April 12, 1861 - 4:00am - Confederate Rampart<br/><br/><br/>A cool breeze swept across the harbour and over the Confederate forts surrounding Charleston Harbour. The Yankees had held Fort Sumter for months now, there had been an attempt by the federal government to supply the fort but they were turned around when confederate cannons fired on the approaching vessel. Now it was spring, a slightly foggy and quiet morning. The previous day General Beauregard issued an ultimatum to Major Anderson who commanded fort Sumter, General Beauregard offered the Major the chance to surrender the fort, however he decline. When Beauregard received the response from the yankee Major at 12:00am on April 12 he was slightly irritated and ordered his commanders to await orders. It was still dark when the sound of a bugle rang out at about 15 minutes before 4 am. Men were assembled, the large artillery pieces of the Confederate army were positioned and made ready to fire. Everything was still, a bayonet falling to the ground a mile away could easily be heard, seconds ticked away but it actually felt like years to the men in gray.<br/><br/>General Beauregard stood in one of the ramparts, staring through his binoculars toward fort sumter, the men inside the fort was undoubtedly asleep, there was no movement. The general lowered his binoculars and placed them in a leather pouch that hung at his side. He took a colden pocket watchout of his vest pocket. and looked at the time, it was 4:00am on the dot. He closed his pocket watch and nodded at his aid and flag man. The order to fire at will rang out by bugle and was also given by flag. Within seconds the air was filled with thick smoke and the ear splitting thundering of heavy artillery. The people of Charleston awoke with a start and rushed to balconies and rooftops, to see the great bombardment, this the opening shots ofthe great war. For 34 hours the Confederates and yankees shelled one another. Finally on April 13th the white flag of surrender replaces the stars and stripes of the Union. The surrender ceremonies went smoothly...News spread quickly to the entire country and even nations far away. Now states such as Virginia and Arkansas began to discuss secession, within days they would leave the Union.<br/><br/><br/><br/>William Kendred, had just heard the news that his state of Virginia had seceded from the Union, several old men with fiddles struck up dixie, there were loud cheers from the guests at the plantation. The Kendred family had been hosting a ball when a boy from a neighboring town rode up to the front of the plantation yelling "SECESSION!!!!". William celebrates with his friends and family, his lover had been there, his future bride but when the cheers erupted she had left the house and walked to the beach, after talking awhile with his family, he made his way out of the house and down the cobblestone path to the beach, he saw her standing in the sand, as beautiful as ever. He considered himself lucky to be marrying possibly the most beutiful and kind woman in all of Virginia. "Hello, my dear." He said softly as he walked up beside her. "Why aren't you in the house celebrating? We got what we've been hoping for." he said softly a smile clearly was in his eyes even if his lips weren't showing it. He had plans to join the army, and had already been promised the position of Colonel in the 1st regiment of Virginia infantry, his blood boiled every time he thought of the yankees invading his beloved state.