Intense.

This is coolbert:

Still another extract, a headline from the New York Times in those days just prior to overt combat action - - The American Civil War, The War Between the States.

"THE WAR CLOUD: Preparations for Attacking Fort Sumpter; MILITARY AND NAVAL MOVEMENTS: CONTINUED ACTIVITY AT THE NAVY-YARD AND MILIARY POSTS (4/9/1861)"

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 4/9/1861

"CHARLESTON, Monday, April 8. Everything is now prepared for action. All vessels have been ordered to keep out of the range of fire between Fort Sumpter and Sullivan's Island. The famous Floating Battery is expected to sail at 7 o'clock P.M., for a point somewhere near Fort Sumpter. A house has just been blown up near the five-gun battery. Business is entirely suspended, and the most intense excitement prevails"

AS DESCRIBED "INTENSE EXCITEMENT" AND ALL HAS BEEN MADE READY!

OH, how glorious it must have seemed at the time.

coolbert.