How Civil War unofficially began
Citadel Cadet Haynsworth fired first shot
three months before Fort Sumter conflict

Were the first shots of the Civil War fired April 12, 1861 at Fort Sumter?

That may be when the war officially began, but there’s a disagreement about when the first shots were fired. That’s because of Citadel Cadet George Edward Haynsworth.

On Jan. 9, 1861, at sunrise, the unarmed steamer Star of the West was dispatched by then President James Buchanan to deliver supplies to Fort Sumter. The defense shelter had been cut off from resupply when South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union on Dec. 20, 1860.

With 200 troops below deck, the Star entered the mouth of Charleston Harbor, but its arrival was no surprise. Southern sympathizers in Washington, D.C. had alerted South Carolina forces of the vessel’s impending arrival. Troops under the command of Major P.F. Stephens fired warning shots across the bow of the ship with Cadet Haynsworth delivering the initial round. Haynsworth and the other cadets were among some 300 troops stationed at the Morris Island battery.  Although most were from local rifle regiments, 40 were cadets from The Citadel.

By the time the Star of the West entered Charleston Harbor, Citadel cadets had rushed back from their Christmas break and were stationed on Morris Island and across the harbor at Fort Moultrie. At daybreak, they fired cannons at the ship for more than 10 minutes.

Various reports at the time indicated seven to 17 shots were fired from Morris Island and Fort Moultrie and that three to five shots hit the ship. The first shot came from Cadet Haynsworth at Morris Island. Damage was minimal, but the cannon shots prompted the Star of the West’s captain to abandon the Fort Sumter resupply effort.

Capt. John McGowan, commander of the Star, was forced to turn back when the ship was struck by the 24-pounders. Because of the firing and the outgoing tide, more than an hour was required to get the side paddle wheeler to open water.

Haysworth’s deed inspired an award. The Star of the West Medal is given annually to the “best drilled cadet” at The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina. Each medal has a small piece of wood salvaged from the original Star of the West ship.

Among the Civil War sesquicentennial events in South Carolina, the Star of the West episode ranks just below the signing of the Ordinance of Secession, the opening battle at Fort Sumter and the eventual surrender of Fort Sumter back to the Union (April 14, 1865).