THE LOSS OF FORT SUMTER AND THE BEGINNING OF WAR....

It is March 5, 1861, the day after my inauguration.  

I just received a dispatch from Major Robert Anderson who is in 
command of the Federal garrison at Fort Sumter.  Major Anderson 
advises me that his food supplies will last four weeks and he is 
in need provisions.

Our pride Fort Sumter sits in Charleston Harbour and was built 
after the War of 1812 to defend our nation from foreign intruders.  
It’s a 3-story masonry garrison, has impregnable walls and 135 guns.  
Major Anderson has been there for sometime now and with the 
seccession of South Carolina in December 1860, the South is calling 
for us to leave the Fort since it is located in the South to wihch 
they are now claiming their property.  

Major Anderson received a message from Governor Pickens of South 
Carolina demanding the immediate surrender and evacuation of the Fort.

On March 6, 1861, I called my cabinet together for our first meeting 
and discussed whether it was possible to send provisions to the fort 
and if so, was it wise to attempt it?  Their answers were split.  Out 
of my seven cabinet members,  five were against sending food and 
supplies to the fort, one was for it, and one was neither for or 
against it.  

I'm left with a heavy burden....  I can evacuate and give up the fort, 
I can reinforce it to defend it, or I can send food supplies to relieve 
it.  I do not want war but if war is to come, it is better that the 
South fire the first shots -- but I wish I could prevent war.  What 
shall I do?   

I’ve had several sleepless nights trying to decide what needs to be done 
and how my decision would decide the fate and the direction of this country.  
It was after several days of meetings with my cabinet, and communication 
with Southern representatives, I decided that Fort Sumter is a living symbol 
of this Union and we cannot evacuate it.  

On April 6, 1861, I  sent a messenger to Governor Pickens of S. Carolina, 
advising him that I was sending a fleet of Union ships to Fort Sumter with 
supplies.  I warned him that if the garrison or the ships were fired upon, 
the Union would have no choice but to return fire.

At 4:30 pm, April 12, 1861 the Confederates States fired upon the Federal 
garrison at Fort Sumter.  

By April 14, 1861 the battle for Fort Sumter was over and we had no choice 
but to withdraw our personnel and evacuate the garrison. I know Major 
Anderson was very disheartened by this event as we all were.  I truly 
believe that "a house divided against itself cannot stand",  and this act 
is evidence of a divided country.  "I have no desire to invade the south, 
I am a southerner by birth, but our country is afflicted with Civil War and 
I shall to the extent of my ability repel force by force".

It is now April 15, 1861, and I call upon "all our loyal citizens" to defend 
the National Union and I ask for volunteers to form an army of soldiers to 
retake forts and property that were seized from the "Union".  

This call for volunteers is for 75,000 men  -- the Civil War has begun.....