"The Civil War - Episode One: The Cause (1861)" (Fort Sumter coverage at 50:38)

(Sunday, April 14, 1861) — Newspaper coverage of the 34-hour Battle of Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, which opened The American Civil War.

"The Civil War - Episode One: The Cause (1861)" (Fort Sumter surrender at 49:30)

(Saturday, April 13, 1861, 2:00 p.m. ET) — After 34 hours of bombardment, Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, was forced to surrender to the Confederates, ending the Battle of Fort Sumter that opened The American Civil War.