The Civil War (1861-1865) began in the early morning hours of April 12 when Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, opened fire on the federal garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. The action was the culmination of months of effort by Confederate officials to force federal troops out of the Charleston harbor. They had been successful elsewhere in occupying federal arsenals and forts and in removing federal garrisons. President Abraham Lincoln tried to deal firmly with South Carolina authorities without provoking violence, but the attempt failed. When the federal garrison at Fort Sumter surrendered on April 13, the citizens of Charleston were filled with joy. Little did they realize that they had witnessed the beginning of four years of vicious warfare.

The Civil War began at 4:30 AM when Confederate shore batteries under command of General P. G. T. Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter. The federal garrison, out of supplies, surrendered on April 13 and evacuated the fort the following day.