I guess BroJoeK is sorta right. It was like Pearl Harbor, but with the roles reversed. In Pearl Harbor, the Japanese minsters were assuring the Roosevelt Administration that they wanted peace, all the while their government was preparing to attack the Fort.
If the President did really intend to do this, -- against the advice or without the sanction of General SCOTT, then his first step has been a gross and unpardonable blunder, one which, if the same policy were to be persisted in, would utterly destroy the public confidence in his ability to conduct a campaign. Our own belief is, that the attempt at reinforcement was a feint, -- that its object was to put upon the rebels the full and clear responsibility of commencing the war, and that no more obstinate defence was contemplated than would suffice to vindicate the honor of the Government.
New York Times, April 17, 1861.
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"The plan succeeded... They attacked Sumter - it fell, and thus, did more service than it otherwise could."
Abraham Lincoln letter to Orville Browning
"You and I both anticipated that the cause of the country would be advanced by making the attempt to provision Fort Sumpter, even if it should fail; and it is no small consolation now to feel that our anticipation is justified by the result. "
Abraham Lincoln letter to Gustavus Fox
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"In ten days i'll have us at war with these sons of bitches and I'll make it look like their faul!"