Sneden's war odyssey started in the patriotic summer of 1861, just after the fall of Fort Sumter.

FORBES: War Story

When Confederate batteries fired on Fort Sumter and forced its surrender, he called on the states for 75, 000 volunteers.

WHITEHOUSE: Abraham Lincoln

The scope of slavery at its crest in the decade before Fort Sumter was as vast as it was appalling.

WSJ: Book Review: The Fall of the House of Dixie

But a shot fired upon Fort Sumter in 1861 changed all that.

FORBES: Guess What Turned 100 This Weekend?

Those of you captivated by the war between the states during this 150th anniversary year can also take advantage of this week to visit historic battlegrounds such as Manassas, Chickamauga, Shiloh, Fort Sumter, and Antietam.

FORBES: Visit National Parks for Free During National Park Week