Mort Künstler: Battle of Fort Sumter

Artist: Mort Künstler
1931 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1985
Image Size: 14 by 11.875 inches
Overall Size: 20 by 18.5 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Cold Press Illustration Board

Determined to defend slavery and states' rights as fundamental to its way of life against the threat of hostile legislation from a victorious Republican party, South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860. Ten other southern states followed. Meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, in March of 1861, the newly seceded states declared their independence and drew up a Constitution. "Physically speaking," said President Lincoln in his Inaugural Address, "we cannot separate." South Carolina rejected this argument and, determined to repossess her own "territory," demanded the evacuation of federal forces on Sumter Island in Charleston Harbor. When Lincoln responded by sending an expedition to reinforce the Fort, General Beauregard, in command at Charleston, decided to rally southern support by precipitating war. At 4:30 on the morning of April 12, 1861, Confederate batteries fired the first guns of what was to be a four-year war. The Union commander, Major Anderson, responded as best he could, but in vain: the next morning the Fort was afire and Anderson lowered the flag. The next day the garrison marched out with colors flying and drums beating. Four years later to the day, General Anderson presided over the raising of Old Glory. "I thank God," he said, "that I have lived to see this day." And as he began to hoist the ragged and shell-torn flag, the wind caught it and shook its folds out above the Fort, and every soldier instinctively saluted.

This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood® Commemorative Cover for Epic Events in American History series issued in 1985.

Artwork Copyright © 1985 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): Sold

Easy Purchase Plan: Buy this ArtworkOriginal with 8 monthly payments. Shipping and handling will be added to the first payment. Payments will be charged automatically as due to your Credit Card.

How to buy Original Artwork:

If you would like to buy Original Artwork, there are several convenient ways:

Use The Artwork Gallery: simply click the "Hang in Gallery" for pictures of interest. This puts the picture in your Personal Artwork Gallery, where you can view or remove it. When you've finished hanging artwork in your Personal Artwork Gallery, Go to your Personal Artwork Gallery and select an option for contacting us or ordering from us from there.

To get in touch with us directly about a piece of Artwork by Phone note the SKU and dial TOLL FREE 1-800-287-4079 from throughout U.S. and Canada.