ABSTRACT
Even before the emotional flag raising over Fort Sumter, Major Robert Anderson and his small garrison began to prepare the fort for an attack. Anderson had no way of knowing how South Carolina would react to his movements. A native of New Hampshire, John Foster graduated from West Point in 1846 at the age of twenty three. He was fourth in his class and was assigned to an engineering unit on its way to Mexico to serve under General Winfield Scott. All of Fort Sumter's weaknesses including the gate now faced the direction of the new enemy. Captain Truman Seymour developed a simple but highly effective weapon. Major Walter Gwynn of the South Carolina militia was placed in charge. Beauregard planned to encircle Fort Sumter with heavy batteries, including as many mortars as he could procure. The US Army would board the wives and children at Fort Hamilton in New York.
