It could have been a warning shot. You know the type. Pick a spot that may not have been on the radar of those anti Union people as a target because it was, after all, non military.

Maybe just a fluke accident but probably not. A loud version of sabre rattling? It may have been been for a number of reasons but considering the date, could it possibly have been a dare? The Arsenal was already in the hands of the South Carolina Militia. The winds of war were already at Cat5 hurricane strength. Anderson may have been goading the other side to go ahead, start the shooting. Some obscure, not expected target may bring out the anger and the fear of citizens who, in the beginning, expected only military connected or government building damage. It was after all, the beginnng. They hadn't seen and probably at that point many did not believe there was a real threat on the nonmilitary or governmental targets the Union would go to.

Pam