Warbirds and Airshows- Historic Fort Sumter 2012

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Historic Fort
Fort Sumter, Charleston, SC - July 13, 2012
Famous for the incident that started the American Civil War on April 12-13, 186, Fort Sumter was the location of two battles later in the war as Union Forces sought to recover the fort and invade Charleston. When it was all over Fort Sumter lay in ruins.

My first photo of Fort Sumter from the tour boat. The fort was part of the post War of 1812 effort by the United States to build fortresses along the Atlantic and Gulf coast to defend important harbors and cities from attack and invasion from the sea.

After the Civil War the fort was rebuilt and served as a guardian to Charleston Harbor through the end of WWII.

This was taken from the shore line as I try to capture two of the walls. The black center section of the fort was added after the rebuild to house the larger coastal guns that would not fit on the walls. Many of the forts along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts have similar upgrades, sometimes inside the walls but many times outside where there was more room for the larger guns.

An original type cannon on a sloping track. Working against gravity would help be arrest the recoil of the cannon as it moved backward. After reloading gravity would then assist in moving the gun down the track back into firing position at the wall.

Looking back into downtown Charleston where much of the shelling, but not all came from in April of 1861.

Looking back at the parade ground from the center of the fort.

The fort, which was not yet complete in April 1861, did not also have a full complement of guns or men. Also, it was not designed to be attacked from the places it was supposed to be defending, such as Charleston, but to attack ships trying to enter the harbor.

This is what the fort looked like at the end of the Civil War.

Battery Huger was constructed in 1897 due to concern of Spanish attacks on Charleston during the Spanish-American War and now houses a museum and gift shop. From 1876 until 1897 there was a lighthouse on the premise.

Looking out towards Sullivan Island and Patriot's Point (At the right end of the bridge.) where the USS Yorktown is located and the tour I was on originated. A tour boat also operates out of downtown Charleston.

A model of the fort inside the museum.

The Confederates did not surrender the fort in February of 1865, but abandoned it because of the threat from General Sherman's March to the Sea coming from the land side.

Sometimes no matter where one stands in a museum, one can not get rid of the reflection from the overhead lighting. What remains of the Palmetto Guard Flag is pictured below.

Here is the Stars and Stripes Fort Sumter Battle Flag that flew over the fort during the attack in April of 1861.

Looking across to Sullivan's Island where the Hunley launched from at Fort Moultrie is located. Be sure to check out our Fort Moultrie page for more on the Hunley.