On this date 150 years ago, the three Confederate messengers to Fort Sumter, Chesnut, Chisolm, and Lee, returned to Major Anderson once more after speaking with General Beauregard. They tried once more to ask for a time of probable evacuation of the fort by Federal troops. The Major indicated 2400 hours on April 15 as a target time in the event that he received no supplies or orders from Washington. The Confederacy, knowing that help was undoubtedly on its way, refused to accept this statement from Major Anderson and gave the Federal commander written notification of an attack to commence in one hour's time. At Fort Johnson, Captain George S. James signalled the other harbor batteries to open fire. At 0430 a rotation of fire proceeded against Fort Sumter, continuing through the day and at intervals through the night. The city of Charleston reacted with excitement, many people watching the bombardment from rooftops. The Federal vessels sent by Washington were visible at sea, prompting further speculations as to the outcome of the Southern attack.

At Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island in Florida, the United States Navy landed troops to reinforce the existing garrison. This action prevented the Confederacy from gaining control of this important Gulf Coast fortification.