Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and the Civil War

Richard Hatcher's Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and the Civil War is the first modern monograph to document the role of both the fort and the city throughout the entire Civil War. The fort was captured by Southern troops and remained mostly untested for two years. In April 1863, a powerful combined operation set its sights on the fort, Charleston, and its outer defenses, resulting in a 22-month land and sea siege. The destruction of Fort Sumter remained a key Federal objective throughout the siege, but it never fell. The defiant fort, Charleston, and its meandering defensive line were evacuated in February 1865 once word arrived that Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman had taken Columbia, South Carolina and was about to cut off the coastal city. Hatcher mined a host of primary sources to produce an in-depth and fascinating account of the intricacies, complexities, and importance of this campaign to the overall war effort. Nearly 18 months of shelling had rendered Fort Sumter almost unrecognizable, but the significance of its location remained. During the eight decades that followed, the United States invested millions of dollars and thousands of hours rebuilding and rearming the fort to face potential foreign threats in three different wars. By the end of World War II, sea and air power had been made Sumter obsolete, and the fort was transferred to the National Park Service.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 29 February 2024
Publisher: Savas Beatie

Fort Sumter, located in Charleston, South Carolina, played a pivotal role in the American Civil War. Its bombardment and surrender in April 1861 marked the beginning of a long and complex campaign that would shape the course of the conflict. Both sides recognized the military significance of the fort and the bustling seaport, which served as a hub for military operations. Richard Hatcher's Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and the Civil War is a modern monograph that delves into the role of the fort and the city throughout the entire Civil War. After its capture, Southern troops immediately occupied and improved Sumter's defenses. The U.S. blockaded Charleston Harbor, and for two years, the fort remained largely untested. However, in April 1863, a powerful combined operation set its sights on the fort, Charleston, and its outer defenses. The result was a 22-month land and sea siege, the longest of the Civil War. The siege involved a wide range of tactics, including ironclad attacks, land assaults, raiding parties, and siege operations. Some of the war's most famous events occurred during the siege, such as the assault of African American troops against Battery Wagner, the shelling of the city by the Swamp Angel, and the beginning of submarine warfare with the sinking of the USS Housatonic by the H. L. Hunley. Despite repeated bombardments, Fort Sumter remained a key Federal objective throughout the siege. However, in February 1865, word arrived that Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman had taken Columbia, South Carolina, and was about to cut off the coastal city. As a result, the defiant fort, Charleston, and its meandering defensive line were evacuated. Fort Sumter's destruction remained a significant Federal objective throughout the siege, but its resilience and the determination of its defenders ultimately prevented its capture.

Weight: 566g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781611215939