Saturday April 13, 1861

Sumter Surrenders

On the morning of April 13, Lincoln and the rest of the North received press reports, none confirmed, that Fort Sumter was under attack.

At Charleston Harbor, the shelling of the fort was renewed in the morning, causing fires to spread and portions of the fort to crumble. Fox, still awaiting the arrival of the Powhatan, the Pocahontas, and the three tugs, encountered a new setback in attempting to run in supplies. Thick fog and heavy swells caused his ship to run aground on a shoal and delayed attempts to load boats with provisions. Determined to carry in at least some supplies, the Pawnee captured an ice schooner and made it available to Fox for an attempt that evening. Fox expected he would "certainly been knocked to pieces" had he tried, but the opportunity never arrived. The surrender of the fort occurred first.

At about 1 p.m., Sumter's flagstaff fell, and though another was soon raised, the initial disappearance of the flag led the Confederate side to communicate with Anderson about his condition. A series of negotiations foll owed, and by 8 p.m., the terms of Anderson's evacuation were concluded.

At about 2 p.m., just as these negotiations were commencing, the Pocahontas finally arrived. Its commander, as the senior naval officer on the scene, entered into the discussions to arrange transportation for the garrison.

Commentary

Bibliography: Current, Lincoln and the First Shot, pp. 154-55, 170-73; Long, Civil War, p. 58; OR, pp. 23-24, 29; Nicolay and Hay, Lincoln, 4: 57-60; Swanberg, First Blood, pp. 312-23; Fox, Confidential Correspondence, 1:33; ORN, pp. 249-55.