Earlier this week, I was on the road – as usual. I had a business meeting in Columbia, South Carolina. When I checked flights, it was significantly less expensive to fly into Charleston. Obviously this gave me a great opportunity to visit Fort Moultrie. My plan was to also visit Fort Sumter, but the rain put a quick end to those plans.
Fort Moultrie is an earthen fort, with masonry walls. Originally built on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, it traces its roots back to the American Revolutionary War. The original fort was constructed of palmetto logs, which inspired the state flag and nickname – Palmetto State. During the early 19th century, the fort would get modern guns and an update to its parapets. In late 1860, Moultrie was garrisoned by Federal troops under 
the command of US Major Robert Anderson. After Abraham Lincoln was elected president, South Carolina quickly seceded from the Union, on December 20, 1860. Anderson, determining that Moultrie was untenable, evacuated the fort, moving his garrison to Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, on December 26. South Carolina troops were installed in the fort, many of which were young cadets from the Citadel – the only trained artillerists in South Carolina. After Lincoln’s inauguration, in March 1861, one of the first things he learned was that Anderson’s garrison, at Sumter, was running low on rations and supplies. Deciding to resupply the fort, Lincoln advised the Confederacy of his plans to resupply. Their would be no additional troops brought in, no ammunition or other military necessities – food only. This was an ingenious move by Lincoln, who in his inaugural address vowed not to assail the south. On April 12, 1861, at 4:30 A.M., Confederate troops under CSA Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard started an artillery bombardment of Sumter. The Civil War had started.
For additional information on Fort Sumter, please refer to my article, published on the anniversary of the bombardment, by clicking here. Watch for a detailed article on Fort Moultrie, later this year.
Additional photographs from this week’s visit to Fort Moultrie.
Fort Moultrie as viewed from the outside. These large guns point towards Fort Sumter, in Charleston Bay.
Fort Moultrie as viewed from Charleston Bay.
Fort Moultrie as viewed from Charleston Bay.
Fort Sumter as viewed from Fort Moultrie.