What is the first day of the Civil War?

Answer 1

The day the South attacked Fort Sumpter.

On April 10, 1861, Brig. Gen. Beauregard, in command of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, demanded the surrender of the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Garrison commander Anderson refused. On April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, which was unable to reply effectively. At 2:30 p.m., April 13, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison on the following day. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Although there were no casualties during the bombardment, one Union artillerist was killed and three wounded (one mortally) when a cannon exploded prematurely when firing a salute during the evacuation.

Answer 2

You will get a variety of answers on this ...
some will say it is the day John Brown was executed after saying that the sins of this nation will not be purged except by blood - 12/2/1859
others will say it is the day Abraham Lincoln is elected - 11/6/1860
others will say it is the first shots at Ft. Sumter ...4/12/1861
but even those weren't the first shots of the Civil War, there were already altercations in the suburbs of Washington DC which some claim to be the beginning ...

so take your pick, but understand that no matter which day you choose, it'll be controversial ...

oh, and by the way, some people will say it all started July 2, 1776 when Jefferson had the Declaration of Independence voted through, but he himself owned slaves and didn't believe "all men are created equal"

Answer 3

April 7 - 12, 1861

Lincoln had made his decision to relieve Forts Sumter and Pickens. The messengers to Charleston and Pensacola had been dispatched. Two expeditions, one headed to Sumter, the other directed to Pickens, were in the process of embarking. Now there would be days of waiting until the fate of these efforts was known. Throughout the Union, there was a general anticipation that the long period of standoff between Washington and Montgomery was about to end.
Lincoln had set his plan in motion, but its outcome was no longer subject to his control. Already, and still unknown to him, the flagship of the Sumter fleet, the Powhatan, was headed for the wrong fort, Pickens. Furthermore, nature was proving uncooperative. A storm struck the Atlantic just as the Sumter expedition left port, blowing gale winds, rain, and high seas. The ships had to make their way through this "unpropitious" weather to reach Charleston. Most significantly, the action of Confederate officials would also determine the consequences of Lincoln's decision.

April 12, 1861 - At 4:30 a.m. - Attack of Fort Sumpter

Answer 4

April 12,1861 when Fort Sumter was fired upon the Confederates after giving the Union 2 days to give up the fort which was surrendered by Capt. Anderson on April 13, 1861.

Answer 5

I FOUND IT: Fighting commenced on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked a United States (federal) military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina, the first state to secede.

Civil War "Firsts"

As the breeding ground for modern warfare, the Civil War has long been known for its "firsts." It has been credited with dozens like these:

A workable machine gun
A steel ship
A successful submarine
A "snorkel" breathing device
A wide-ranging corps of press correspondents in battle areas
American conscription
American bread lines
American President assassinated
Aerial reconnaissance
Antiaircraft fire
Army ambulance corps
Blackouts and camouflage under aerial observation
Cigarette tax
Commissioned American Army chaplains
Department of justice (Confederate)
Electrically exploded bombs and torpedoes
Fixed ammunition
Field trenches on a grand scale
Flame throwers
Hospital ships
Ironclad navies
Land-mine fields
Legal voting for servicemen
Long-range rifles for general use
Medal of Honor
Military telegraph
Military railroads
Naval torpedoes
***** U.S. Army Officer (Major M.R. Delany)
Organized medical and nursing corps
Photography of battle
Railroad artillery
Repeating rifles
Revolving gun turrets
The bugle call, "Taps"
The Income tax
The wigwag signal code in battle
The periscope, for trench warfare
Telescopic sights for rifles
Tobacco tax
U.S. Navy Admiral
U.S. Secret Service
Withholding tax
Wire entanglements
Wide-scale use of anesthetics for wounded

Source: "The Civil War, Strange and Fascinating Facts" by Burke Davis

Answer 6

Generally speaking, the day the shelling on Sumter commenced. April 12, 1861.

Answer 7

Which Civil War - - - there have been hundreds over the centuries and this forum is international. I'm just being a p----.

You hava enough answers.


Peace....