The Role of Media in the American Civil War

2.3. Battle of Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter, the federal property on the Confederate land, was a thorn in South Carolina’s eye. As its crew was running out of food in the beginning of April, the Union President Lincoln informed South Carolina’s Governor Pickens about ship carrying supplies for the fort. “The Confederacy’s President, Jefferson Davis, saw this as a challenge. He had to make a decision: let Fort Sumter be supplied or capture the fort.” (McPherson 16)

The quest was entrusted to the confederate general from Louisiana, P.G.T. Beauregard, who bombarded the federal fortification for 34 hours. The Union Major Robert Anderson had no other choice than to call for armistice on April 14, due to the lack of supplies and ammunition. Despite the battle was bloodless with the exception of a mule, it started the bloodiest conflict in the North America.

William H. Campbell, the editor of the Cass County Republican from Dowagiac, Michigan, reported the outset of the war:

Jeff. Davis and his band of ingrates and traitors, have plunged this country into civil war. They have started the war, let the consequences be upon their own heads. It was commenced on Friday last, and after a two days siege, Fort Sumter has been vanquished, and the Government forces within it made unconditional surrender to the rebel authorities.” (2)

The article went on with an analysis of Union Major Anderson’s options to defend the fortification, coming to the decision that no other choice could have been made: “Humiliating as this result is, it is not surprising that we see the result we do. It is rather more surprising that we should have anticipated anything different” (2). In the article “War Begun!” the Pennsylvanian Alleghanian called the war coming “the war between Freedom and Slavery”: “The War has been commenced! The blow which we have been awaiting, but which we would fain have averted, has fallen! The so-called Southern Confederacy has plunged the country into a war that must be, indeed, terrible; for it will be the death-struggle between Freedom and Slavery.” (2)

With the war within arm’s reach, the newspapers often speculated about, in that time neutral position of the Border States. The Holmes Country Republican went through the issue shortly after Fort Sumter capitulation on April 18, in the article “The Choice”: The civil war is upon us and some people have not already made up their minds – they will have to choose between the two contending parties, as to which they will support. The choice is between submission to rebellion or the Federal authority.” (2)

It was evident that in the first week of war, the Border States tried to maintain their neutrality. The Weekly Standard from Raleigh saw in these states the peacemaker when publishing the article “Rumors from Washington”: “The mission of the Border States now is to command the peace, if possible, and to maintain their rights in the Union. If they cannot check and control the two extremes no other power can” (3). As the newspapers home state was North Carolina, the Standard went on with its view to Carolina’s military involvement: “Mr. Lincoln may call, but North-Carolina will extend no aid to him in any effort to coerce the Confederate States. The leaders and many of the people of those States have grievously erred, but any attempt to coerce them, or to put them down by force, will make bad infinitely worse” (3). The article was published on 17^th April 1861, the North Carolina seceded from Union a month later as the last state to join Confederacy.

The Emporia News from Kansas shared Standard’s view on the upcoming conflict in the article “Lincoln Stands Firm!”:

We repeat what we said in the last Presidential campaign, and what we said in our last issue, that the Union cannot be maintained by force. It will fall to pieces before the first touch of aggressive or coercive power. We very much fear that a general civil war impends. A special dispatch to the New York Post of yesterday, says that the Governors of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Missouri refuse to respond the call for troops. Maryland, however, responds promptly. (2)

Whereas the majority of both Northern and Southern population was in enthusiastic fever of the war being so close, only a few could see the horrifying side of the conflict.

3.The War Years