Major Robert Anderson Tells His Story of Defending Fort Sumter Against the Confederacy and his Stude

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My name is Major Robert Anderson, and my name is forever tied to the start of the American Civil War. I was the officer in charge of Fort Sumter when the first shots were fired. I stood at the center of history as the nation fell apart. Let me tell you my story.

I was born on June 14, 1805, in Louisville, Kentucky. Even though my home state allowed slavery, my family believed in the Union above all else. I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1825. After that, I dedicated my life to serving my country as a soldier.

I fought in several wars, including the Black Hawk War and the Mexican-American War. I was wounded in battle, but I always returned to my duty. Over the years, I also became an expert in artillery, which would prove important in my final assignment.

In 1860, I was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, just as tensions between the North and South were boiling over. South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union, and as the crisis deepened, I was given command of the U.S. Army forces in Charleston. We were stationed at Fort Moultrie, but I knew it was vulnerable. So, on the night of December 26, 1860, I moved my men to Fort Sumter, a stronger position in the middle of Charleston Harbor. This decision angered the Confederates, who saw it as a challenge.

For months, we were surrounded and cut off from supplies. President Lincoln tried to send reinforcements, but before they could arrive, the Confederates made their move. On April 12, 1861, at 4:30 in the morning, Confederate cannons opened fire on Fort Sumter. For 34 hours, my men and I held out, but we were low on food and ammunition. On April 14, I made the painful decision to surrender. We evacuated the fort, but we did so with honor, carrying our flag with us. The Civil War had begun.

Even though we had surrendered, I became a hero in the North. I was promoted to brigadier general and traveled across the country, rallying support for the Union cause. But my health was failing, and in 1863, I was forced to retire.

One of the proudest moments of my life came in 1865, after the war had ended. On April 14—the exact anniversary of our surrender—President Lincoln asked me to return to Fort Sumter and raise the American flag once more. It was a symbolic moment, showing that the Union had been restored. Sadly, that same night, Lincoln was assassinated.

I spent my final years in New Jersey, away from the battlefield. I passed away on October 26, 1871, but I will always be remembered as the man who stood at the crossroads of history when the Civil War began.

If there’s one thing I want you to take from my story, it’s that duty and honor matter, even in the most difficult times. I did my best to serve my country and protect my men, and I hope my actions played a part in bringing the nation back together. Thank you for listening.

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