NOTES from the BIG CHAIR

Today in 1861, Fort Sumter - the famous Charleston, South Carolina fortress that I viewed (for the umpteen-billionth time) from Sullivan's Island, last Saturday - fell to the Confederates after a punishing artillery bombardment that lasted nearly two days.
A must-visit site for all Naval/Military history enthusiasts, Fort Sumter was built upon a section of the same shoals in Charleston harbor that - 85 years prior to the famous Civil War-igniting bombardment - temporarily grounded a portion of the Royal Navy while the King's sailors were exchanging shots with Colonel (later Major General) William Moultrie's batteries positioned on Sullivan's. The fight between the Brits and Moultrie's colonial cannoneers took place on June 28, 1776.
It's kind of a fun coincidence, though few make the connection: Sumter being built and later pummelled (by Carolinians) on the exact spot in the harbor where the Royals temporarily ran aground and were pummelled (by Carolinians). Oh, and my many-times-great-grandfathers and uncles - so, surely some cousins too - fought in both battles.
Sullivan's Island, with its magnificent view of the harbor and Fort Sumter, is truly one of my favorite places on Earth.



Semper Fi,
WTSjr