With the security of Washington, DC as primary concern, the U.S. Government took over the running of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad Company through an agent in Philadelphia.  Trains began running on a new and secure route to the capital filled with troops and supplies.  (By John Osborne) 

The sixty-two men of the Carlisle Fencibles were officially mustered in and began training under a drill instructor from the nearby Cavalry Barracks.  They selected as their officers Robert Miller Henderson as captain and James S. Colwell as first lieutenant. Henderson was a Dickinson College graduate and among his men were at least three other alumni, including his brother Richard and his 1858 classmate Isaac Brown Parker.  Lieutenant Colwell became the unit's first officer casualty when he was killed at Antietam on September 17, 1862. (By John Osborne)

Carlisle, Pennsylvania recruited four companies of volunteers within a week of the firing on Fort Sumter.  The first of these, the "Sumner Rifles" left for Harrisburg on April 20, 1861 on a ninety day enlistment.  The remainder, including the "Carlisle Fencibles," remained in town awaiting the call.  The 62 men of the Fencibles were officially mustered in, selected their officers, and began training under a drill instructor from the nearby Cavalry Barracks.  They were finally called into active service on June 6, 1861 on a three year enlistment. (By John Osborne)

The seventy-six men of the "Sumner Rifles," the first of four infantry companies recruited in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in April 1861 left the town for Camp Curtin near Harrisburg.  There, they were mustered in three days later as Company C of the Ninth Pennsylvania Reserve for three months service.  Uniformed and trained, they moved on to West Chester, Pennsylvania in early May.  The unit served in Delaware and around Washington before mustering out in Harrisburg on July 24, 1861 at the end of their service. (By John Osborne)

John Bratton, Democratic editor of the American Volunteer in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, who had days before denounced the war, published an enthusiastic editorial in support of the suppression of the rebellion.  His message ended "we can know no party but our country - no duty but obedience to its laws ... no allegience but to its laws ... no allegience but to its flag ... 'and may God protect the right'."  His son, William Bratton, had recently enlisted in the companies being recruited in the town. (By John Osborne)

A public meeting took place at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in the afternoon.  Opinion against the South was angry and unanimous and recruiting for war service continued.  John Bratton, Democratic editor of the American Volunteer in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, who had days before denounced the war, now proposed and had accepted a plan to establish a fund to aid the families of those going to war. (By John Osborne)

In an editorial, John Bratton, Democratic editor of the American Volunteer in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, denounced Republican policies and the president in particular saying "Abraham Lincoln, the poor imbecile who occupies and disgraces the Presidential chair, has thought proper to commence a civil war." This civil war will "drench the country in blood."  Local opinion forced Bratton to publish his support of the war days later. (By John Osborne)

Before Major Anderson evacuated Fort Sumter, he insisted on a 100-gun salute to the national flag as it was lowered.  Unfortunately, during this salute his command suffered its only casualties of the incident when an accidental explosion killed Private Daniel Hough, mortally wounded Private Edward Gallway, and seriously injured Private James Fielding.  Three others were also slightly hurt.  Private Galloway died at the Gibbes Hospital in Charleston. (By John Osborne)  

Major Anderson and his command had evacuated Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861 and sailed aboard the S.S. Baltic for New York the next morning.  The ship arrived in New York Harbor, flying the flag that had flown over Sumter, to a great popular reception.  For New York, Anderson telegraphed his report to Washington, DC  stating that he had left the fort only after thirty-four hours of bombardment "with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away company and private property, and saluting my flag with fifty guns." (By John Osborne)