two o'clock
It is of no importance who shall strike the first blow or fire the first gun . '' With quick decision he seized his pen and wrote the order for the reduction of Fort Sumter . Wild rumors of bombardment held Charleston in a spell . Jennie Barton sat alone on the roof of her aunt 's house at two o'clock on the morning of April 13 . The others had gone to bed , certain that the rumors were false . She had somehow felt the certainty of the crash . Seated beside the brick coping of the roof she leaned the strong little chin in her hands , waited and watched .