At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate guns opened fire. Over two days, more than 3,300 shells and balls would rain across the harbor. But they never succeeded in actually breaching the walls.

The city sat on high bluffs overlooking the river. From the bluffs, Confederate guns could rain fire on any Union boat. North of the city lay a tangle of thick woods and swamps. Marching men ...

At 1 p. m. 140 Confederate guns burst into a terrific preliminary bombardment. At 2:45 p. m. General Pickett led his men in perfect parade formation out to the most famed charge in U. S.