1885 J. H. Brown Publishing Co. View of Union Attack on Fort Sumter during the U.S. Civil War

This is a large and impressive 1885 J. H. Brown panoramic xylographic view of the American Civil War (1861 - 1865) Union attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina. The dramatic scene pits ironclads - then the forefront of naval technology - against one another and against the heavily armed fort.

A Closer Look

Seven of the nine ironclads involved appear (although only U.S.S. Ironsides and U.S.S. Keokuk are labeled) with gunpowder billowing from their guns. Fort Sumter dominates the center, with gun flashes emanating from every window. Splashes of incoming artillery fire spray all the Union ships (all flying American flags) with Charleston and other Confederate fortifications in the distance.

The First Battle of Charleston Harbor

The First Battle of Charleston Harbor took place on April 7, 1863. Nine Union Navy ironclad warships attacked Confederate defenses near the entrance to Charleston Harbor, including Fort Sumter. After a series of setbacks and other difficulties, the Union force fired on Confederate defenses for less than two hours and did little damage, all of which was easily repaired. Unable to breach the first line of harbor defenses, the Union force withdrew. They suffered heavy incoming fire during the attack, which damaged all ships involved and sunk one. Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont intended to renew the attack the following day. However, after consulting with his captains, Du Pont decided that the damage done to the fleet, combined with the harbor's defenses, left little chance of victory and decided to withdraw.

Publication History and Census

This view was created from a sketch drawn by William T. Crane and published in 1885 by the J. H. Brown Publishing Company as Premium Plate No. 4 for subscribers to The Soldier in Our Civil War. Extremely rare. we note but a single cataloged example in OCLC, at the American Antiquarian Society. A second known example is held by the Library of Congress.