New York State Library
NYSL Facebook page NYSL Instagram account NYSL Twitter account

Battle of Fort Sumter

The year 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the attack on Fort Sumter, which was the start of the American Civil War.

The illustrations below depict some of the events that took place after Charleston seceeded from the Union in December of 1860, culminating in the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12-13, 1861. These images were published in Harper's Weekly and New York Illustrated News, two magazines from the period that carried extensive coverage, including illustrations, of the Civil War.

Thumbnail Image Caption/Description Source of Illustration Publication Date
Sketch of Major Anderson Major Anderson, U.S.A., Commanding at Fort Sumter, S.C. – (From a portrait in the possession of Mrs. Anderson) Harper's Weekly,
January 12, 1861,
[page 17].		 1861-01-12
Portrait of Major Anderson. Major Robert Anderson, Late of Fort Moultrie, at Present Commanding Fort Sumpter [sic]. From a portrait furnished by Mrs. Anderson, now staying in this city. New York Illustrated News,
January 12, 1861,
page 145.		 1861-01-12
Anderson's entry to Fort Sumter - thumbnail Entry of Major Anderson's command into Fort Sumter on Christmas Night, 1860 Harper's Weekly,
January 12, 1861,
page 25.		 1861-01-12
Map of the harbor at Charleston - thumbnail Map Showing the Forts [including Ft. Sumter], Islands, etc., of the Harbor of Charleston, South Carolina Harper's Weekly,
January 19, 1861,
page 37.		 1861-01-19
Illustration of Fort Johnson Fort Johnson, Opposite Fort Sumter, Harbor of Charleston, South Carolina Harper's Weekly,
January 19, 1861,
page 37.		 1861-01-19
Illustration of the steamship Star of the West Steamship "Star of the West" Harper's Weekly,
January 19, 1861,
pages 40.		 1861-01-19
Illustration of the steamship Marion Steamship "Marion", seized by the state of South Carolina to be converted into a man-of-war. Harper's Weekly,
January 19, 1861,
page 40.		 1861-01-19
Illustration of the sailing ship Brooklyn United States sloop of war "Brooklyn" Harper's Weekly,
January 19, 1861,
page 41.		 1861-01-19
Illustration of Major Anderson and others at the base of a flag pole as the American flag is raised. Major Anderson Raising the United States Flag on Fort Sumter, after the Evacuation of Fort Moultrie. New York Illustrated News,
January 26, 1861,
page 184.		 1861-01-26
Illustration showing occupants of the Fort gathered around Major Anderson, who is kneeling in prayer at the base of a flagpole. Prayer at Sumter, December 27, 1860. [Shows Anderson kneeling at the base of the flagpole.] Harper's Weekly,
January 26, 1861,
page 49.		 1861-01-26
Illustration of Major Anderson and soldiers patrolling the ramparts of Fort Sumter. Secession War – Scenes on the Ramparts of Fort Sumter. Major Anderson Going the Rounds at Night New York Illustrated News,
January 26, 1861,
page 185.		 1861-01-26
Illustration of Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter, Seen from the Rear, at Low Water – From a sketch by an officer of Major Anderson's Command Harper's Weekly,
January 26, 1861,
page 56.		 1861-01-26
Illustration of an interior section of Fort Sumter, where a large cannon is aimed toward the channel. Main Battery at Fort Sumter, Bearing on Fort Moultrie and the Channel – From a sketch by an officer of Major Anderson's command Harper's Weekly,
January 26, 1861,
page 57.		 1861-01-26
Illustration of one of Fort Sumter's cannons. Fort Sumter – The Casemates: Hoisting a Gun Harper's Weekly,
January 26, 1861,
page 60.		 1861-01-26
Illustration of the Sally-Port at Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter – The Sally-Port Harper's Weekly,
January 26, 1861,
page 60.		 1861-01-26
Illustration of the interior of Fort Sumter, as it would be seen looking down from the parapet. Interior of Fort Sumter, from the Parapet – Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command. Harper's Weekly,
January 26, 1861,
page 60		 1861-01-26
Illustration of the gorge of Fort Sumter. Gorge of Fort Sumter – Sally-port  – Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command. Harper's Weekly,
January 26, 1861,
page 60.		 1861-01-26
Illustration of the city of Charleston, S.C., as it appeared in 1861. City of Charleston, South Carolina Harper's Weekly,
January 26, 1861,
page 61.		 1861-01-26
Portrait of Captain Foster. Captain J.G. Foster, Engineer Corps U.S.A., on Duty at Fort Sumter Harper's Weekly,
February 9, 1861,
page 84.		 1861-02-09
Illustration of a Columbiad, a large cannon, flanked by three soldiers, at Fort Sumter. Ten-inch Columbiad Mounted as a Mortar at Fort Sumter, Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command Harper's Weekly,
February 16, 1861,
page 100.		 1861-02-16
Illustration of an interior section of Fort Sumter, showing the Sally-port. Sally-port at Sumter – Interior Harper's Weekly,
February 16, 1861,
page 101.		 1861-02-16
Illustration of the interior of the Officers' quarters at Fort Sumter. Officers' Quarters at Fort Sumter – From a sketch by an officer of Major Anderson's command Harper's Weekly,
February 23, 1861,
page 116.		 1861-02-23
Illustration of women and children on a boat, waving goodbye to the men at Fort Sumter. Good-by to Sumter – February 3, 1861 [Women and children on boat waving to men standing on top of fort.] Harper's Weekly,
February 23, 1861,
page 116.		 1861-02-23
Illustration showing a panoramic view of Fort Moultrie Fort Moultrie, as Seen from Fort Sumter – (Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command) Harper's Weekly,
March 2, 1861,
page 132.		 1861-03-02
Illustration showing a panoramic view of Morris Island Morris Island, as Seen from Fort Sumter – (Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command). Harper's Weekly,
March 2, 1861,
page 132.		 1861-03-02
Illustration showing a panoramic view of Fort Johnson Fort Johnson, as Seen from Fort Sumter – (Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command). Harper's Weekly,
March 2, 1861,
page 132.		 1861-03-02
Illustration of the Iron-clad battery on Cummings Point. Iron-clad Battery on Cummings Point, as Seen from Fort Sumter – (Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command) Harper's Weekly,
March 2, 1861,
page 133.		 1861-03-02
Illustration of the interior of Major Anderson's quarters at Fort Sumter. Major Anderson's Quarters at Fort Sumter – (Drawn by an officer of his command) Harper's Weekly,
March 16, 1861,
page 164.		 1861-03-16
Drawing of a candlestick in an unusual square holder. Major Anderson's Candlestick Harper's Weekly,
March 16, 1861,
page 164.		 1861-03-16
Illustration showing the exterior view of the embrasure. Embrasure at Sumter – Outside – (Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command) Harper's Weekly,
March 16, 1861,
page 164.		 1861-03-16
Illustration showing the interior view of the embrasure. Embrasure at Sumter – Inside – (Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command) Harper's Weekly,
March 16, 1861,
page 164.		 1861-03-16
Illustration of nine officers in Anderson's command. Major Anderson's Command at Fort Sumter – From a photograph taken in the fort. Harper's Weekly, March 23, 1861,
page [177].		 1861-03-23
Fort Sumter Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina – (Drawn by an officer of Major Anderson's command) Harper's Weekly,
March 23, 1861,
page 180.		 1861-03-23
Illustration of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, as seen from inside the Fort. Interior of Fort Sumter during the Bombardment Harper's Weekly,
April 27, 1861,
page 260.		 1861-04-27
Map of Charleston Harbor. Map of Charleston Harbor, Showing Fort Sumter and the Confederate Batteries Harper's Weekly,
April 27, 1861,
page 261.		 1861-04-27
Illustration of the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Bombardment of Fort Sumter by the Batteries of the Confederate States, April 13, 1861 Harper's Weekly,
[April 27, 1861],
page 264-265.		 1861-04-27
Illustration of the floating battery. Floating Battery during the Attack on Fort Sumter New York Illustrated News,
April 27, 1861,
page [385].		 1861-04-27
Illustration of Colonel Wigfall negotiating with Major Anderson. Major Anderson's Interview with Colonel Wigfall Through the Port Hole of Fort Sumter. New York Illustrated News,
April 27, 1861,
page 388.		 1861-04-27
Illustration of soldiers rowing out toward Fort Sumter. Boat Carrying the Officers of General Beauregard to Arrange for the Surrender of Fort Sumter. New York Illustrated News,
April 27, 1861,
page [385].		 1861-04-27
Illustration of soldiers on the ramparts of Fort Sumter, looking out across the water. Major Anderson on the Ramparts of Fort Sumter, Looking Out for the Squadron of Relief Previous to the Attack. New York Illustrated News,
April 27, 1861,
page 388.		 1861-04-27
Illustration of the rebel forces firing on Fort Sumter. Attack Upon Fort Sumter by the Southern Rebels. Fort Moultrie in the Foreground. New York Illustrated News,
[April 27, 1861],
page 392-393.		 1861-04-27
Illustration of men and women watching the attack on Fort Sumter from rooftops in Charleston. House-tops in Charleston during the Bombardment of Sumter. [Showing women and men watching the bombardment; some are in various stages of grieving.] Harper's Weekly,
May 4, 1861,
page 274.		 1861-05-04
Drawing of nine soldiers. Heroes of Fort Sumter. Harper's Weekly,
May 4, 1861,
page 284.		 1861-05-04
Illustration of a cannon exploding. Explosion of the Gun Whilst Saluting the U.S. Flag at Fort Sumter. From a sketch by B.S. Osborn, Special Correspondent of the "World." New York Illustrated News,
May 4, 1861,
page 405.		 1861-05-04
Illustration showing the burial of a soldier in Fort Sumter. Interior of Fort Sumter after the Bombardment. Burial of the Soldier Killed by the Explosion of the Gun Whilst Saluting the United States Flag. From a sketch by B.S. Osborn, Special Correspondent of the "World." New York Illustrated News,
May 4, 1861,
page 412.		 1861-05-04
Illustration of a tattered American flag. Fort Sumter Flag and Staff – Sketched on the Baltic. New York Illustrated News,
May 4, 1861,
page 405.		 1861-05-04
Illustrations showing soldiers waving from the deck of a ship. Arrival of the Baltic. Major Anderson Acknowledging the Cheers of the People Coming up the Bay. New York Illustrated News,
May 4, 1861,
page 412.		 1861-05-04
Illustration of the promenade area, with tents and cannon in the foreground. Battery or Park Promenade at Charleston, South Carolina, During the Bombardment of Fort Sumter – Sketched by our Special Artist. Harper's Weekly,
May 18, 1861,
page 310.		 1861-05-18
Illustration of a rifled canon, with a soldier standing behind it. Rifled Cannon Which Did So Much Execution on Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina – (From a sketch by our Special Artist) Harper's Weekly,
May 18, 1861,
page 311.		 1861-05-18
Illustration of a sailing ship, the Sumter. "Sumter" – A Rebel Ship of War – (Sketched by our Special Artist). Harper's Weekly,
June 22, 1861,
pages 398.		 1861-06-22

Download a PDF of all the Fort Sumter imagesPDF file (41.7 MB).

Last Updated: July 15, 2021