The “Star of the West,” with reinforcements for Fort Sumter, arrived off the harbor and attempted to enter; but was fired upon and driven back on 9th January, 1861. So little prepared was the State for hostilities, that there were only 27,000 pounds of cannon powder within her borders, and less than 20,000 pounds near the city, “not more than sufficient to have kept up a ire for three hours on the day when the ‘Star of the West’ approached within our bar.” (Jamison’s Report. March 25th, 1861.)

The Charleston militia, suddenly summoned to hold the forts and islands, continued their patriotic service, and were relied upon for the defense of the harbor. This able body of men constituted the Fourth Brigade of the Second Division S.C.M., with one Regiment of Rifles, one Regiment of Artillery, and the 16th and 17th Infantry Regiments of city troops, and the 18th and 19th Regiments beyond the city. Attached to the city regiments were two cavalry companies, the Charleston Light Dragoons, Capt. B. H. Rutledge, and the German Hussars, Capt. Theodore Cordes; and to the Regiment of Artillery (which continued in service during the war, under Col. J. A. Wagener,) were then attached the Rutledge Mounted Riflemen, and the Vigilant Rifles.