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Civil War begins with Battle of Fort Sumter
April 12, 2022
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every year that begins at 12:00 am on day 12 of April, repeating indefinitely
On April 12, 1861, the Civil War began as Confederate troops under the command of General Pierre Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. South Carolina had declared secession in December 1860 after the election of Abraham Lincoln.
Did you know? Amazingly, nobody was killed in the Battle of Fort Sumter. However, after a peaceful surrender by federal troops, a private was accidentally killed by a ceremonial cannon shot during the lowering of the Union flag.
