For some, Civil War anniversary recalls the present

By JOHN McCALLUM

Editor

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, so for the next four years we can expect a number sesquicentennial observations of a variety of events from our nation's bloodiest conflict.

Some of those have flown under the radar, such as the secession of Southern states beginning in January 1861 and their subsequent seizing of federal forts in February. The “biggie” though is just around the bend, the April 12 attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C., considered the official start of the war.

Over the next four years there will be numerous com...