Fort Moultrie Centennial Author Series and Book Signing Continues with

For Brotherhood and Duty: The Civil War History of the West Point Class of 1862

by Brian McEnany

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, SC – Fort Moultrie’s Centennial Author Series will continue with Author Brian McEnany speaking about his book For Brotherhood and Duty: The Civil War History of the West Point Class of 1862 at Fort Moultrie on Saturday, September 24 at 1 p.m. Following his talk, the author will be available for signing copies of his book which will be available for purchase.

In For Brotherhood and Duty, Brian R. McEnany follows West Point cadets from their initiation, through coursework, and onto the battlefield, focusing on twelve Union and four Confederate soldiers. Drawing heavily on primary sources, McEnany presents a chronicle of the young classmates, who became allies and enemies during the largest conflict ever undertaken on American soil. Three of the cadets from South Carolina, Henry S. Farley of Laurensville; James Hamilton of Charleston; and  John R  Blocker of Edgefield, resigned their commissions and participated in the opening engagement of the American Civil War when Confederate forces fired onto Fort Sumter, occupied by United States troops.

Brian R. McEnany graduated from the United States Military Academy with the class of 1962 and served in artillery assignments in Germany, Korea, and the United States and in combat in Vietnam. A retired lieutenant colonel and operations research analyst, he is the author of several historical articles about West Point during the Civil War. He has personal connections to Fort Sumter through his Great-Great-Grandfather Thomas McEananey and his Great-Grandfather James McEnaney.  Corporal Thomas McEnaney was a member of the Engineer Company at West Point, and assigned to Fort Sumter by Special Order 194, November 25, 1856, “to take charge of all ordnance and other property there.”  He and his family returned to West Point in late 1858.  James McEnany was listed as born at Fort Sumter on October 29, 1858. 

Fort Moultrie is located at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. The site is administered by the National Park Service as a unit of Fort Sumter National Monument. Fort Moultrie represents the history of seacoast defense in the United States, from the American Revolution to the end of World War II. The site is open daily from 9:00-5:00 and includes a visitor center with museum exhibits and an orientation film. An entrance fee of $3 for adults and $1 for senior citizens is charged for the park.

For more information on park news, events and programs you can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FtSumterNPS, www.facebook.com/FtMoultrieNPS, www.facebook.com/LibertySquareNPS and www.facebook.com/PinckneyNPS. Visit the park websites at www.nps.gov/fosu and www.nps.goc/chpi. You can also share your park experience with others by posting on social media with the hashtag #FindYourPark.

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