The only resolution of these contradictory positions was for the confederates to fire the first shot; they did just that.
ðɪ ˈoʊnli ɹˌɛzəlˈuːʃən ʌv ðiːz kˌɑːntɹədˈɪktɚɹi pəzˈɪʃənz wʌz fɚðə kənfˈɛdɚɹəts tə fˈaɪɚ ðə fˈɜːst ʃˈɑːt; ðeɪ dˈɪd dʒˈʌst ðˈæt.