How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – March 31

As discussed in yesterday’s post, America found itself at a pivotal crossroads as March transitioned into April 1861, with no favorable options in sight. The leadership of both sides unanimously agreed on one point: nobody wanted to ignite the flames of the American Civil War.

In his inaugural address on March 4, President Abraham Lincoln stated his position clearly. He pledged not to interfere with slavery in states where it was already established; however, he firmly declared his intention to preserve the Union: “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine,” he said, “is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without yourselves being the aggressor.”

Historian Robert Rosen provides an engaging account of the events leading up to the first shot fired over Fort Sumter in his book "A Short History of Charleston," now in its third edition. Rosen highlights Lincoln’s precarious situation: allowing Major Robert Anderson to abandon Fort Sumter would effectively mean conceding the dissolution of the Union, a boundary Lincoln was unwilling to cross.

Conversely, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and South Carolina Governor Francis Pickens faced their own dilemmas. If they permitted Anderson to stay at Fort Sumter, their fledgling Confederate government would appear weak, having to tolerate an enemy presence in a key city. Complicating matters for Davis, any attack he initiated could galvanize Northerners, who were not yet fully committed to the war effort, to rally behind Lincoln. “Each side,” Rosen notes, “was circling the other.”

General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard took command of the Confederate forces in Charleston on March 3, just a day before Lincoln’s inauguration. At the same time, Governor Pickens sought a peaceful surrender of Fort Sumter, arguing that the Federals were in an untenable position. With the strength of Confederate batteries surrounding the fort, he estimated that 20,000 federal troops would be needed to hold it, while the U.S. Army had only 17,000 soldiers, many of whom were stationed in distant Western territories. Even Lincoln’s chief military advisor recommended evacuation on strategic military grounds. It was becoming increasingly clear to Lincoln that Anderson could not maintain his hold on Fort Sumter for long; he needed a way to provoke Beauregard into firing the first shot.

Lincoln was briefed on Anderson’s status on March 5, the day after his inauguration, learning that the Federal troops’ provisions could last until mid-April. Despite the advice of most of his Cabinet, Lincoln decided to send supplies to Anderson. If the ships bearing the U.S. flag were fired upon, the North would have justification for self-defense, thereby placing the responsibility for starting the war squarely on the South.

Stay tuned for more insights in tomorrow’s post.

Sources:

McNamara, Robert. “President James Buchanan and the Secession Crisis.” ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023.

Rosen, Robert. *A Short History of Charleston*, 3rd edition. Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, May 2021.