Best, worst, most popular postage stamps

Two U.S. stamps commemorating the first year of the Civil War were chosen the "favorite stamp" of 2011 by readers of Linn's Stamp News, a weekly newspaper. Because the stamps are on the same small sheet, they count as a single stamp in the poll.• Article

German re-enacts on first U.S. visit

Alexander Querengasser packed his gear Tuesday afternoon on a grass field overlooking Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter.

A sailboat sauntered past as the young German from Saxony spoke about his first visit to the United States.

The 24-year-old studying history in Leipzig knows his stuff. Irish and German emigrants served in large numbers in both armies, he said. He's also interested in the Confederate submarine Hunley.

Querengasser has done Civil War and Napoleonic living histories in Europe. Querengasser used jean cloth to make his Civil War frock coat.

At Fort Moultrie, he and a few other Europeans served with the Washington Light Infantry of South Carolina. Querengasser was a garrison guard and a private, "the lowest of the lows."

"I always had an interest in military history."

One day he hopes to work in a Dresden museum or serve as a curator. For a few more days he will enjoy the Lowcountry.

"Charleston is a real nice place," said Querengasser.

Cannon fire at Patriots Point

Ten artillery pieces, including two originals, were fired at Fort Sumter today on the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. My daughter did a nice job of catching the flames and the Rebel cheers.

We could hear the occasional thump of the guns even after we left Patriots Point near Charleston.

Here she is: Gun that fires first Tuesday

We hit the mother lode on our first stop in Charleston today.

Members of the Bachman's Battery unloaded the 10" mortar that will fire the first shot at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor during Tuesday morning's re-enactment cannonade. (click photo to enlarge)

This is a real piece that was cast well before the beginning of the Civil War on April 12, 1861.

At 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, at Fort Johnson on James Island, Steve Riggs and the other 10 or so members of the crew will fire the bombardment signal shot.

Re-enactors around the harbor will follow suit.

"We'll be dressed to beat the band," said Mike Keller of Greenville, S.C.

The sea coast mortars, during the conflict, were set behind earthworks and below a parapet.

In action, the 100-pound shell would have been lobbed 2,100 yards or so toward the Union fort's interior. Gunners would have used string and trigonometry to figure the distance and trajectory.

"This is one of the defining moments of American history," said Riggs, of Charleston.

The mortar is on loan from Paulson Brothers Ordnance Corp., which makes guns for re-enactments.

Descendants of the officer who fired the first round on Sumter will be on hand Tuesday for the event, which includes, the Pledge of Allegiance and a memorial to Confederate and Union troops who died in the war.

"It's exciting," said Doug Bostick, of James Island, head of the events at Fort Johnson. "We've been working on this two years."

The mortar weighs nearly 1,900 pounds. Crews poured about 10 pounds of powder. Two men lifted a ball with a pole and another wiped the barrel clean.

Maj. Robert Anderson, who commanded the Union garrison, before the war wrote an artillery manual, Riggs said.

"He gave us the instructions on how to use it," Riggs quipped.

When the solemn moment comes Tuesday, a nearby tube will fire a round that will produce a starburst shell effect over Sumter. Blue and gray light beams will soar above the fort.