How many Rebel troops were killed or wounded by the appearance of the resupply fleet? Yet you claim Lincoln started the war by doing that.
Ultimately many hundred thousand.
Issuing orders to use force against hundreds of troops surrounding Fort Sumter is still culpable even if no one gets hurt. Firing a gun at someone and missing is still considered an act of violence, even if no one gets hit.
The point is intent to harm, and lucky accidents notwithstanding, if you strike at someone with intent, it makes no difference if you connect on them or not, you still initiated the violence.
As I said up thread. Lincoln swung and missed. They swung after Lincoln and connected.
If Lincoln didn't want a fight, he should have left them alone. Lincoln did indeed want the fight, and he did exactly what he knew would provoke one.