Bill would make Fort Sumter, Moultrie into a higher-profile national park

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, the first black U.S. senator from the Deep South since Reconstruction, is proposing that the site where the Civil War began be raised in status to that of a national park. The Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill creating the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Park as the nation’s 60th national park and second in South Carolina. • Article

Your chance to adopt a cannon in Charleston

A nonprofit group is urging people to lend a hand to help conserve pieces of history: the guns at the South Carolina forts where the Civil War began. Jim Thompson of the Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Trust said that the group has started an Adopt-A-Cannon drive to help the National Park Service conserve the guns at Sumter, which is in Charleston Harbor, and at Moultrie, on nearby Sullivans Island. • 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.