Fort Sumter SC - Where the Civil War Started

Patriots Point Park in Charleston is filled with all kinds of historical information.  The USS Yorktown is here and with 250,000 square feet to explore you can be busy for days.  We took this boat to Fort Sumter.

 Fort Sumter guards the Charleston SC harbor.  It is famous in US history as the place where the Civil War started.

My favorite story is about Major Robert Anderson and General P. G. T. Beauregard.  Before the Civil War they were good friends.  On December 20, 1860, South Carolina susceded from the Union.  P. G. T. Beauregard became the first prominent general for the Confederacy. 

Major Robert Anderson remained loyal to the Union.  He was the commanding officer at Fort Sumter when the first shot from the Confederacy that started the Civil War on April 12, 1861started a 34 hour battle.  Outnumbered and outgunned Anderson surrendered.  Because of their friendship General Beauregard negotiated an "evacuation" where Anderson and his men were allowed to take their arms and board Union ships in full honors.  Many people dispute the use of the word surrender. 

 Major Robert Anderson

P. G. T. Beauregard