Overview

This is an engraving from 1863 depicting the April 1861 bombardment of Fort Sumter. Image courtesy of the Fort Sumter National Monument, National Parks Service.

• SCIWAY-Civil War
  Find out about Civil War soldiers from South Carolina, battlefields such as Fort Sumter, and more.
• Civil War Timeline
  See a detailed timeline of events in the Civil War.
• The Price of Freedom
  Click on the Civil War to watch a movie, see artifacts, and meet famous people from the time period.

People

• Robert Smalls
  Robert Smalls was a slave from Charleston who escaped to freedom and became a ship captain for the Union army.
  • Robert Smalls: War Hero and Legislator
• Wade Hampton III
  Wade Hampton was a South Carolina governor and U.S. Senator that fought in the Civil War
• William Henry Gist
  Read the history of Rose Hill Plantation in Union County, built by “Secession Governor” William Henry Gist in 1832.
• Who Am I?
  Use the clues to guess the Civil War person.

Feature: Fort Sumter

• Fort Sumter Flag
  See the actual flag that was raised over the captured Fort Sumter.
• Historic Images of Fort Sumter
  Explore the pictures and drawings of Fort Sumter made during the Civil War.
• Webcam of Fort Sumter
  View the webcam that sits on the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse to see up-to-date images of the fort.

War & Battlefields

• South Carolina Civil War Battles
  This map of South Carolina shows the battles fought on South Carolina soil.
• The H.L. Hunley
  The H.L. Hunley was a submarine built by the Confederates to attach Navy ships in Charleston. She sank off the coast and was raised in 2000 for preservation.
  • Watch a video about the famous submarine.
• Sherman’s March
  General William T. Sherman marched across South Carolina and Georgia, destroying much within his path.
• The Union is Dissolved
  The ordinance of secession was passed on December 18, 1860 in Charleston.
• Emancipation Proclamation
  See the original copy of the Emancipation Proclamation which called for the ending of slavery in the Confederate states.
• Confederate Constitution of 1861
  Learn more about the constitution written by the Congress of the Confederate States.

Culture

• The Union Soldier
  Learn more about the typical Union soldier’s uniform and equipment.
• The Confederate Soldier
  Learn more about the typical Confederate soldier’s uniform and equipment.
• Women's Fashion
  See dress styles of women during the Civil War.
• Hearts at Home: Southern Women in the Civil War
  What were the women in the Confederacy doing while the men were away from home?

Pieces of History

The Charleston Mercury newspaper printed this broadside 15 minutes after the secession ordinance was passed. Image courtesy of the National Museum of American History.

• SC Confederate Relic Room
  Explore uniforms, photographs, swords, and other artifacts of the Civil War.
• Envelopes of the Civil War
  See improvised envelopes made of ledger paper and wallpaper as paper became scarce in South Carolina.

Explore with DISCUS*

* Requires access to the DISCUS databases. Learn more here.

• American Civil War
  Learn more about the events leading to the Civil War and the conflicts and battles during the war.
• Music of the Civil War
  Soldiers and civilians both composed and sang songs to boost morale, celebrate victories, and express sorrow.
• A Nation Divided
  Read about the causes of the Civil War and take a look at the included time line of events.