Information & History:
WBS01  Fort Sumter  -  the war begins,  Civil War,  Charleston,  SC   The first engagement of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter on April 12 and 13 1861.  After 34 hours of fighting, the Union surrendered the fort to the Confederates.  From 1863 to 1865, the Confederates at Fort Sumter withstood a 22 month siege by Union forces.  During this time most of the fort was reduced to brick rubble.  Fort Sumter became a national monument in 1948.