APRIL 12, 1861: The Civil War BeginsOn this day in 1861, the Civil War began with the Confederate army’s attack on Union-controlled Fort Sumter in South Carolina. “Send me your picture” was a common refrain in letters to soldiers from the homefront. The soldiers obliged often sending carte de viste photographs - so-called because they were the size of visiting cards.For more portraits of soldiers, visit Ken Burns’s companion site for his award-wining documentary, The Civil War. Photos (clockwise): boy soldier, Pvt. Philip Carper (C.S.A), unknown Confederate soldier,  Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, Gen. Robert E. Lee, and Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.
Pop-upView Separately

APRIL 12, 1861: The Civil War Begins

On this day in 1861, the Civil War began with the Confederate army’s attack on Union-controlled Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

“Send me your picture” was a common refrain in letters to soldiers from the homefront. The soldiers obliged often sending carte de viste photographs - so-called because they were the size of visiting cards.

For more portraits of soldiers, visit Ken Burns’s companion site for his award-wining documentary, The Civil War.

Photos (clockwise): boy soldier, Pvt. Philip Carper (C.S.A), unknown Confederate soldier,  Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, Gen. Robert E. Lee, and Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.

Source: to.pbs.org

146 Notes/ Hide

  1. zinkromo reblogged this from datnovice
  2. mystery-of-history reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  3. neato-bandito reblogged this from generalwilliamtecumsehsherman
  4. generalwilliamtecumsehsherman reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  5. sacredkarcram reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  6. datnovice reblogged this from gways
  7. aisling-r reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  8. clever4sure reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  9. sloanfiles reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  10. ownthescenemain reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  11. socialsciencedaily reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  12. confusionisthestoryofmylife reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  13. mommaraptor reblogged this from ratohnhaketon
  14. ratohnhaketon reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  15. young-zaphod reblogged this from buttsexington
  16. heroesofspace reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  17. cuppateainnit reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory and added:
    I don’t even know why I like this so much.
  18. oneyardatatime reblogged this from antiquecompass
  19. mcharrilennostarr reblogged this from the-glass-onion
  20. the-glass-onion reblogged this from buttsexington
  21. buttsexington reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  22. salofreakinme reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  23. sigkapxie reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  24. technicaldifficult reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  25. lighthouseinabottle reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  26. sharkinaredsweater reblogged this from the-egg-and-we
  27. refusetoletyougo reblogged this from verifiablehistorian
  28. verifiablehistorian reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory and added:
    Turning in 28 my Civil War seminar paper on the same day the Civil War began? Winning.
  29. fromtheheartofdixie-inactive reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  30. the-egg-and-we reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  31. historicnerdgasm reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory
  32. raybucklad reblogged this from pbsthisdayinhistory