South Carolina in the American Civil War

• 1. The Secession Crisis

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  On the 17th of December 1860, delegates gathered in Columbia to vote on leaving the United States. They cast a unanimous ballot of 169 votes for secession. This decision followed a resolution passed by the General Assembly just days earlier that declared the election of Abraham Lincoln a hostile act. The convention moved to Charleston to draft an ordinance of secession which was adopted on the 20th of December. James Buchanan remained president but did not stop the process. A committee drafted a Declaration of Immediate Causes which listed grievances about slavery and state rights. The document argued that non-slaveholding states had broken their constitutional obligations regarding runaway slaves. It claimed the Constitution was framed to establish each State as equal with separate control over its own institutions. South Carolinian politician Alfred P. Aldrich stated that declaring secession was necessary if a Republican candidate won the 1860 presidential election. He believed it was the only way to preserve slavery and diminish the influence of the anti-slavery Republican Party. Laurence Massillon Keitt summed up this view in a speech condemning the anti-slavery party. He claimed slavery was justified under Christian religion and those who viewed it as immoral were opposed to Christianity. The state adopted the palmetto flag as its banner after secession. Former congressman James L. Petigru famously remarked that South Carolina was too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum.

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• 2. Fort Sumter And The War Begins

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  Major Robert Anderson withdrew his troops to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor six days after secession. South Carolina militia swarmed over abandoned mainland batteries and trained guns on the island fortress. On the 9th of January 1861, the U.S. ship Star of the West approached to resupply the fort. Cadets from The Citadel fired upon the Star of the West striking the ship three times. They caused it to retreat back to New York. About 6,000 men were stationed around the rim of the harbor ready to take on the 60 men inside Fort Sumter. At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, firing began after two days of intense negotiations. Students from The Citadel were among those firing the first shots of the war though Edmund Ruffin is usually credited with firing the first shot. Thirty-four hours later Anderson's men raised the white flag. They left the fort with colors flying and drums beating saluting the U.S. flag with a 50-gun salute before taking it down. During this salute one gun exploded killing a young soldier who was the only casualty of the bombardment. This event marked the first casualty of the entire war.

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• 3. Black Soldiers And Port Royal

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  Robert Smalls freed himself his crew and their families by commandeering a Confederate transport ship named CSS Planter in Charleston Harbor. He sailed it from Confederate-controlled waters to the Union blockade surrounding it on the 13th of May 1863. His example helped convince President Abraham Lincoln to accept African-American soldiers into the Union Army. In 1861 the Union captured Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina and Port Royal as main harbor. White residents fled leaving behind 10,000 black slaves. Several private Northern charity organizations stepped in to set up schools and help former slaves become self-sufficient. The result became a model for what Reconstruction could have been. The African Americans demonstrated ability to work land efficiently and live independently of white control. They assigned themselves daily tasks for cotton growing while spending extra time cultivating crops fishing and hunting. By selling surplus crops locals acquired small amounts of property. Robert Smalls later helped found the Republican Party in South Carolina and was elected five times to U.S. Congress. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry charged Fort Wagner led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who was killed in the assault.

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• 4. Siege Warfare In Charleston

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  The city under siege took control of Fort Sumter becoming center for blockade running. It hosted first successful submarine warfare on the 17th of February 1864 when H.L. Hunley made daring night attack. The Confederates abandoned Fort Wagner after enduring almost 60 days of heavy shelling. They withdrew all operable cannons and garrison on night of September 6-7, 1863. Union entrenchments were close enough to attempt assault on Advanced Rifle Pits 240 yards in front of Battery but this attempt failed. A second attempt by 24th Mass. Inf. on August 26 succeeded. Despite long unsuccessful attempts to take Charleston from 1863 onward few military engagements occurred within state borders until 1865. Union ships sailed south blocking off one port after another. As early as November Union troops occupied Sea Islands in Beaufort area establishing important base for men and ships obstructing ports at Charleston and Savannah. Many plantation owners had already gone with Confederate Army while those still at home fled. Abandoned plantations were confiscated by Union Army then given to African Americans who did work of them. The Sea Islands became laboratory for Union plans to educate African Americans for eventual role as full American citizens.

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• 5. Shermans March And State Devastation

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  Union troops moved into city in 1865 taking control of many sites such as United States Arsenal seized by Confederate army at outbreak of war. Sherman's Army marched to Columbia leveling most town along with number of towns along way afterward. South Carolina lost 12,922 men to war representing 23% of its male white population of fighting age. This was highest percentage of any state in nation. Destruction his troops wrought upon South Carolina was even worse than in Georgia because many soldiers bore particular grudge against state and citizens blaming them for starting war. One of Sherman's men declared Here is where treason began and by God here is where it shall end! Deprived of free labor from formerly enslaved poverty would mark state for generations to come. In January 1865 Charleston Courier newspaper condemned suggestions that Confederacy abandon slavery if it helped gain independence calling such suggestions folly. On the 21st of February 1865 black 54th Massachusetts Regiment marched through city after Confederate forces finally evacuated Charleston. At ceremony U.S. flag raised over Fort Sumter former fort commander Robert Anderson joined on platform by two men: African American Union hero Robert Smalls and son of Denmark Vesey.

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• 6. Reconstruction And Political Restoration

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  Following Civil War end South Carolina became part of Second Military District. After meeting requirements including ratifying amendments to US Constitution abolishing slavery and granting citizenship to former slaves representatives readmitted to Congress. State fully restored to United States on the 9th of July 1868. As part of Compromise of 1877 Southern Democrats acknowledged Republican Rutherford B. Hayes as president while Republicans met certain demands. One affecting South Carolina was removal of all U.S. military forces from former Confederate states. At time U.S. troops remained only in Louisiana South Carolina and Florida but Compromise completed withdrawal from region. The state adopted palmetto flag slightly modified version used as current state flag. James Henley Thornwell espoused view similar to McQueen's stating slavery justified under Christian religion. Professor Harry V. Jaffa noted omissions in secession declaration regarding human equality and consent of governed due to racist views. Sociologist James W. Loewen argued slavery birthed Civil War not states rights. Writing of Declaration of Secession Loewen wrote that South Carolina declared independence primarily over property rights of slaveholders rather than abstract constitutional principles.

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