New York City's Defenses During the War-- Part 2

Twice during the early part of 1861, relief expeditions were sent to Major Anderson's troops at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor from  Fort Columbus (Fort Jay).  The Army secretly dispatched troops in the steamer Star of the West the first time but the ship was turned back by the cadets from Charleston's Citadel.  The second attempt resulted in the firing on Fort Sumter and the start of the war.

Once hostilities commenced, Fort Columbus was used as recruitment center and a hospital.

Confederate Major General William H.C. Whiting died of dysentery at the fort in February 1865 while being held prisoner at the base hospital.  He had been captured at Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865 and was the highest-ranking Confederate officer to die as a prisoner of war.

--Old Secesh