Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration

The 150th anniversary of the Civil War is being commemorated today, 4/12, in the Holy City of Charleston. A 6:45 a.m. mortar round fired from Fort Johnson began a volley of shots from Patriot's Point and Fort Moultrie that were witnessed by a crowd on the Charleston Battery. Civil War re-enactors were present as were tourist and locals just out walking their dogs, but the setting in the Lowcountry outdoors was unmistakeable as the sun rose over Castle Pinkney and the distant Fort Sumter came into view - just as it came into view, and into range of Confederate batteries 150 years ago. Fort Sumter endured a 36-hour barrage before surrendering and going down in history as the starting point for the war between the states.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Johnny Rebel was back on the battery on the morning of the Sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War; an artillery captain attends his Southern Belle; the high battery was full of onlookers at the 6:45 a.m. ceremonies; Descendants of confederate soldiers pose at the monument dedicated "To the Confederate Defenders of Charleston"