This Day in History: , The Civil War Begins.br April 12, 1861.br Union-held Fort Sumter in Charleston Bay, SC, br is attacked by Confederate shore batteries br under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard.br After being battered br for 34 straight hours, br U.S. Major Robert Anderson br surrendered the fort.br U.S. President Abraham Lincoln br called for 75,000 volunteer br soldiers two days later.br He had been in office br for barely more than a month.br South Carolina, a slave state, br had issued an "Ordinance of Secession" br earlier in December, dissolving its ties with the Union.