In 1861, Citadel cadets manning an artillery battery on Morris Island fired what many contend were the first hostile shots of the Civil War. That action repulsed the federal steamship Star of the West, which was carrying supplies and 200 federal troops that were dispatched by President Buchanan to reinforce Union Forces garrisoned at Fort Sumter.
During the Star of the West incident, the cadets flew as their banner a unique flag, observed by eye witnesses on the federal steamer, and described in a dispatch by a Union officer at Fort Sumter as “a flag with a red field, and a white palmetto tree.” The Big Red flag is now the official spirit flag of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and what is believed to be the flag that flew over Morris Island in 1861 is on display at The Citadel’s Holliday Alumni Center.
They did not fire on the fort. As you wrote, three months before the official start of the war they fired at a supply ship Star Of The West. Hit it several times and the ship turned around and left. There is several disagreements on who did what when.http://thekentuckycivilwarbugle.com/2011-2Qpages/citadel.html
Thanks for your input into this discussion. It’s been on-going between lots of people here and seems there is no end to it. Until now. Take care.