150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
It wasn't really that long ago, as many of you can say that your Grandfather's Grandfather was impacted personally by the war.
Bombardment at Fort Sumter Launches US Civil War
When Abraham Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861, he feared that civil war was inevitable. Six weeks later, at 4:30AM on April 12, 1861, a mortar shell was fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, justifying his fears. On April 14, after a 34-hour bombardment, Fort Sumter surrendered and the War Between the States began.
That first shot was fired after Major Robert Anderson, commander of U.S. troops stationed at the fort, refused an evacuation edict from General Beauregard, commander of Confederate troops in Charleston. Beauregard had been one of Anderson's students at West Point. This would be the first of countless times in the years to follow where former comrades met across battle lines, brothers battled brothers, and friends fought against friends.
Nobody was killed in that first attack, yet it would lead to America's bloodiest war. Photography was a new medium, and for the first time, shocking wartime images could be readily viewed by the public. Before the war, Mathew Brady had already gained fame with his photographic portraits of prominent men and women. In fact, Lincoln is credited with saying, "Make no mistake, gentlemen, Brady made me President!" as Brady's photo of him, was printed on his campaign materials.
http://go.footnote.com/civilwar/?xid=1007
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
:thumbup: Thanks for share !
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
Smithsonian Magazine had a good article this month on this. I've been meaning to share it.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...ar-Begins.html
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
Perhaps in another 50 years, that war could be over.
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
If anyone is coming to DC you might want to check this out at the Library of Congress.
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2341659
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
Free stuff - http://go.footnote.com/civilwar/?xid=1007
FWIW Some of my people left Prussia in the late 1840's to avoid war only to end up wearing blue for New York 15 years later.
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
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Originally Posted by
westofyou
Same here. I think it is hard to appreciate just how heavily immigrants fueled the war effort.
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
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Originally Posted by
reds1869
Same here. I think it is hard to appreciate just how heavily immigrants fueled the war effort.
Immigrants would get off the boat in NY and walk right into the army.
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
For those who've never read it and are interested, here's the correspondence that took place between Anderson and Beuaregard before the first shot was fired:
http://www.civilwararchive.com/RESEA.../sumterusa.htm
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
April 12th......
The Civil War begins,1861
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies, 1945
First man in space, 1961
First launching of the space shuttle, 1981
and....most importantly...my father was born 90 years ago, 1921
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
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Originally Posted by
Kingspoint
The level of cordiality in the commanders' correspondence is breathtaking. I am always amazed at just how polite the diplomacy of war was during the Victorian Era. Of course, war never changes once the shooting starts.
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
I'm watching the Ken Burns Civil War Docu as we speak, should be starting episode 5 tonight. It's just excellent stuff, can't get enough of it.
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
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Originally Posted by
Oxblood
I'm watching the Ken Burns Civil War Docu as we speak, should be starting episode 5 tonight. It's just excellent stuff, can't get enough of it.
That may be the best documentary evert made. I watched it when it was first released around 1990. I could watch any episode at anytime.
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
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Originally Posted by
cumberlandreds
That may be the best documentary evert made. I watched it when it was first released around 1990. I could watch any episode at anytime.
I own the 4 disc DVD but I'm tempted to do something I never do, buy the newest version.
One of these days I'm going to read Shelby Foote's civil war books.
Re: 150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
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Originally Posted by
reds1869
The level of cordiality in the commanders' correspondence is breathtaking. I am always amazed at just how polite the diplomacy of war was during the Victorian Era. Of course, war never changes once the shooting starts.
And, Anderson was Beauregard's teacher at WestPoint at one time even though Anderson was a Major now and Beauregard was a General.