Fort Sumter
A classroom play by Team HOPE
Cast List
Abraham Lincoln (LINC)………………16th President of the United States
General Beauregard (BEAU)…….…….General, Confederate States of America
Major Anderson (AND)……….……….U.S. Major commanding Fort Sumter
Elijah Lovejoy (ANCH)………………..anchor of “The History News Report”
Margaret Fuller (R1)…………..….….…reporter for “The History News Report”
TEACHER NOTES
SETTING: A contemporary classroom. It is advised to set up the anchor in the front of the room facing the class.
Some sort of background with “The History New Report.” You many choose to set up the different reporters
conducting the interviews around the classroom and have the historical figures come to them. This way it gives the
appearance of different locations. A name plate in front of each cast member is highly recommended. A 5x8 index
card folded in half works great for this purpose..
COSTUMES: Although not necessary, any period costumes for the historical figures are a great addition. Even a
simple hat or wig is excellent.
MASKS: Masks are an easy addition that will add to the drama and make the entire event more fun for the students.
First, go to www.google.com and click on “image search.” Type in the historical figure’s name and find an image of
the person. Copy and paste the picture in a Word document. You may need to crop and then enlarge the photo so
you get a picture large enough to be used as a mask. Portraits obviously work best for this use. Print out the picture
and paste it onto a cardboard backing. You can tape a plastic spoon or popsicle stick to be used as a handle. You
may decide to make masks for the student correspondents as well, using pictures of television news personalities for
the masks.
Note: If there is a historical person you cannot find a picture for, don’t despair! Almost any random “period”
person’s picture (as long as it not someone easily recognizable) would work as a mask.
ROLES: Encourage students to act out the roles with as much energy as possible. Do not be too terribly concerned
that the sex of the historical figure matching with the sex of the student.
The teacher may decide to take a part in the play, role-modeling one the historical figures. It is recommended that 9
copies of the scripts are specifically set aside for each character in the play. For each character, highlight all their
lines in order to facilitate a faster pace of dialogue. All other students should receive an unmarked copy of the play
to read as the play is performed.
ANCHOR AND REPORTERS: In order to facilitate the historical discussions that exist in the plays, actual famous
journalist names have been used in the plays. Teachers should point out that these journalists come from different
times in American history and were not necessarily alive at the time period of this enactment. It is as if they can
travel in time to deliver “The History News Report.” A teacher may also decide to substitute the names given in the
script for student names if desired. A brief description of the journalists is as follows:
 Elijah Lovejoy (1802-1837) A minister and journalist for the St. Louis Observer and later editor of the
abolitionist newspaper the Alton Observer of Alton, Illinois. In 1837, pro-slavery forces attacked his
warehouse in order to destroy his printing press and he was murdered on the scene.
 Margaret Fuller (1810-1850) An early woman rights activist, Margaret was the first female journalist to
work on the staff of a major American newspaper, The New York Tribune. She was a widely read literary
critic who was also sent on overseas assignments to Europe.
DISCUSSION: Use the attached worksheets to facilitate discussion before and after the play. Students who are not
directly involved in the play can attempt to write preliminary answers as the play is performed. The audience should
be told that they will be the primarily responsible for the discussion questions at the end of the lesson.
Fort Sumter
(A Report by HNR News)
NOTE: All responses by historical figures reflect actual events and beliefs as closely as possible.
CAST ABBREVIATIONS
Abraham Lincoln …………………LINC
General Beauregard…….………… BEAU
Major Anderson ……….………….AND
Elijah Lovejoy …………………… ANCH
Margaret Fuller …………..….….…R1
ANCH
Welcome to the History News Report. I am your anchor Elijah Lovejoy. Breaking
news out of Charleston has shocked the country. Fort Sumter has been fired upon
and it has now fallen. I repeat, Fort Sumter has fallen and it is now in Confederate
hands. The first shots of the American Civil War have been fired. We will go to
Margaret Fuller for a live report from Charleston in a few moments, but first in the
studio we are privileged to have President Abraham Lincoln. Mr. President, take us
through these stunning events. What was your position on Fort Sumter?
LINC
Well, Mr. Lovejoy, I actually said in my inaugural address that I intended to hold,
occupy, and possess the federal fort. I took actions to that effect. They have
obviously failed for now, but in time, perhaps a long time; it will be in federal hands
again.
ANCH
What did your advisors tell you do?
LINC
Obviously, there was some conflict. A couple wanted to just surrender the fort
outright. Most wanted to resupply it and fight to the bitter end. I ordered a naval
flotilla to resupply the fort.
ANCH
Did you fear that this action would incite a war?
LINC
I sent word to South Carolina’s governor that the federal installation would be
provisioned but that it would not be strengthened. If war came, it would be the
Confederates’ decision. They have made it clear what they want. Blood is on their
hands; let’s make this clear.
ANCH
What do you intend to do from here?
LINC
Fight. Our sacred Union is the last, best hope of Earth. I will not let this union be
dissolved. I will be issuing a proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand
volunteers to ensure that federal law will be enforced. (pause) If you would excuse
me, I have important matters to tend to.
ANCH
Certainly, Mr. President, I appreciate your time during this period of crisis. We will
now go to HNR News reporter Margaret Fuller for a live report from Charlestown.
Margaret?
R1
Yes, Elijah, I am here in Charlestown and I must say, you would think it was the 4th
of July. Delirious crowds are still on the shore celebrating after seeing the United
States flag taken down. I have now with me Confederate General Beauregard, who
was in command of the attack on the fort. General, could you give us a report of
events?
BEAU
I received orders from President Davis to attack if any relief squadron approached
the fort. I gave U.S. Major Robert Anderson a final ultimatum and he refused.
Before dawn today, 12 April 1861, I ordered my batteries to open fire on the fort.
R1
Did you actually fire the first shot?
BEAU
No, that honor went to Edmund Ruffin of Virginia.
R1
Why Ruffin?
BEAU
Oh, Ruffin thirsted for blood! Besides, there is some irony in the fact that he is a
transplanted New Yorker. He actually said to me, “The shedding of blood will
change many voters from the hesitating states and make them zealous for immediate
secession.” Ole’ Ruffin was quick to fire the cannon and start this war.
R1
I hear that Major Anderson and you have a personal history?
BEAU
Yes, he was actually one of my instructors at West Point while I was there.
R1
So you beat your former teacher?
BEAU
I guess you could say that.
R1
Thank you for your time General. We now are going to talk with Major Robert
Anderson of the United States Army. Major, how did this all take place?
AND
Well, I was told to hold the fort, so when General Beauregard’s delegation asked for
its surrender, I politely told him no. Although, I did tell them that if we never meet
again in this world, may God grant that we may meet in the next. I knew a fight was
coming and I, or they, might not survive. As it was, we all did.
R1
There were no deaths?
AND
Amazingly, no. Thirty hours of furious bombardment and we did not suffer any
casualties.
R1
If you were not taking casualties, why did you surrender?
AND
Large portions of the fort were on fire and the rest was crumbling in around us. The
flames were creeping toward our powder magazines and if I didn’t surrender, then
we all would be dead now. I hated surrendering, but I will take the flag, with its 33
stars that represent all the states back to New York City.
R1
What do you intend to do in New York City?
AND
Recruit volunteers. We cannot let this stand and we won’t.
R1
Major, thank you for your time. Elijah, back to you.
ANCH
Thank you Margaret. It looks like the President is prepared for war and both sides
are readying for a long fight. I cannot help but wonder the terrible amount of blood
that will be spilled in such a struggle. Dark days are upon us. A generation will be
lost. For HNR News, this Elijah Love joy reporting.
Bennett, William J., America: The Last Best Hope, Nelson Current, Nashville: 2006, p. 318-323.
NOTE: When the war ended four years later, Major Anderson (then retired) returned and raised that same 33 star
flag triumphantly above a battered Fort Sumter. The date was April 14, 1865. That evening, President Lincoln was
assassinated.