150 years ago today the first shot was fired in the Civil War.

[Kingspoint]

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

[zonefans]

Thanks for share !

[redsmetz]

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

[oneupper]

Perhaps in another 50 years, that war could be over.

[cumberlandreds]

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

[westofyou]

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.

[reds1869]

Originally Posted by westofyou

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.

Same here. I think it is hard to appreciate just how heavily immigrants fueled the war effort.

[Raisor]

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.

[Kingspoint]

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

[VR]

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

[reds1869]

Originally Posted by Kingspoint

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

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.

[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.

[cumberlandreds]

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.

[Raisor]

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.

[Kingspoint]

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.