Charleston is the location of the “First shots fired in the Civil War” This occurred on January 6, 1861 when the cadets of the Citadel fired on the Union ship Star Of The West as it entered Charleston Harbor. On April 12 of the same year General Pierre G. T. Beauregard opened fire from shore batteries on the Union held Fort Sumter, an island in the harbor. The Civil War had officially started!
Submarine H. L. Hunley
The H. L. Hunley was the first combat submarine built. It was named after it’s designer and was built in Mobile, Alabama and transported to Charleston by rail. It’s job was to defeat the Union blockade of Charleston Harbor. It was 40 feet long and carried a crew of eight. It did not entirely submerge but traveled just under the surface with the captain looking out through an opening on top. Because of this it was rather dangerous to sail and did in fact result in the deaths of twenty-one crewmen in three sinkings during her short career. Her weapon was an explosive mounted on a short spar sticking out front and the idea was to ram an enemy ship with the explosive. The Hunley was successful in sinking the Union Ship Housatonic which was on blockade duty in Charleston’s Harbor. This attack was it’s first and last taste of combat as it sank and was lost soon after. The wreck was located in 1995 and raised in 2000. It is now on display in a specially designed tank of fresh water to await conservation.
The South Will Rise Again!
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