At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, General Beauregard dispatched three aides to Fort Sumter. The aides arrived
about two hours later, and demanded that Anderson e vacuate the fort.

After consulting with his officers, Anderson formally responded that his sense of honor and his obligations to his government
prevented his compliance. Anderson also casually remarked that the garrison would "be starved out in a few days." Beauregard
communicated both the official answer and Anderson's informal verbal remarks to Montgomery.

That evening, Beauregard received instructions from Montgomery to get a specific commitment from Anderson as to the time
he would evacuate the fort, as well as an agreement that he would not use his guns against them unless under attack. "If this or
its equivalent be refused," Beauregard was commanded, "reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be most practicable."

Anderson would not Budge.

Edmund Ruffin, a disgruntled soldier determined to cause the war, took aim and at 4:30am shot what is considered the first shot of the Civil War.  Had he only known what would ensue, he may have thought again.

After enduring a bombardment for nearly 34 hours, Fort Sumter became the first victory for the confederacy in their short history.  Anderson was forced to give up the Fort, but would return home a hero.  In the battle, no soldiers were killed and the only casualty was a confedarte mule.  This would paint a poor picture of the way the Civil War would truly be.

The Palmetto Flag (below)

On April 14th, 1861, men of the 18th South Carolina regiment raised this Palmetto flag over the captured fort.  The Palmetto flag confirmed the start of the dreaded Civil War.

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