[DiogenesLamp]

He would have order Beauregard to reduce the fort if Lincoln sent an unarmed merchant ship to Charleston with nothing but food.

I have already pointed out to you what the official telegraph said. They had absolutely no intention of firing on the fort if Anderson would state the time of evacuation. Beauregard was given all the discretion necessary to avoid any confrontation.

The arrival of the Ships made this impossible, because now Beauregard had been put in the position of having to fight a two front engagement, because the Ships would attack him from the coast, and the fort would attack him from the harbor.

Again, Ships caused the war. Had there been no ships, there would have been no war.

Read the telegram. See how it differs from how you are trying to characterize it. Do you need a link?

[Bull Snipe]

Again, if Lincoln sent an unarmed, unescorted supply ship to provision Sumter, Davis would have ordered Beauregard to reduce the fort before the resupply effort could be accomplished. He could not allow the status quo to continue.

[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "I have already pointed out to you what the official telegraph said.
They had absolutely no intention of firing on the fort if Anderson would state the time of evacuation...

Again, Ships caused the war.
Had there been no ships, there would have been no war."

Right, Lincoln could have avoided war, just as Buchanan did, by surrendering to every Confederate demand.

What could possibly go wrong?