Living History Programs for 150th Anniversary of Amphibious Assault

Date: August 22, 2013
Contact: Bill Martin, [phone] x 11

Fort Sumter National Monument will present Living History programs on Saturday and Sunday, September 7-8, 2013, the 150th anniversary of amphibious assault on Fort Sumter. Re-enactors representing the Union and Confederates soldiers, sailors, and Marines will present living history programs for visitors at the fort all day on the 7th and through the noon ferry boat on Sunday. There will also be special evening trip to the fort that includes a dinner for a special price and a talk from the park historian. For more information on this special evening trip contact Fort Sumter Tours at [phone].

On the night of September 6, 1863, after a 58-day siege, Confederates evacuated Batteries Wagner and Gregg leaving Federal forces in control of Morris Island. The next day Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter, which was refused by General P. G. T. Beauregard. In response, at 1:00 a.m. on September 9th an amphibious assault was directed against Fort Sumter by 500 U.S. sailors and Marines. In a brief and severe battle the Union attack was defeated. While none of Fort Sumter’s Confederate defenders suffered casualties, over 120 of the Federals were killed, wounded, or captured.

Fort Sumter National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service. The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square is located at 340 Concord Street, in Charleston, South Carolina. The park is open daily except for New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. For more information, call [phone].