[Destro]

now,now--the South fired the first shots.

[jgrubbs]

When Edmond Ruffin pulled the lanyard on one of the columbiads off Morris Island at 4:30 A.M. on Friday April 12, 1861, the "First Shot" of the War between the States.

You have to look at the events leading up to April 12, 1861. On Dec. 19, 1860, a convention of delegates were called to St. Andrew’s Hall in Charleston, S.C., to vote on secession. On that day, many issues were brought to the floor to be settled before the actual vote could occur. Among these issues were what to do with the federal military installations in South Carolina, particularly Forts Moultrie and Sumter. It was agreed that all federal property would have to be handed over to the government of South Carolina. Finally, on Dec. 20, 1860, the delegates voted by a count of 169-0 in favor of secession, and the union between South Carolina and other states of the United States was "hereby dissolved."

The South fired the first shot on a fort that was agreed to be handed over to the government of South Carolina almost 4 moths prior to the "First Shot".