It’s Friday April 14th and thoughts of a blog underway. Hey guess what? One hundred and fifty-six years ago this day in three and one half hours back then Capt. Robert Anderson, Commanding officer of Fort Sumter will commence abandoning the fort to CSA Brig. General P. G. T. Beauregard following a 3,000 round bombardment.

The attack is what actually started the Civil War. New England was quick to respond to President Lincoln’s call for recruits with Connecticut the leader in the number of volunteers per eligible young men. Many New England men served with State regiments and one is the popular Ct 9th Regiment.

The assault on Ft. Sumter began at 4:30 am. on the 12th of April The first return fire was under Capt. Abner Doubleday. After hours of pounding the fort with shells not one Union soldier was killed. The only tragedy was a gunnery Sargent who died when the cannon he was firing exploded. Two well-known secessionists were offered to make the first shot. One declined the other accepted. This has led to the story following the war the man who fired the shot was so depressed over the carnage, blaming himself for starting the war, he took his own life.

My family visited Ft. Sumter years ago and a portion of the original section showed the shelling scars of the assault. As we were heading to see about gifts, etc, a teenager walking with his parents was asked if he liked seeing the fort. He said it was awesome turning to his mother he asked if she was happy they hadn’t shelled the gift shop!