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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: eyedigress
The Founders lost.

They escaped liberalism and set up liberty hoping it would multiply.

Liberals came in and killed it.

Well enjoy you're new home. We'll miss you.

81 posted on 04/02/2021 4:17:59 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: jeffersondem
Your gratuitous inclusion of the words “usually unsuccessful” does not change anything.

It's part of the definition.

82 posted on 04/02/2021 4:19:00 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

I’m sure you will.

I’m a crack shot BTW.


83 posted on 04/02/2021 4:20:34 PM PDT by eyedigress (Trump is my President!)
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To: DoodleDawg; rustbucket

So Non by your pseudo logic you’re saying that the only legitimacy to founders war of independence is that they won otherwise they’re all slavers and traitors eh?


84 posted on 04/02/2021 4:20:43 PM PDT by StoneWall Brigade
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To: DoodleDawg

It’s not a suicide pact of majority rule. You might like it that way but I don’t.


85 posted on 04/02/2021 4:27:12 PM PDT by wgmalabama (Tag line for rent. )
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To: StoneWall Brigade
So Non by your pseudo logic you’re saying that the only legitimacy to founders war of independence is that they won otherwise they’re all slavers and traitors eh?

I'm saying it depends on your point of view and that winning your rebellion makes a big difference. To the Brits we were a rebellious part of the empire. A rebellious part that happened to beat them and win their rebellion. As a result we are a sovereign nation and their opinions don't make any real difference. Had the southern states won their rebellion then I could call them rebels all I want and they would still be their own country and my opinion wouldn't matter.

86 posted on 04/02/2021 4:28:22 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: gattaca
On April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired the opening shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

Jan. 8, 1861 at Fort Barrancas. Union fired first.

87 posted on 04/02/2021 4:29:16 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: wgmalabama
It’s not a suicide pact of majority rule. You might like it that way but I don’t.

In case you haven't noticed almost everything that happens as a result of majority rule and I don't feel very suicidal about it. If joining the union requires the approval of a simple majority as expressed by a vote in Congress then why shouldn't leaving require the same?

88 posted on 04/02/2021 4:30:42 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: gattaca
President Lincoln refused and made attempts to send a ship to resupply the fort.

This is incorrect. The Star of the West was carrying troops and munitions with the intention of increasing the level of forces in Sumter.

They attempted to sneak these men in by having them hide below decks, but they had been spotted offloading the men from the USS Brooklyn and so the Confederates knew they were coming before they arrived.

The Star of the West was carrying a hostile force, and everyone involved knew it. It was just another dirty trick from Washington DC, and it's one of the reasons nobody believed any promises out of Washington DC.

89 posted on 04/02/2021 4:32:50 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: gattaca
Tensions grew, and Beauregard finally sent US officials an ultimatum – abandon the fort or face destruction.

This is incorrect too. Beauregard sent a message to Major Anderson informing him of the arrival of Lincolns fleet of belligerent warships. He asked Anderson for a truce. He informed Anderson that if Anderson would not fire on his men, he would not fire on Anderson.

Anderson responded that if Beauregard fired at any ship bearing an American flag, Anderson would use all the guns of Ft. Sumter to attack him.

So it looks like Anderson was the one who actually sent an ultimatum.

90 posted on 04/02/2021 4:35:42 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Signalman
When does the 2nd one start?

Misuse of government power, cancel culture, censoring conservatives, and finally leading up to the theft of an election through election fraud.

It started a long time ago. Actually, the first one never really ended.

91 posted on 04/02/2021 4:37:04 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DoodleDawg
The War of Southern Rebellion.

A coalition of equal states cannot "rebel." None of them are masters of the other. Only slaves can "rebel."

92 posted on 04/02/2021 4:38:39 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Meatspace
The First War of Liberal Stupidity.

The Liberals won that war.

93 posted on 04/02/2021 4:40:17 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: jmacusa
The American Civil War or How the South got it’s ass kicked.

4 to 1 odds in manpower. It should have gotten it's @$$ kicked four years earlier, but I think for most men of the North, their heart was not in it. I certainly think this is true for McClellan.

The men of the South were fighting for their homeland against the invaders who were just fighting for Washington DC to subjugate everyone.

And here we sit today with Washington DC still subjugating everyone.

94 posted on 04/02/2021 4:42:58 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Bull Snipe
The disaster was the firing on Fort Sumter. If that had not happened, there would have been no Appomattox.

The disaster was allowing a big city progressive troublemaker to cheat in the Chicago primary. Seward would not have started a war that killed 750,000 people.

95 posted on 04/02/2021 4:44:12 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DoodleDawg
Really? LBJ. Jimmy Carter. Bill Clinton. Both Bush's. I'd say they've gotten their revenge and then some.

Bush Senior was from Connecticut, and he clearly produced a lot of Connecticut influence on Bush the lesser.

96 posted on 04/02/2021 4:46:19 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: eyedigress

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.

Sorta like Gitmo, we have a lease signed 1n 1903. The U.S. Government operates as if the lease is still valid. The Cuban Commies say it is invalid. Would bet if, while Trump as President, the Cubans attacked Gitmo, it would be war.
Not so much of a chance with the Democrat Biden.


97 posted on 04/02/2021 4:47:09 PM PDT by Bull Snipe
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To: DoodleDawg

Nah. A rebellion is an attempt to overthrow a government or resistance to a government.

That is not what happened. The Southern States declared Independence from that government. They never proposed to overthrow the US federal government nor did they wish to resist the US federal government. They simply wanted nothing more to do with it. It was a war of Independence just like the one their fathers and grandfathers fought.


98 posted on 04/02/2021 4:47:31 PM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: DiogenesLamp

You have proof of that, or is that your opinion


99 posted on 04/02/2021 4:48:50 PM PDT by Bull Snipe
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To: FLT-bird
Nah. A rebellion is an attempt to overthrow a government or resistance to a government.

You must be using some unique dictionary that I'm not familiar with.

100 posted on 04/02/2021 4:49:23 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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