"The Demon of Unrest": Erik Larson on the first shots of the Civil War

Beginning on April 12, 1861, over the course of two days, more than 3,300 shells and cannon balls rained across Charleston Harbor towards Fort Sumter, the first shots fired in the Civil War. Correspondent Anthony Mason visits the fort with bestselling author Erik Larson, whose latest book, "The Demon of Unrest," explores the events leading up to the bombardment and what Larson calls "the single most consequential day in American history."
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[@barbaradougherty334]

This was amazing and gave me chills. We just came home from vacation and we were at Fort Sumter! Worth every penny for the ferry ride and tour if you're a history person!!

[@marytheresejacksonlutz2533]

We loved Fort Sumter and Charleston. I learned so much

[@eleanor5117]

Gave me chills, too. My old hometown! Walked around that battery area many a time as a child and adult. Moved away in my 40’s. Love where I live now, the North Georgia Mountains - but sights from Charleston still tug at this old Charlestonian’s heart!

[@Awakeningspirit20]

I have seen Fort Moultrie many times but never Sumter somehow, though you can easily spot it from Charleston! I have a lot of family in Charleston and we used to go every Christmas, though I guess they just weren't fans of the ferry ride or something. I'll get out there at some point.

[@ericolsen9819]

He is an outstanding historical fiction author. The Devil in the White City is an amazing read with a ton of fascinating history. One of my favorite books.

[@SK-lt1so]

It's amazing how far from the shore the fort is when you see it in person.

[@user-nz8ml2jr1w]

Erik Larson is one of the best! I enjoyed “The Devil in the White City”, “Dead Wake” and “Isaac’s Storm”. Now I’m looking forward to “The Demon of Unrest”.

[@shamammap8054]

Can’t wait to read Mr Larson’s new book.

[@rl3293]

His books are fantastic!

[@marianneegland5576]

I agree!!!!

[@peternighswander9629]

Just received his book today. So far I think it’s one of his best. I love Erik

[@djdollase]

Just finished watching a great bio series on Abraham Lincoln on History channel. It spoke of this fort and it’s great significance.

[@LeeF945]

I learned to ride horses from general beauregards great great granddaughter r, who was my mothers best friend. She died in April 2023

[@johnphillips1858]

"And our flag was still there"

[@GeraldYniguez]

Feeling all warm and fuzzy Yankee's

[@FrankBurnsie]

The Union major in charge of the fort looks to be about 20 years older than what I’d expect a major to be, and the Confidante general looks to be about 20 years younger than the average general. What a topsy turvy world the American Revolution was.

[@keithputnam8911]

#school 😂

[@jude999]

Anderson was at Ft. Moultrie when SC seceded. The move of his soldiers to an empty Fort Sumter was perceived as an act of aggression against the South.

[@myradioon]

The Confederates fired on and turned back a supply ship first that was trying to resupply the Fort.

[@zachtaylor598]

was actually those crazed college kids from The Citadel!

[@Temporal_Assassin]

It is interesting that they fly the flag of the time, rather than today's flag of 50 stars. Not to many parks you can get away with that in.

[@jackpavlik563]

A historic site, seems right to fly the flag of the period.

[@ck1578]

Fort McHenry flies the flag at the time it was attacked - that particular flag became pretty important!

[@Temporal_Assassin]

No, argument here, just interesting.

[@zpy-nq7wv]

DEO VINDICE.

[@ns281]

KZbin USUALLY CENSORS MY COMMENTS KZbin USUALLY CENSORS MY COMMENTS

[@BlastedKat]

If you want a real shock push all politics aside and dig deep into what the civil war was really about.

[@matstarcher7630]

Would have been fired from or WAS fired from..

[@BeefCake1012]

Lost Causers: “The Civil War was about State’s Rights!” People with critical thinking skills: “State’s Rights to do WHAT?” Lost Causers: “ WELL… YOU SEE.. THEY.. 😡🤬”

[@SimCityEA1989]

That is the worst cannon sound effects I've ever heard of... At least give us the immersion of it-

[@DVu-ki7nn]

No Shogun ??? Neh😎.

[@BBean1]

CONFEDERACY IS 0-1 & WILL BE 0-2.

[@jakeruffin9433]

Why do you people hate the thought of the south wanting to be its own nation? I dont understand? Most of you hate the south but want us to not leave ?

[@BBean1]

@@jakeruffin9433 If you want your own country, LEAVE THE USA AND START IT SOMEWHERE ELSE!

[@jakeruffin9433]

@BBean1 so with that logic, we should still be under brittish control . You're a smart one.

[@BBean1]

@@jakeruffin9433 JUST LEAVE! BYE!

[@your_royal_highness]

600-750k would die during the war, not killed. Disease took the most lives

[@BBean1]

@your_royal_highness: WITHOUT WAR CONDITIONS, THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAVE CAUGHT THOSE DISEASES... LOL

[@1JamesMayToGoPlease]

As tragic and brutal as that war was, it *had to happen!*

[@treborretsnom6186]

🇺🇲🫡

[@dondon6655]

America today seems to be repeating history. God knows if we will save the country.

[@thisguy73]

As Donald Trumpf said, Gettysburg was "beautiful"

[@MediocreMedic123]

Northern aggression

[@greglamm5986]

Lost cause myth

[@Uliseslima-kr9op]

The losers of the civil war

[@aw1078]

Those were the MAGA days.

[@ECMann-dr1sb]

5:21 Is clearly an AI generated imagine. Correct me if I’m wrong but I’m certain. Is Sunday morning really getting this lazy?

[@eleanor5117]

If you’re talking about the picture of the battlefield dead, search for: “A Harvest of Death is the title of a photograph taken by Timothy H. O'Sullivan, sometime between July 4 and 7, 1863. It shows the bodies of soldiers killed at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, stretched out over part of the battlefield.” A real photograph taken during the civil war by Timothy H. O’Sullivan, not AI generated.

[@eleanor5117]

I’m old. I’ve seen this picture in historical books about the civil war long before the internet, long before AI. It might look surreal because of the stiffness of the bodies. They were there for a while before the pictures were taken. Rigor had set in.

[@myradioon]

Dude 51,000 men died at the Battle Of Gettysburg where that picture was taken. More deaths in one battle than in some entire wars

[@ns281]

KZbin USUALLY CENSORS MY COMMENTS KZbin USUALLY CENSORS MY COMMENTS

[@ns281]

KZbin USUALLY CENSORS MY COMMENTS KZbin USUALLY CENSORS MY COMMENTS