Final answer:
The accurate description of the opening shots of the Civil War in 1861 involves the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, and the ensuing equal combat between the Union and Confederate forces, with no decisive victories gained. This marked the beginning of a war that was longer and more brutal than many had anticipated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accurate description of the opening shots of the civil war revolve around the events at Fort Sumter in 1861, as depicted in a lithograph by Currier and Ives. This attack by the Confederacy stoked pro-war sentiment on both North and South sides. As the war opened, both sides, Union and Confederate, believed they were dealing with a conflict that could possibly be resolved quickly and decisively. It was expected by many that a decisive confrontation in 1861 would end the conflict. However, the initial battles of the war, such as Bull Run, demonstrated that a quick resolution was not to be found.
During 1861 and early 1862, the Confederate and Union military forces battled on relatively equal terms, without either side gaining a significant upper hand. This was due to several factors, including their shared military education and knowledge of each other's strategies. The primary objective for both sides was the capture of the enemy's capital city - Richmond for the Union, and Washington, DC for the Confederacy.
However, as the war progressed, the romanticized idea of war and expectations of a quick victory soon faded as the reality of battle set in. The war was longer and more brutal than most had anticipated, and it deeply affected life on both sides of the conflict.
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