A High-spirited Celebration
The people of Charleston were in a festive mood. Two hundred pleasure boats welcomed her. Confederate and U.S. flags were flying. The US flag at Fort Sumter was at half-mast, and she was greeted by a 21-gun salute by men in Civil War uniform. Indeed, the people of Charleston had a good reason to celebrate. Reality would set in eventually, and restoration work would have to begin soon.
