The other aspirant for the honor of firing the first gun was Captain George S. James, afterwards the Colonel of James’ Battalion, or “Third Battalion,” as it was known in Kershaw’s Brigade.  It has been said that this honor was granted him, at his special request, by Captain Stephen D. Lee, on General Beauregard’s staff (afterwards a Lieutenant General of the Confederate Army).  Captain James’ claim appears to be more valid than that of General Ruffin from the fact that it is positively known that James’ company was on duty at Fort Johnston, on James’ Island, while the Palmetto Guards, of which General Ruffin was a member, was at the railroad battery on Morris Island.  However, this should not be taken as conclusive, as at that time discipline was, to a certain extent, not strictly enforced, and many independent volunteers belonged to the army over whom there was very little, if any control.  So General Ruffin may have been at Fort Johnston while his company was at Cummings Point.  However, little interest is attached to this incident after the lapse of so many years.

Perhaps never in the history of a State was there such a frenzy of excitement—­not even in the days of Indian insurrections or the raids of the bloody Tarleton—­as when the news flashed over the country that Sumter was being bombarded, and a call was made for all the volunteers to assemble in Charleston.  There were not the facilities in those days as now for the spreading of news, there being but few telegraph lines in the State.  Notwithstanding this, every method possible was put into practice for gathering in the troops.  There were no assemblages of troops outside of Charleston.  Men were following their daily vocations.  Extra trains were put in motion; couriers dashed with rapid speed across the country.  Private means, as well as public, were resorted to to arouse the men and bring them to the front.  Officers warned the private, and he in turn rode with all the speed his horse, loosed from the plow, could command, to arouse his comrades.  It was on Saturday when word was first sent out, but it was late the next day (Sunday) before men in the remote rural districts received the stirring notice.  Men left their plows standing in the field, not to return under four years, and many of them never.  Carpenters came down from the unfinished roof, or left their bench with work half finished.  The student who had left his school on the Friday before never recited his Monday’s lesson.  The country doctor left his patients to the care of the good housewife.  Many people had gone to church and in places the bells were still tolling, calling the worshippers together to listen to the good and faithful teachings of the Bible, but the sermon was never delivered or listened to.  Hasty preparations were made everywhere.  The loyal wives soon had the husband’s clothes in the homemade knapsack; the mother buckled on the girdle of her son, while the gray haired father was burning with impatience,