The battle of Fort Sumter began April 12, 1861. It ended April 13, 1861. The Union commander was Major Robert Anderson and the Confederate commander was Pierre T. Beauregard. Nobody was wounded or killed in this battle; there were many shots fired. Fort Sumter is located in the Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. The Union was allowed to retreat and do a gun salute, but they did leave quickly after an accidental explosion that killed one man and severely injured another.