The opening of the American Civil War began on Friday, April 12, 1861, when Confederate batteries opened fire on Fort Sumter, located in the Charleston Harbor of South Carolina.  The firing continued for 34 straight hours and resulted in the surrender of the Union troops and the fort.

News of the attack on Fort Sumter launched the Nation into a war that would last 4 years, and cost over 600,000 dead and more than 500,000 wounded.   In the weeks that followed the attack, President Abraham Lincoln called on state governors to recruit troops in the defense of Washington.  Over 100 young men from Eagle Wisconsin served the Union Army in defense of this Nation.

The Eagle Historical Society has several letters home from Eagle soldiers in the Civil War, which we will begin sharing with you over the course of the next several months.  Two Board Members, Mike Rice and Mark Dexter are writing a book titled

Using 14 letters home by Eagle soldiers Pvt Sidney P. Kline and Pvt George M Logan, who enlisted in the 24th Wisconsin Infantry, we will follow the men and their infantry unit through the war.  Be sure to check in regularly for updates.