Re-enactment of Sumter bombardment

Several hundred folks were at Patriots Point before dawn to witness the re-enactment of the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter. (click photos to enlarge)

In 1861, the gunfire began around 4:30 a.m. The launch time in 2011 was a more comfortable 6:43 a.m.

As I write this, I can hear the occasional thump of atillery fire a couple miles from our hotel.

Enjoying a fresh breeze at the Battery

Tonight, as we sat on chairs and enjoyed the breeze rippling through the Battery in Charleston, I felt peace about our nation's reflection on the Civil War.

We attended a concert that featured military songs and music from the Ken Burns Civil War series of PBS.

Speakers talked of things likely skipped over in the Civil War centennial -- race, slavery and the role of U.S. Colored Troops in the Union army.

Tomorrow we are up before dawn for a memorial concert of sorts and then on to Patriots Point to watch the bombardment re-enactment.

Earlier Monday evening I attended a program entitled, "A Troubled House."

Historian Emory Thomas talked about how each side thought the war would be over quickly and little blood would be shed. That was before they knew the impact of deadly rifles, disease and casualties from mass troop formations.

"They believed the war would be short because the enemy was full of absolute cowards," Thomas said.

Fort Sumter is bathed in alternating red and blue, a beam of light soaring into the sky.

Image: The Flag of Fort Sumter, The Museum of the Confederacy

On the eve of war -- Sumter anniversary

Fort Moultrie, sadly, is little known by most Americans.

Compared to Fort Sumter, Moultrie appears to be an anonymous neighbor.

But it has a richer history -- defending Charleston from the Revolutionary War through World War II.

I always enjoy visiting, in part due to the beautiful beach and Victorian homes also on Sullivan's Island.

Today, we watched a drill and spoke with a few of the couple hundred living historians encamped at Moultrie.

On April 12, 1861, guns from several batteries and forts along the harbor fired upon the Union garrison at Fort Sumter. Moultrie was one of the closest.

Ironically, Union troops were garrisoned at Moultrie before slipping away to Sumter.

A strange fog hung over the city this afternoon, making Sumter difficult to see from the ramparts.

An artillery team explained to a flock of visitors how the 32-pound guns on Moultrie operated. Each person has a specific role during the firing.

Ken Buckey of North Carolina portrayed a surgeon of the 1st South Carolina Rifles.

I asked if the surgeon expected to be busy Tuesday.

"I think the other people [Federals] are going to have that problem," he replied. Ready for batle? "Of course, as all Southern boys should be."

Members of the 26th North Carolina drilled Monday afternoon in the grassy field between Fort Moultrie and the harbor. They are portraying the Meagher Guards, a Charleston militia unit that provided security during bombardment of Sumter.

We're eating in downtown Charleston tonight and will attend a sesquicentennial program tonight at a park in the Battery, the very tip of the peninsula.

It's called "Voices from the Civil War," and features the Charleston SymphonyeOrchestra, Sean Newhouse, guest conductor; CSO Spiritual Ensemble & Mount Zion AME Spiritual Singers.

Video: Troops at Fort Moultrie, S.C.

Our second stop in Charleston was Fort Moultrie. Here, the 26th North Carolina drills as the Meagher Guards of Charleston, which served at the fort for the April 12, 1861, bombardment of Fort Sumter. About 300 troops were encamped over the weekend, fewer today. Sorry I could not get better video resolution.

Picket says 'yellow' from South Carolina!

Up this morning and stopping first at Fort Johnson, where an opening salvo was fired at Fort Sumter one hundred and fifty years ago tomorrow. Then on to Fort Moultrie for living history, encampment and living histories. Tonight, a sesquicentennial concert at the Battery in downtown Charleston. Yesterday afternoon, saw this beautiful field of collards gone to seed near Greensboro, Ga.

He's heading up Tuesday's artillery salvo

Lancaster County, S.C., resident Claude Sinclair intends to start a war on Tuesday. At exactly 6:45 a.m., the 61-year-old social worker will order troops to bombard Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor - for the second time in 150 years. • Article

Worry in Charleston over possible shutdown

A looming government shutdown is threatening to close the gates to Fort Sumter, meaning the touchstone of the 150th anniversary of the first shots of the Civil War could be dark next week for long-planned activities. • Article

New flags to fly for Civil War vets

Two men plan to place a 33-star banner like one that flew over Fort Sumter on the grave of 154 Civil War veterans in Alsace Cemetery in Reading, Pa. • Article