Apr 12, 1861: The Civil War begins The bloodiest four years in
American history begin when Confederate shore batteries under
General P.G.T. Beauregard open fire on Union-held Fort Sumter in
South Carolina's Charleston Bay. During the next 34 hours, 50
Confederate guns and mortars launched more than 4,000 rounds at
the poorly supplied fort. On April 13, U.S. Major Robert
Anderson surrendered the fort. Two days later, U.S. President
Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000
volunteer soldiers to quell the Southern "insurrection." As
early as 1858, the ongoing conflict between North and South over
the issue of slavery had led Southern leadership to discuss a
unified separation from the United States. By 1860, the majority
of the slave states were publicly threatening secession if the
Republicans, the anti-slavery party, won the presidency.
Following Republican Abraham Lincoln's victory over the divided
Democratic Party in November 1860, South Carolina immediately
initiated secession proceedings. O