The Worst Fear intensified on April 13 as Fort Sumter faced relentless Confederate bombardment, with each volley becoming more precise and devastating. Captain Foster, the chief engineer, observed the worsening situation and recorded it in his engineering journal, describing how Confederate artillery had begun using “hot shot,” incendiary cannonballs designed to ignite structures inside the fort. The Union soldiers inside the fort initially believed they could maintain their defenses, but as the bombardment continued, their situation became increasingly dire. One particularly well-aimed shell struck a ground-level embrasure, injuring four soldiers and heightening the urgency to contain the fire that was spreading through the wooden barracks. The true danger lay in the powder magazine, where thousands of pounds of gunpowder were stored—if ignited, the resulting explosion could completely destroy the fort and kill everyone inside. Captain Foster immediately warned Major Anderson of the imminent risk, urging him to take immediate action before the fire reached the critical stores of ammunition.

Despite the crisis inside the fort, a very different scene was unfolding across the harbor on Morris Island, where Confederate Assistant Surgeon Parker was enjoying a moment of peace. As the battle raged in the distance, Parker and his fellow officers sat down to a relaxed breakfast, momentarily detached from the carnage that was unfolding. Their morning was interrupted by sudden cheers from the beach, drawing their attention to the sky over Fort Sumter, where thick plumes of smoke had begun to rise. The Union fort had caught fire, and the flames were quickly spreading, fueled by the wooden structures inside. Confederate soldiers on Morris Island erupted in excitement, believing the destruction of the fort was imminent and that the Union defenders would soon be forced to surrender. For them, it was a moment of triumph, reinforcing their belief that their bombardment had been successful in forcing the enemy into submission.

As the fire within Fort Sumter spread, Captain Doubleday realized the immediate and growing danger to the powder magazine and took swift action to mitigate the threat. He ordered his men to begin removing barrels of gunpowder from storage, hauling them out under increasingly hazardous conditions. Soldiers worked frantically, dodging incoming artillery shells and battling the intense heat that made it difficult to breathe. Thick, acrid smoke filled the air, making it almost impossible to see as the men stumbled through the fort’s burning corridors. The walls of the fort, once believed to be impenetrable, were now vulnerable to collapse under the intense heat and continuous shelling. Despite their desperate efforts, it became clear that containing the fire was nearly impossible, and the risk of an uncontrolled explosion remained dangerously high.

The scene outside the fort was just as chaotic, with Charleston civilians gathering along the Battery to watch the unfolding spectacle. Many had come expecting a moment of victory, celebrating as they saw the flames engulfing the once-formidable Union stronghold. Some laughed and cheered, while others, even among the Confederate supporters, appeared shocked by the sheer scale of the destruction. Meanwhile, Confederate artillery on Morris Island did not let up, continuing to hammer the fort with unrelenting fire. The men inside Fort Sumter, now choking on smoke and exhausted from the fight, struggled to maintain their defenses. The walls, battered by artillery and weakened by the fire, began to show signs of structural failure, adding to the growing list of problems for Anderson and his men.

Then, at precisely 12:48 PM, a Confederate cannonball found its mark and struck the flagpole of Fort Sumter. The impact sent the American flag tumbling down, a moment that immediately electrified the Confederate ranks and was met with loud cheers from Charleston to Morris Island. For the Southern troops, this was a symbolic victory, proof that they had successfully defied the Union’s authority and taken control of the conflict. Within Fort Sumter, however, the fallen flag was a crushing blow, not only to morale but also to the message they had hoped to send by resisting for as long as possible. Major Anderson and his men, despite their defiant spirit, understood that their position was becoming increasingly untenable. With fire raging, walls crumbling, and ammunition supplies at constant risk of detonation, the defenders of Fort Sumter braced themselves for the inevitable next phase of the conflict. The battle for the fort had reached its most dangerous moment, and the worst fears of its defenders had now become reality.