A Cruise to Ft. Sumner

Ft. Sumter is where the Civil War began, after decades of growing strife between North and South erupted  in Civil War on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor.  Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later.  Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back.

We took a boat out of Patriot Point to see Ft. Sumter.

As we headed out of the harbor we passed the Yorktown 

and saw this beautiful bridge.

First we listened to a Ranger give us the history of Ft. Sumter.  Hope you can see that her badge has a black ribbon over her name.  The flag is also at half mast.  A 22 year old ranger at Mt. Rainier had died trying to rescue some hikers.  They were rescued but he lost his life trying to help them.

Ft. Sumter National Monument has one of the best collections of 19th century seacoast artillery anywhere in the United States.

This is the parade grounds and ruins of the officer quarters.

Inside the museum was the US Flag that flew over Ft. Sumter when the Confederate Army fired on the Union troops.  Flag was taken down and put up again when the Union troops took Ft. Sumter back 4 years later.

 This is the Palmetto Guard Flag, which was raised by Confederates after the conquest of Ft. Sumter.

. 

Swords from the war.

There were lots of examples of uniforms in the museum.  I liked the plume on this one.

Our hour stay was too short, but we sure enjoyed the time we had.

We passed the city of Charleston on the way home from Ft. Sumter.