Near Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Sally Port

During the Bombardment

— April 12-14, 1861 —

Sally Port Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

1. Sally Port Marker

Inscription. Fort Sumter's original sally port (entrance) was located in front of you, in the center of the three-tiered gorge (rear) wall. The lightly armed gorge wall was vulnerable to attack by batteries on Morris Island, and as the war progressed Union shelling reduced it to ruins. At the base of the gore wall some flat stone pavers still exist from the esplanade that joined the sally port to the fort's 171-foot-long granite pier.

Erected 1932 by Fort Sumter National Monument, South Carolina - National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1861.

Location. 32° 45.128′ N, 79° 52.522′ W. Marker is near Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It can be reached from the Fort Sumter Ferry Terminal. Located at Fort Sumter National Monument and only reached by boat. See links below for more information about access to the site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charleston SC 29412, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Historic Charleston

and in the Lowcountry.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Powder Magazine (within shouting distance of this marker); Gorge Wall (within shouting distance of this marker); The Garrison Defending Fort Sumter

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Casemates and Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Sumter Bombarded (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery Huger (within shouting distance of this marker); 42-Pounder, Banded and Rifled (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Sumter 1861-65 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.

More about this marker. The marker displays a photo of Fort Sumter after it's surrender by Union troops. April 1861, after the Union surrender a Confederate delegation enters the fort through the original sally port.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

2. Sally Port Marker

Gorge Wall Exterior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

3. Gorge Wall Exterior

The original sally port was in the middle of the gorge wall, roughly where the concrete bunker stands today.

Current Walkway to Fort and Sally Port image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

4. Current Walkway to Fort and Sally Port

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,444 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 20, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.