(Sydney Brant/WCIV)By Neville Miller
nmiller@abcnews4.com
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Commemorating the shot that started the American Civil War.
"It is one of those iconic events that forever changed the history of this country," said Doug Bostick, chairman of the First Shot Commemoration at Fort Johnson on James Island.
Organizers are bringing in the big guns and making the final preparations for the First Shot Commemoration.
As part of the commemoration, officials will fire an authentic 1840s mortar, similar to the one used to fire the first shot in the Civil War.
"This mortar fires a ten-inch shell, the type of ordinance that was put in the mortar and fired at Ft. Sumter," explained cannon specialist, Steve Riggs.
Plus, descendants from troops stationed at Ft. Johnson when that first shot was fired will attend the ceremony.
"To close the ceremony, the direct descendants of the man who fired the first gun in 1861 will fire the gun to close the ceremony," Bostick said.
The First Shot Commemoration is sold out, however access to the grounds at Ft. Johnson will be free and open to the public from 9am to 5pm.
