C.S.A. Gen. Robert E. Lee penned these words in 1866 when the lessons of a bloody civil war still echoed over much of the United States. The price of saving the Union had been high, paid for with more than 620,000 American lives. And the aftermath, especially in the South, was grim and filled with turpitude. But even as he looked squarely into the face of Reconstruction, Lee revealed the hope of his spirit and his unwavering trust in the South's ability to rise again from the smoldering rubble left in the wake of a bitter war.
On the first day of the War Between the States, Charleston welcomed a special visitor. A farmer who owned a plantation near Tidewater, Virginia, Edmund Ruffin had frequented South Carolina at the standing invitation of Governor James Hammond. Ruffin's scientific expertise in the area of agricultural production was greatly admired in South Carolina, but mostly overlooked in his native Virginia.
Gov. Hammond, one of the first Southerners to advocate secession, gradually converted his friend to the cause of disunion. Like Hammond, Ruffin came to believe that the growing opposition to slavery in the North threatened the economic welfare of the South.
His fervor for secession was further fueled in December 1859, when Ruffin stood on his native soil shoulder to shoulder with many whose names would one day be indelibly written in the annuls of history by Fate itself. The occasion that brought together the likes of Robert E. Lee, J. E. B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis, and others was the execution of John Brown. A fervid abolitionist, Brown was tried and convicted of attempting to incite a slave uprising in the state. He was quickly sentenced to hang for his crimes.
Also in the crowd on the day of Brown's execution was a Southern sympathizer from Maryland named John Wilkes Booth. A member of the Virginia militia, Booth regarded slavery as "one of the greatest blessings that God ever bestowed upon a favoured nation. Witness heretofore our wealth and power, witness their elevation and enlightenment above their race elsewhere."
In order to witness the execution of Brown, Ruffin persuaded the commander of the guard of the Virginia Military Institute to allow him to join the corps of cadets as an honorary member. The hanging of Brown, who became a martyr for the abolitionist cause, thrust the nation closer to civil war.
Citing the treacherous and treasonous acts of Brown, Ruffin traveled the South, preaching on behalf of the secessionist movement. Because of his radical support of secession, he and his fellow disunionists soon became known as "fire eaters." While pro-Union sentiment remained strong in Virginia, Ruffin soon rejoined his kindred souls in South Carolina who shared his beliefs. He found glory in the streets of Charleston, where he passionately stoked the flames of secession to cheering crowds.
When Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States in November 1860, Southerners began making plans to secede. In South Carolina, the outspoken Ruffin, an advocate of immediate secession, became a hero who was recognized and cheered wherever he went.
The rebellion began in Charleston during the last weeks of December 1860 with the signing of the Ordinance of Secession. Other states in the Deep South soon followed. Wanting to do his part, Ruffin joined the Palmetto Guard stationed on Cummings Point, just south of Fort Sumter.
Soon all eyes turned to the federally held Fort Sumter. Built in Charleston Harbor to defend the city from attack by foreign powers like England, France or Spain, the fort guarded the South's most important shipping channel, a vital link to continued trade with the rest of the world.
On April 13, 1861, Brigadier-General P.G.T. Beauregard, commanding the provisional forces of the Confederate States of America, ordered Fort Sumter fired upon. Charlestonians gathered on the rooftops near the battery to watch and cheer. A day and a half later, the federal troops under the command of Major Robert Anderson surrendered, ending the first battle of the War Between the States without injury or death.
History credits the beloved visitor, 66-year-old Edmund Ruffin, with firing the first shot that arched the early morning sky to fall on Fort Sumter. In doing so, Ruffin had successfully helped provoke the war he dreamed would secure the South's economy and way of life.
Soon after the first shots rang out over Charleston, the cheering in the city stopped. With Charleston Harbor blockaded by Lincoln's navy, trade virtually stopped. By early 1865, after being shelled every day for more than a year and a half, the great antebellum city was enveloped in a cloud of despair. With all roads, bridges and railroads cut, the city's grand place as the "Cradle of Secession" changed to one of impotence. Even as Sherman boiled up through South Carolina, ripping up the heart of the state, Charleston was deemed too unimportant to burn. The city was never captured. It never surrendered. It was abandoned by the Confederacy.
The Union was saved. Lincoln's vision of "a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal" would become the vision of a people once again united.
On June 18, 1865, Edmund Ruffin, the pre-eminent Southern nationalist, propped the butt of a silver-trimmed rifle on a trunk between his feet, stuck the end of the barrel in his mouth, and using a forked stick in the trigger, fired one of the last shots of the war.
Unlike its friend, Charleston laid claim to a bright new future.
Few cities in America are as closely bound with the history of the War Between the States as Charleston, S.C. In this place, our nation changed. Inspired by Lee's words, it is with great reverence that we willingly paint our history across a canvas of hope for all to see.
Civil War Sites
Fort Sumter The first engagement of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter on April 12 and 13, 1861. After 34 hours of fighting, the Union surrendered the fort to the Confederates. From 1863 to 1865, the Confederates at Fort Sumter withstood a 22-month siege by Union forces. During this time, most of the fort was reduced to brick rubble. Fort Sumter became a national monument in 1948.
Located 3.3 miles southeast of the City of Charleston, Fort Sumter sits on a man-made island of 2.4 acres near the inlet of Charleston Harbor. Visitors arrive via concessionary tour boats operated by Fort Sumter Tours, Inc. The boats embark from two different locations: Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square and from Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant. The National Park Service operates Fort Sumter.
Liberty Square The Fort Sumter experience begins at Liberty Square in downtown Charleston. The site is an open, green space dedicated to all of those who have sacrificed so that we may enjoy liberty today. Ferry boats leave daily from the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center, located adjacent to Liberty Square and the South Carolina Aquarium. Historic artifacts, museum exhibits and interpretive programs set the stage for your visit to the fort. The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square is located in downtown Charleston at the foot of Calhoun Street on the Cooper River. The National Park Service operates Liberty Square.
Fort Moultrie Fort Moultrie's history covers 171 years of seacoast defense, including the first decisive victory in the American Revolution and firing onto Fort Sumter during the first battle of the Civil War. The third Fort Moultrie, built in 1809, still stands today. When touring the fort, visitors can see how coastal defenses have evolved. Fort Moultrie is located at 1214 Middle Street on Sullivan's Island. The National Park Service operates Fort Moultrie.
H. L. Hunley On the night of February 17, 1864, eight men, led by Lt. George Dixon, entered an experimental vessel that was to become the first submarine in world history to successfully sink an enemy ship. That night, the Hunley rammed her spar torpedo into the hull of the USS Housatonic. But minutes after her historic achievement, the Hunley and all hands onboard vanished into the sea without a trace.
Today, the South Carolina Hunley Commission and a private, non-profit group called the Friends of the Hunley are solving the mystery. They are engaged in the single most important underwater archaeological expedition of the century. The Hunley Commission was created by the State of South Carolina to acquire, recover, and preserve the H. L. Hunley submarine for public display. Currently, the H. L. Hunley is located inside the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston. Tour reservations must be made in advance by calling 723-9797.
The Charleston United Daughters of the Confederacy Museum Since the 1890s, Charleston's Historic Market Hall has been home to the United Daughters of the Confederacy Museum. Considered the fourth most important Civil War collection in the world, items on display include the Secession Flag, the first Confederate National Flag to fly over Fort Sumter, regimental and battle flags, dozens of uniforms, and much more. Constructed in 1841, the building was extensively damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, forcing the museum to relocate to temporary quarters for 12 years. Early this spring, the museum reclaimed its prominent location in the renovated Market Head Building on Meeting Street.
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Bringing some of the finest artists in their fields together under one roof, the Martin Gallery is a soaring space filled with the exquisite color and texture of oils, acrylics, bronzes, marbles, terra-cottas and richly hued glass. The eclectic art is representative of more than thirty nationally and internationally renowned artists. Located at 18 Broad Street on the corner of State Street in the Grand Salon of the historic People’s Building.
A refined French café and bar offering the best in classic Brasserie cuisine. Culinary team creations pay homage to classic brasserie cuisine that inspired vehemently loyal Parisians. Indoor/outdoor patio seating, cocktails and a predominantly French wine list blended with a selection of our steward's favorites. Open late. Upstairs offers catering for your meeting or party. Don't miss 39 Rue de Jean Sunday Brunch.
"It is history that teaches us to hope." 
When Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States in November 1860, Southerners began making plans to secede. In South Carolina, the outspoken Ruffin, an advocate of immediate secession, became a hero who was recognized and cheered wherever he went. 
The first engagement of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter on April 12 and 13, 1861. After 34 hours of fighting, the Union surrendered the fort to the Confederates. From 1863 to 1865, the Confederates at Fort Sumter withstood a 22-month siege by Union forces. During this time, most of the fort was reduced to brick rubble. Fort Sumter became a national monument in 1948. 
The Fort Sumter experience begins at Liberty Square in downtown Charleston. The site is an open, green space dedicated to all of those who have sacrificed so that we may enjoy liberty today. Ferry boats leave daily from the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center, located adjacent to Liberty Square and the South Carolina Aquarium. Historic artifacts, museum exhibits and interpretive programs set the stage for your visit to the fort. The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square is located in downtown Charleston at the foot of Calhoun Street on the Cooper River. The National Park Service operates Liberty Square.
Fort Moultrie's history covers 171 years of seacoast defense, including the first decisive victory in the American Revolution and firing onto Fort Sumter during the first battle of the Civil War. The third Fort Moultrie, built in 1809, still stands today. When touring the fort, visitors can see how coastal defenses have evolved. Fort Moultrie is located at 1214 Middle Street on Sullivan's Island. The National Park Service operates Fort Moultrie.
On the night of February 17, 1864, eight men, led by Lt. George Dixon, entered an experimental vessel that was to become the first submarine in world history to successfully sink an enemy ship. That night, the Hunley rammed her spar torpedo into the hull of the USS Housatonic. But minutes after her historic achievement, the Hunley and all hands onboard vanished into the sea without a trace. 
Since the 1890s, Charleston's Historic Market Hall has been home to the United Daughters of the Confederacy Museum. Considered the fourth most important Civil War collection in the world, items on display include the Secession Flag, the first Confederate National Flag to fly over Fort Sumter, regimental and battle flags, dozens of uniforms, and much more. Constructed in 1841, the building was extensively damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, forcing the museum to relocate to temporary quarters for 12 years. Early this spring, the museum reclaimed its prominent location in the renovated Market Head Building on Meeting Street.
Luxury real estate sales on Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Johns Island, Wadmalaw and the surrounding Charleston area. A leader in luxury real estate sales and vacation rentals for almost three decades. Seasonal vacation rentals or year-round luxury properties for South Carolina coastal living. Highly personalized service, a true commitment to patient, comprehensive representation is our priority.
Bringing some of the finest artists in their fields together under one roof, the Martin Gallery is a soaring space filled with the exquisite color and texture of oils, acrylics, bronzes, marbles, terra-cottas and richly hued glass. The eclectic art is representative of more than thirty nationally and internationally renowned artists. Located at 18 Broad Street on the corner of State Street in the Grand Salon of the historic People’s Building. 
A refined French café and bar offering the best in classic Brasserie cuisine. Culinary team creations pay homage to classic brasserie cuisine that inspired vehemently loyal Parisians. Indoor/outdoor patio seating, cocktails and a predominantly French wine list blended with a selection of our steward's favorites. Open late. Upstairs offers catering for your meeting or party. Don't miss 39 Rue de Jean Sunday Brunch.
