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 last war to use only muzzle-loaded guns. 1859 - The first full rim-fire cartridge. 1860 - Spencer repeating carbine patented. Introduced at the start of the Civil War, Spencer repeating guns ...

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 ...