Holly and his merry men, they dancen and they sing; Ivy and her maidens, they weepen and they wring.

The opening act of the battle for Fort Sumter was the firing of a single 10-inch mortar round from Fort Johnson at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, by Lt. Henry S. Farley, who acted upon the command of Capt. George S. James, which round exploded over Fort Sumter as a signal to open the general bombardment from 43 guns and mortars at Fort Moultrie, Fort Johnson, the floating battery, and Cummings Point.

To Thee therefore, O bleſſed Jeſus, my tender Redeemer, my merciful Lord, I flee for Succour; …

Furthermore there was a garden, shining with different herbs, / in whose midst there was a limpid spring with fresh / water. With its water it nourished here garlic with spignels, / Cabbage, cress and turnips through an irrigating ditch.