compromise was reached on the tariffs, but the underlying states' rights argument continued to grow. The Port of Charleston continued to be one of the busiest ports in the country through the beginning of the American Civil War . In 1860, the Democratic National Convention was held in the Port of Charleston. Many delegates worked for the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas , who they hoped would help bring the northern and southern delegates together in a compromise over the issue of slavery in new territories of the U.S. However, the resulting split in the Democratic Party helped Abraham Lincoln , the Republican candidate, become the President of the United States that year. South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union in December 1860. The next month, cadets at the Citadel fired the first shots of the Civil War when they fired on the Star of the West as it attempted to enter the Port of Charleston harbor. Later that year, southern batteries fired for 34 hours on the Union-held Fort Sumter in the Charleston harbor before Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort. Controlling Fort Sumter, the Port of Charleston became a center for blockade running. It was also the site of the first successful submarine battle when the H.L.

Hunley attacked the USS Housatonic in 1864. Union troops took control of the Port of Charleston in 1865, seizing many of the city's institutions like the Citadel Military Academy. Federal troops stayed in the Port of Charleston during the post-war Reconstruction period. The Civil War had ended the Port of Charleston's golden age. Slaves who were now free faced poverty and extreme discrimination. Planters and merchants no longer had the slave labor force that had sustained them for so long. In 1967, the first free secondary school for African Americans, the Avery Institute , was established. The Union's General Sherman supported the conversion of the United States Arsenal into a military academy for former soldiers and orphaned boys. In 1886, a 7.5 (Richter scale) earthquake almost destroyed the Port of Charleston and caused damage in places as far away as several hundred kilometers in Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. The quake was even felt in Boston and Cuba. In 1986, jetties were completed in the harbor, giving the Port of Charleston a deep-water entrance. In 1901, the U.S.

Navy established a base there on the Cooper River that was enlarged during World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. The Port of Charleston economy became dependent on related military installations like the naval shipyard, naval station, and naval supply and distribution center (all of which are now closed). After World War II, Port of Charleston trade grew quickly. The completion of the Santee Cooper hydroelectric project in 1942 gave the city a base for future industrial development. Today, the city's industries include pulp and paper mills, metal working, and manufacturing of auto parts, molded rubber products, chemicals, textiles, clothing, and electrical equipment. When the United States government decided to close the naval shipyard and several naval bases in 1993, the city suffered a serious economic blow. Today, the Port of Charleston is an important tourist destination with many luxury hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts. It is also home to many fine restaurants. The Port of Charleston has the charm of the Old South, with Spanish moss draping the huge live oaks that line the streets. The Port of Charleston's waterfront area called Rainbow Row boasts many historic homes.

In addition to being the fourth busiest container port in the U.S., the Port of Charleston is a growing center for information technology, with many new corporations locating there. The Port of Charleston is eastern South Carolina's medical center, and it is home to the State's biggest medical university. The downtown district is undergoing rapid growth in biotechnology and medical research. Major hospitals are expanding across the metropolitan area.

Question: Which island fort, built to protect the port of Charleston, South Carolina, USA, was the site of the first action in the American Civil War?
Answer: Fort Sumter