For a time I thought that the reason no one was killed at Ft. Sumter was because the Confederates weren't really targeting to kill anyone. I thought they were simply trying to "shock and awe" Anderson's force into surrendering, but a couple of months ago I read an account of what happened, and it was in fact a miracle that no one was killed from the Confederate bombardment. BroJoeK was right about this. That nobody was killed from the Confederate bombardment was a lucky accident. They D@mn near set the fort's powder storage on fire.
DiogenesLamp: " it was in fact a miracle that no one was killed from the Confederate bombardment.
BroJoeK was right about this.
That nobody was killed from the Confederate bombardment was a lucky accident.
They D@mn near set the fort's powder storage on fire."
In fact, the Confederate assault on Union troops in Union Fort Sumter was a real military operation, ordered ultimately by Jefferson Davis, which did damage to the fort and as a result of which the small Union force there suffered six casualties during its surrender ceremony.
The loss of the Union fort and casualties to Union troops (6 of 85) make it relatively as important as certain... ahem... losses in later wars.
In short, it was the first major act of war which started the US Civil War.