WHEN: April 12, 1861
WHERE: Fort Sumter, Charleston, SC
Did you know the Civil War officially began in Charleston when Confederate forces fired on the U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861? The fort was and remains the "seeing eye" of all vessels entering and departing Charleston Harbor and the ports therein. Therefore, they who controlled the fort essentially controlled Charleston, the port, and much of the surrounding Lowcountry. The sieging of the fort was the "straw that broke the camels back" in the myriad on conflicts between the north and south and thus sent the Union to war.
Those first shots were fired 150 years ago today, at 4:30a.m. Commemorative cannons were fired at 4:30a.m. this morning from White Point Gardens on the battery in downtown Charleston. You can bet that I'm glad we don't live close enough to downtown to have been awoken by the canons at 4:30a.m.! The shots were followed with a period concert performed by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Commemorative shots also continued throughout the day today from various points around Charleston Harbor, twice an hour, until sunset tonight.
Events surrounding the sesquicentennial in Charleston have been in the works for almost a decade and are now on full display this week around the city. The sesquicentennial "celebration" will be memorialized for the next four years as well, highlighting the battles, events, leaders, and lives involved in the War Between the States. Stacie and I have not made any plans (yet) to attend any of the commemorative events or exhibits since we are on our way to Fredericksburg, Virginia (also home to a large and bloody battlefield during the Civil War) to meet our newest nephew, Henry ('Rhee') James Palmer, this weekend!
It is a shame we haven't been able to experience much of the sesquicentennial since we happen to be living here at such a historic time in the city's history. No doubt we will make an effort in the coming weeks to visit at least some of the history that is on display. I would like to spend a LOT more time visiting historic sites and learning more about the events of the Civil War. I should have more to offer about the anniversary than this short post - as a new resident of Charleston and composer of a blog about time and space - but ironically time is preventing from doing so. This is one of the quickest posts I've written but I also felt it was essential I didn't let the anniversary slip by unannounced from my own mouth (keyboard).
I don't know about you, but between the South Carolina PBS station and the plethora of books lining the storefront at local Barnes & Nobles here, I have learned more about the Civil War in the past month than I probably have in my whole life. It's been everywhere lately! With that said, I don't think you need to hear me regurgitate more facts and stories of the war and so I feel my quick recognition of the war is sufficient. And if you feel you would like to get a closer, hands-on look of the war, please, feel free to come visit! :)
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