As part of an initiative to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, The Washington Post is tweeting the events leading up to the secession of South Carolina, in the words of the people who lived it – from journals, letters, official records and newspaper of the day.

The cast of characters tweeted include Major Robert Anderson @MjrAndersonwp, President James Buchanan @PresBuchananwp, and South Carolina Governor Francis Pickens @GovPickenswp. The feed @1860sPresswp will send updates from the Washington Evening Star. The list is curated by @civilwarwp.

For complete updates, follow the Washington Post Twitter list: “Tweeting the Civil War”

More information on the initiative can be found at: Tweeting the War: Showdown in Charleston

The secession will be tweeted through January 9, 2011.