How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 9

On April 9, 1861, the Confederate Cabinet convened in Montgomery to strategize the imminent attack on Fort Sumter, aiming to compel its surrender before President Lincoln’s naval expedition arrived with crucial supplies and reinforcements. In the days leading up to the assault, Confederate troops mobilized around Charleston, bracing for the impending conflict.

Simultaneously, U.S. Captain Gustavus V. Fox, who had collaborated with President Lincoln to address the escalating "Sumter issue," embarked from New York aboard the steamer Baltic. Accompanied by approximately 200 soldiers from the 2nd U.S. Artillery, Fox was determined to support Fort Sumter amid rising tensions.