Commemorate, not celebrate, Civil War anniversaries

The sesquicentennial of the Civil War (2010-2015) is fast approaching and there is much to commemorate, as Charleston and the Lowcountry played a major role in the war. The rapid chain of events leading to the war began with the Democratic Party national convention, which met in Charleston, failing to select a candidate for president of the United States. The result was the November election of Abraham Lincoln. In response, at a convention in Charleston on Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. That evening, the Charleston Mercury printed one of the most famous headlines in American history: "THE UNION IS DISSOLVED."

Then on Dec. 26, Maj. Robert Anderson moved his command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. By the time Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861, six more states had seceded, formed the Confederate States of America, and selected Jefferson Davis as its president. Both presidents faced what would become one of the biggest crises in American history -- what to do about Fort Sumter. Lincoln decided to send a relief expedition by ship to the beleaguered fort. When Davis learned of the expedition, he demanded that Maj. Anderson evacuate the fort. When Anderson refused, the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter, and the Civil War, began at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861. April 12, 2011 is the 150th anniversary of this defining moment in American history.

The sesquicentennial commemoration will begin in December 2010 and continue into 2015. The Lowcountry's role in the war includes significant historical events, beyond the Ordinance of Secession and the bombardment of Fort Sumter. They include the November 1861 Battle of Port Royal Sound at Beaufort, the slave (and harbor pilot) Robert Small's capture of the steamer "Planter" and his subsequent escape to freedom in May 1862. These were followed by the June 1862 Battle of Secessionville, the enlistment of former slaves in the Union army at Beaufort, and the 1863-1865 Siege of Charleston, the war's longest siege operation. Major events during the siege include the July 1863 assault on Battery Wagner, led by the 54th Massachusetts (the African-American regiment depicted in the movie "Glory"), major bombardments of Fort Sumter and Charleston, and the attack and sinking of the H.L. Hunley in February 1864.

The Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Trust, an educational and charitable organization formed to support the Fort Sumter National Monument (which includes Fort Moultrie), has volunteered to help coordinate and organize appropriate commemorative programs, lectures, and other events surrounding the sesquicentennial. The Trust is working with a variety of organizations, including the South Carolina Historical Society, The Citadel, Historic Charleston Foundation, Avery Institute, Gibbes Art Museum, Charleston Symphony, College of Charleston, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Massachusetts 54th. Support to date has been provided by individuals, the City of Charleston, the City of North Charleston, the Post and Courier Foundation, and the Charleston Civil War Round Table.

An historical advisory committee chaired by Bo Moore, Dean of Humanities at the Citadel, has been formed, and the Trust has already organized two major public seminars, the first, "A House Divided: Secession and its Legacy" on December 4-3, 2010 at the Citadel and the second on "Why They Fought" in April 2011.

The Trust is planning a concert and ceremony at White Point Gardens on the evening of April 11, 2011, the 150th anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter. A preliminary Web site is up at www.sccivilwar.org and www.fortsumtertrust.org, and the Trust is anxious to receive public input about the sesquicentennial commemoration.

The Trust's mission includes providing information to the general public about the causes, course, and legacies of the Civil War from the Union, Confederate, and African-American perspective; to present students and young people the opportunity to learn about the pivotal role of this defining event in our nation's history and its role in shaping the freedoms and advantages we take for granted.

The sesquicentennial is not a celebration but a commemoration. There is no joy to be found in a war that caused the deaths of over 620,000 American soldiers, sailors, and marines -- black and white, from the North and the South -- who lived, fought and died for that which they believed. However, there is much we can learn from them and from this extraordinary conflict, as the lessons of history are meant to be examined, understood, and applied.

Traumatic experiences and deeply ingrained memories from the Civil War were enduring and life altering for South Carolinians of the Civil War generation and for succeeding generations as well. To this very day, the aftereffects of the Civil War in combination with collective memories of that era reverberate throughout our society, shaping and reflecting contemporary attitudes and perspectives in diverse ways. The war is still with us. The sesquicentennial commemoration is a time to pause and reflect on the Civil War.

Robert N. Rosen is president of the Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Trust and author of "Confederate Charleston" and "A Short History of Charleston." Suggestions and donations should be made to Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Trust by emailing EHurley@fortsumter.org.