The South held Fort Sumter for almost 4 years holding off amphibious assaults by troops, ironclad attacks, large bombardments from shore batteries, and a threat to bombard Charleston civilians unless the Confederates give up their forts. That noble bombardment of civilians by the Union went on for 18 months, but the Confederate still held Sumter. The Confederates left the fort in February (I think it was February) 1865 when Confederate forces were ordered to North Carolina to help fight Sherman.
Um, how long did Anderson hold out after he came under fire?
Yes I’m sure it was all very gallant. I wonder how many quietly recognized that Sumter was the south’s Isoroku Yamamoto moment?
“I Fear We Have Awoken a Sleeping Giant?”
Last week you were criticizing Anderson for not surrendering immediately. Now you're criticizing him for giving up too soon?
The main difference is that Anderson was isolated and out of supplies. If he'd had plenty of food and an escape route anytime he chose, he could have easily done like the confederates did and simply hunker down in the basement while the fort was reduced to rubble.