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April 12, 1861: The Civil War Begins
Fold3 ^ | April 1, 2021 | Jenny Ashcraft

Posted on 04/02/2021 9:04:55 AM PDT by gattaca

On April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired the opening shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This month marks the 160th anniversary of the beginning of the war, the deadliest conflict ever fought on American soil. The Civil War lasted four years and resulted in an estimated 620,000 deaths and 1.5 million casualties. Approximately one in four soldiers that went to war never came back home. This impacted families, communities, and the entire country for generations to come.

Historical photograph of Fort Sumter The years leading up to the beginning of the Civil War were filled with increasing tensions between northern and southern states. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president by a strictly northern vote. The election was the impetus for southern states, who were already wrangling with the North on issues like slavery, states’ rights, and westward expansion, to begin the process of secession. Four days after the election, South Carolina Senator James Chesnut resigned his Senate seat and began drafting secession documents. Before long, six more states joined South Carolina to form the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861. That number increased to 11 states after the fall of Fort Sumter. Four border states (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri) held enslaved persons but remained loyal to the Union.

Exterior view of Fort Sumter Fort Sumter, originally built as a coastal garrison, was located at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard, from the newly formed Confederate States Army, demanded federal officials turn over the fort. He claimed the fort was located in Confederate territory and thus belonged to the South. President Lincoln refused and made attempts to send a ship to resupply the fort. The ship was turned away by Confederate guns.

Tensions grew, and Beauregard finally sent US officials an ultimatum – abandon the fort or face destruction. At 4:30 a.m. on April 12th, some 500 soldiers from the South Carolina Militia opened fire on 80 Federal soldiers inside the fort. The bombardment continued for 34 hours until the afternoon of April 13th, when the garrison commander, Major Robert Anderson, surrendered the fort. Though there were no fatalities on either side during the Battle of Fort Sumter, the conflict marked the beginning of more than 10,000 military engagements that occurred between 1861-1865.

Interior View of Fort Sumter Fold3® has an extensive collection of Civil War records including:

Brady Civil War Photos: The Civil War is considered the first major conflict to be photographed extensively. Mathew Brady led a photography team that captured images of the war using a mobile studio and darkroom. Civil War Maps: This collection of 2,000 detailed battle maps provides insight into Civil War engagements. Some maps show the placement of regiments and the movement of troops. Civil War “Widows Pensions” Files: Only 20% of Civil War pension files are digitized, but if you are lucky enough to find the pension file for your ancestor, you’ll uncover a treasure trove of information. Civil War Service Records: We have service records for both Union and Confederate troops. These records are organized by state. Service Records for US Colored Troops: Approximately 179,000 Black men served in the US Army and another 19,000 in the US Navy. Despite facing racism and discrimination, the US Colored Troops served with valor and honor. These records are organized by regiment. Southern Claims Approved: After the war, the US government established the Southern Claims Commission. This office accepted petitions for compensation for items taken by Union troops during the war. In addition to these collections, Fold3 has more than 150 additional collections that contain 43 million Civil War records. Start searching our Civil War collection today on Fold3®.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: 18610412; fortsumter; thecivilwar
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To: Bull Snipe
The Legislature of Sovereign State of South Carolina ceded the land that Sumter was built on to the United States “in perpetuity” Lincoln acted on that premise.

The land of the United States was owned by the British Crown in perpetuity. Natural law says the land belongs to those who reside on it.

We followed natural law in our exodus from English rule. Natural law still applies.

121 posted on 04/02/2021 5:20:56 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Bull Snipe
You have proof of that, or is that your opinion

Depends on what you regard as "proof". There is plenty of written evidence about what happened in Chicago, and a rational man can only interpret it as dirty tricks.

In fact, I long ago ran across an article entitled "Dirty Tricks at the WigWam." There are more, but this one I can find quick enough.

https://www.wbez.org/stories/dirty-tricks-at-the-wigwam-chicagos-first-convention/2e16abdf-0290-48b3-aab8-ce970d297ade

122 posted on 04/02/2021 5:24:29 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

So no problem for you if the Cuban Government attacks Guantanamo Bay and takes control of it. It’s just “natural Law”


123 posted on 04/02/2021 5:25:32 PM PDT by Bull Snipe
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To: Bull Snipe
and don’t forget the concept that human beings are not hereditary chattel property.

I would give them credit for that were it something they set out to do when they invaded. As their only intent was forcing other people to live under their dominion, I can't give them credit for doing something good for ulterior reasons.

I will once again point out that they didn't even bother to free their own slaves, so clearly it was not their motivation that slaves be freed for moral reasons.

I am now convinced they only did it to prevent the South from retaliating against them economically, which it would have certainly done had they not freed the slaves.

124 posted on 04/02/2021 5:29:20 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

Remember it was Seward that engineered the plan to save Fort Pickens.


125 posted on 04/02/2021 5:30:10 PM PDT by Bull Snipe
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To: Bull Snipe
Which states had their own Marines when the Constitution was ratified?

All of them that had a coastline.

126 posted on 04/02/2021 5:30:34 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

they didn’t even bother to free their own slaves,

What Constitutional path did Lincoln have to free the slaves in MO, Ky, MD and DE?


127 posted on 04/02/2021 5:32:22 PM PDT by Bull Snipe
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To: Meatspace
No, it was the Conservatives of the Union that won the war.

Race obsessed big city tax and spend liberals won that war. The Southerners were paying for the government, and the "Mercantilists" were spending the money on big government projects in the Northern states.

Look up the railroads of that era. All the northern railroads were paid for by the Federal government, and all the Southern railroads were paid for by private industry.

The Liberal Confederacy and their desire to retain slavery lost and lost big time.

Their goal wasn't to retain slavery. They could have done that simply by staying in the USA. What they wanted was independence from corrupt Washington DC which was taking 73% of it's money from the Southern states, and spending it on boondoggle projects in the Northern states.

128 posted on 04/02/2021 5:34:43 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Bull Snipe

Gustavus Fox.


129 posted on 04/02/2021 5:35:09 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Bull Snipe
so you have no problem with human beings being owned like dogs, cattle or sheep?

It's just as bad under the USA flag as it is under the other flag, but since both sides agreed to keep doing that, I can hardly see where it is an issue in discussing why the North invaded the South.

130 posted on 04/02/2021 5:36:40 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DoodleDawg

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/rebellion

“What does Rebellion mean”

“A rebellion is an attempt to overthrow a government—an organized revolution.”


131 posted on 04/02/2021 5:37:01 PM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: Bull Snipe

“so you have no problem with human beings being owned like dogs, cattle or sheep?”

Again, are you asking because you know I’m a strong supporter of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution - and of historical attempts to preserve both?

Yes, I know that 13 of the original 13 states were slave states. And that those 13 states voted to enshrine slavery into the United States Constitution.

Fortunately, the founders of the Constitution provided a means to peacefully amend the Constitution to end human bondage.

Unfortunately, Lincoln and the North refused to use the peaceful Constitutional method. As far as I know, Lincoln never attempted to amend the Constitution to prohibit slavery prior to the war - even when he served in Congress.


132 posted on 04/02/2021 5:37:47 PM PDT by jeffersondem
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To: Bull Snipe
Nevermind. I was thinking of Sumter. I think you are right about Pickens.

The war would have started there if it hadn't started at Sumter. David Porter was going to start one anyway.

133 posted on 04/02/2021 5:37:48 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Bull Snipe
they didn’t even bother to free their own slaves,

What Constitutional path did Lincoln have to free the slaves in MO, Ky, MD and DE?

None. And What constitutional path did he have to free the slaves anywhere else?

134 posted on 04/02/2021 5:39:07 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

It called war. One side defends, one side attacks. In this case the North had to control the south to end the war. Just as we had to control German or Japan to end that war.


135 posted on 04/02/2021 5:39:18 PM PDT by Bull Snipe
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To: jeffersondem
Unfortunately, Lincoln and the North refused to use the peaceful Constitutional method. As far as I know, Lincoln never attempted to amend the Constitution to prohibit slavery prior to the war - even when he served in Congress.

He actually supported an effort to amend the constitution to preserve slavery indefinitely.

136 posted on 04/02/2021 5:40:22 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DoodleDawg

Because they will never let anyone leave. Can’t have anyone show growth, freedom, liberty.... it would spell death to the old school. I’m not sure what the answer is. I am a person given God given liberty. Not a subject of the USSA.


137 posted on 04/02/2021 5:41:22 PM PDT by wgmalabama (Tag line for rent. )
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To: Bull Snipe
It called war. One side defends, one side attacks. In this case the North had to control the south to end the war. Just as we had to control German or Japan to end that war.

Exactly, and what does "war" have to do with slavery which both sides kept going all throughout the war, and the winning side for 8 months longer?

138 posted on 04/02/2021 5:41:47 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

The Power of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States in time of war. Slaves were absolutely necessary to the Confederacy effort. Any action taken to disrupt the use of slave would benefit the Union cause and damage the Confederate cause.


139 posted on 04/02/2021 5:43:34 PM PDT by Bull Snipe
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To: DiogenesLamp
Lincoln refused to negotiate. They tried.

They left before Lincoln was inaugurated. No negotiations.

They produced the far greater majority of all payments made to the Federal treasury, and they had only 1/4th the populationP> Nonsense.

It was their property in the first place, and was only given to the Federal government for the purpose of defending their states.

It was the property of all the states, North and South.

They left in December of 1860. That was "out the door."

And you claimed Lincoln refused to negotiate.

140 posted on 04/02/2021 5:46:13 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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