George E. Haynsworth

Class of 1861

The cadet that pulled the lanyard that fired the first shot on the federal supply ship, Star of The West on 9 Jan 1861. Seventeen shots were fired with three hitting the ship preventing it from reaching Fort Sumter. These shots are considered by most to be the first shots of the War Between The States. He later served as a field officer in the CSA and was a member of the battle line of cadets that skirmished with a Union patrol under command of General Sheridan near Williamston, S.C. 1 May 1865. History shows that to be the final volley between confederate and federal forces East of the Mississippi River in the War Between The States which allowed Haynesworth to claim he fired the first and the last shots of The War. Photo of The Star of the West click here