Charleston, South Carolina - On the night of December 26, 1860, Major Robert Anderson decided to move the Fort Moultrie Garrison to Fort Sumter in his words "To prevent the effusion of blood." A merchant ship, the Star of the West, was sent with supplies but was turned back by South Carolina Artillerists on 9 January 1861. This event is still considered by many scholars as the first shot of the Civil War. We are holding a living history to commemorate these events at Forts Moultrie and Sumter.