Ambrose Burnside issue General Order 38 in which he stated "anyone found guilty of committing acts for the benefit of the enemies of our country will be subject to execution."
Beginning at 4:30 am on the 12th and continuing until the morning of the 13th, Confederate batteries along the shore of Charleston Harbor fire on Fort Sumter under the command of Major Robert Anderson. Anderson arranges a surrender with Texas Senator Louis Wigfall on the morning of the 13th.