The fact that his father had been a graduate of West Point and for years an officer, was of the greatest service to him.

In the little army of the United States before the Civil War, the officers constituted a family.

Everybody knew who everybody else was, and those of the same age had been at West Point together.

General Beauregard and Colonel Kenton had met often, and the Southern commander became very partial to the Colonel's son.
Harry was present when Beauregard, some of his more important officers and the civil authorities of Charleston, conferred after Lincoln's warning message came.
"If Lincoln's fleet tries to force the harbor," said Rhett, "we must fire upon it.

Sumter should be ours, and if Lincoln succeeds in revictualling the fort it will be a great blow to our prestige.
It will hurt the whole South.