The ETV Tape Vault brings South Carolina history to life! In this episode of ETV Classics, executive producer Tom Fowler and producer, writer & videographer John L. Gasque present the storied history of Fort Sumter.
Before the American Revolution, colonists in South Carolina recognized the need to protect the Charleston Harbor from attack, and Port Royal and Fort Sumter were to become two strategic locations. Moving on in time, when the colonists were fighting the American Revolution, these and other locations were prepared for the battles to come, as they anticipated the war with the British.
While the various governments allocated funds for the building of forts, production was slowed at times by a lack of monies, and completion of the various fortifications languished for one reason or another.
During the time of secession, South Carolina wanted the forts out from under Federal control. From the perspective of the Federal government, given the situation, handing off completely functional forts to seceding states was not a desirable outcome. We learn about all of the back-and-forth and situations involving these fortifications. Among the other issues faced by the forts was the fact that it was said that they were building 18th-century fortifications for the 19th century.
This production also delves into the more personal side of war. P.G.T. Beauregard and Major Robert Anderson were both graduates of West Point and had been good friends. Major Anderson was the Federal commander of Fort Moultrie, and he moved the occupants of the fort to Fort Sumter under the cloak of night. Anderson felt that Fort Sumter would be better able to sustain an attack than Fort Moultrie. Beauregard was the commanding general of the Confederate forces that opened fire on Fort Sumter, marking the start of the Civil War.
Side Notes:
- The Story of Fort Sumter - Walter Edgar's Journal Podcast.
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie - Guardians of the Charleston Harbor.
- The legacy of France's Vauban, a master fortress builder.
- Series | A Visit to Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
