The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle of the civil war, and was fought April 12, 1861 - April 14, 1861 at Charleston South Carolina. It started when Fort Sumter needed more food, so president Abraham Lincoln sent them food. Also Maj. Anderson from the confederate (the south) wanted to be in control of the fort so he fired shots at the fort until the union (the north) surrendered. The battle lasted 34 hours, because the union had a low supply of ammunition. Only one soldier was killed and another left wounded.