The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

On April 10, 1861, Major Anderson put his men on half rations, expecting they would be entirely out of food by April 12.

General Beauregard exchanged telegrams with the Confederate leadership in Montgomery, telling them that he would demand Fort Sumter surrender on April 11 and attack the fort if Major Anderson declined.

Despite the thousands of men at his disposal—compared to only 75 in Fort Sumter—and superior firepower, General Beauregard had a problem. Most of his troops were raw recruits and volunteers, untrained and unorganized.

Edmund Ruffin received the honor of firing the first shot at Fort Sumter. He took up his position on the evening of April 11, but then was told to stand down. He hoped the attack would begin the next morning and slept in his clothing to be ready at a moment’s notice.