In which the fevernauts split by interests

Let me first say that last night we camped out in a tent in the rain. It was wet. Water seeped in through the bottom of the tent, nobody slept much, and this morning we jettisoned the tarp before we took off rather than attempt to demuddify it. So we started the three hour drive to Charleston in pretty foul moods, and the decision of what to do in the Capitol of the South was not an easy one. Then we came up with a brilliant idea: split up! Ricky and I dropped off Jake and Diana at the Aquarium, and intended to go see a plantation. However, the impending inclement weather and long distance between the plantations and where we'd left the other two led us to consider another option: Fort Sumter

(I'm no Diana, but I still managed to snap a few pictures on my phone's camera)

Ricky and I spent an hour wandering about the museum exhibits on the ferry terminal, all about Charleston's importance in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. There was a small part of the actual flag that flew over the Fort, and also a life-sized replica (26 by 30 feet, I think!). We saw a Confederate uniform, some cotton, a bugle (bugel?), and an awesome candelabra made from old bayonets. Then we got on the ferry, saw some dolphins, and docked at Fort Sumter.

The fort proudly flew 5 flags: The current American Flag, the flag of South Carolina, the 35-state Union flag, the stars-and-bars Confederate Flag, and the later Confederate Flag.

My favorite thing that I saw in the museum section was this hat. It was regulation, which meant that a lot of soldiers would be wearing it. That idea makes me happy.

A park ranger gave a half hour speech about the history of the island and fort, and like the complete nerd I am, I loved it. My favorite story is as follows:

On April 12, 1861, the Confederate Army began a bombardment of the walls of the fort which lasted for 34 hours. At the end, on April 14th, Major Robert Anderson surrendered, took his flag, accidentally killed a man during the 100-gun-salute, and left the fort. Four years later, the war was won and there was to be a ceremony on April 14th to reraise the same flag that had once been lowered in defeat. Major Anderson was invited out of retirement to attend and raise the flag. President Lincoln was invited as well. His secret service/bodyguards/whoever would not let him go. They felt it would be too dangerous for the President to travel to the South to raise a Union flag at a defeated Confederate fort near a town where everyone hated him.

"Besides, Mr. President," they told him. "You already have theatre tickets for that night."