- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
Should have Major Anderson attempted to hold on to Fort Sumter a few days longer? Perhaps he should have forced the South Carolina to land on the island and take the garrison by force.
To what end?Should have Major Anderson attempted to hold on to Fort Sumter a few days longer? Perhaps he should have forced the South Carolina to land on the island and take the garrison by force.
I disagree. One does not waste lives without some benefit.Officers are expected to not surrender while they still have the means to resist. It comes down to if Major Anderson had exhausted all reasonable means to resist.
I have heard that defending to the last man and last round can be done by evacuating everyone except one poor private with one round and have him discharge that round and run for it.He had held out as long as feasible and had obviously lost and wasn't going to get any assistance. They were out of food, were likely running out of ammunition, and there'd been a major fire. Continued resistance would have been pointless and futile. He made his statement if you will.
Wasn't the magazine about to explode?
As night fell, Anderson stopped firing and the Confederates reduced their fire but resumed it the next morning. April 13, the barracks again caught fire and threatened the ammunition store, in spite of the rainy day. At about 1 p.m. the flagstaff was shot away and the flag was raised on the ramparts on a makeshift staff. On seeing the flag shot away, Louis Wigfall—aide to Beauregard, fire-eater, and former U.S. senator—rowed out to Fort Sumter on his own initiative, without the knowledge or approval of Beauregard, amid the continuing barrage to see if Anderson was attempting to surrender. Although initially told that Anderson was not surrendering, Wigfall was able to negotiate a surrender. At 1:30 p.m., the flag was replaced with a white sheet. On seeing the flag of surrender, Beauregard ceased firing and sent his envoys to the fort, where they learned of Wigfall’s unofficial mission. After further negotiation, the same terms were eventually agreed to: surrender would occur April 14 at noon.
I think a 36 hour bombardment qualifies as "by force."Should have Major Anderson attempted to hold on to Fort Sumter a few days longer? Perhaps he should have forced the South Carolina to land on the island and take the garrison by force.
IMO, the confrontation in Charleston harbor was as much political as military. Both sides had made their point and were about to suffer the consequences.