Monday, April 11, 2011

150 years ago today...remembering the start of the American Civil War

150 years ago today, Confederate soldiers fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, marking the start of a pivotal part of American history. Whatever the reasons the Civil War was fought on a national scale - the abolition of slavery, states' rights - or a personal scale - pride, loyalty, a way of life, money - those four years changed the face and future of the country. Between 600,000-700,000 soldiers were killed, affecting not only families of the time but those of us here today!

Here is a link to the Fort Sumter National Monument website for the anniversary:

http://www.nps.gov/fosu/parknews/civil-war-sesquicentennial.htm

Today I remember my Civil War veteran ancestor, Charles Haase, a German immigrant who left his wife and baby daughter to fight with the New Jersey Infantry 33rd regiment, company H - he mustered in at Trenton, New Jersey on 22 September 1864 and was discharged at Bladensburg, Maryland on June 1, 1865. I also remember all the other soldiers - those who made it home as well as those who did not, all their families, and all their descendants who keep their memories alive as family historians!

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