Charleston in the American Civil War Charleston in the American Civil War Charleston, South Carolina, was a hotbed of secession at the start of the American Civil War and an important Atlantic Ocean port city for the fledgling Confederate States of America. The first shots against the Federal government were those fired there by cadets of the Citadel to stop a ship from resupplying the Federally held Ft. Sumter. Three months later, the bombardment of Fort Sumter triggered a massive call for Federal troops to put down the rebellion. Although the city and its surrounding fortifications were repeatedly targeted by the Union Army and Navy, Charleston
Conclusion of the American Civil War the American Civil War. "Shenandoah" had so far captured and burned eleven ships of the American whaling fleet while in Arctic waters. Waddell finally learned of Lee's surrender on June 27 when the captain of the prize "Susan & Abigail" produced a newspaper from San Francisco. The same paper contained Confederate President Jefferson Davis's proclamation that the "war would be carried on with re-newed vigor". "Shenandoah" proceeded to capture a further ten whalers in the following seven hours. Wadell then steered "Shenandoah" south, intending to raid the port of San Francisco which he believed to be poorly defended. En route