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There was nothing "clever" about it, since what Lincoln told SC governor Pickens directly is exactly what was in Lincoln's orders to his ship captains -- no first use of force in resupplying Fort Sumter.

Are you forgetting that the Union government tried to sneak in troops and munitions with the Star of the West?

Firstly, the ship's orders (obviously made their way into the hands of the confederates) said that they would use force.

Secondly, the government had already tried to sneak more forces into the fort, and had been caught been deceptive.

Thirdly, when they launched their invasion of Fort Pickens, they had said they weren't going to do that, and yet they did. When they were caught (as woodpusher pointed out in the messages he posted above) they said, to paraphrase Harry Reid, "Well it worked, didn't it?"

Trusting the government is foolish. Safer bet is that they are lying.

Still true today.

DiogenesLamp: "Are you forgetting that the Union government tried to sneak in troops and munitions with the Star of the West?"

Unarmed civilian transport SS Star of the West
January 9, 1861, off Morris Island, SC:

Star of the West was an unarmed civilian transport, sent by Doughfaced Democrat Pres. Buchanan to reinforce Ft. Sumter.
And this is an issue in your mind because of what?

DiogenesLamp: "Firstly, the ship's orders (obviously made their way into the hands of the confederates) said that they would use force."

First of all, there's no need to invent Confederates spying on Union orders -- for which there is no evidence -- when Lincoln himself directly advised SC Gov. Pickens of his plans, and Pickens had no need to see actual orders to Fox or Mercer to know that he, Pickens, intended to force Fort Sumter's surrender, period.

Second, Lincoln's orders were, in effect, "no first use of force", so the choice to start Civil War was up to Jefferson Davis.
And Davis already made his choices long before any of Lincoln's "war fleet" left New York.

DiogenesLamp: "Secondly, the government had already tried to sneak more forces into the fort, and had been caught been deceptive."

Just as the US today sends supplies and reinforcements as needed into Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, regardless of whatever the Cu-Coms may or may not feel about it.
It's irrelevant.

DiogenesLamp: "Thirdly, when they launched their invasion of Fort Pickens, they had said they weren't going to do that, and yet they did.
When they were caught (as woodpusher pointed out in the messages he posted above) they said, to paraphrase Harry Reid, "Well it worked, didn't it?""

All of that is 100% irrelevant, since Jefferson Davis had already ordered CSA Gen. Bragg to capture Fort Pickens on April 3, long before any Union "invasion" even started, and for reasons which had nothing whatever to do with your nonsense explanations.

And you perfectly well know all of this, but utterly refuse to admit the truth of it.

So, yet again, here are Jefferson Davis' own words:

"There would be to us an advantage in so placing them

that an attack by them

would be a necessity, but when we are ready to relieve our territory and jurisdiction of the presence of a foreign garrison

that advantage is overbalanced by other considerations.

"The case of Pensacola, [Ft. Pickens], then is reduced [to] the more palpable elements of a military problem and your measures may without disturbing views be directed to the capture of Fort Pickens and the defence of the harbor.
You will soon have I hope a force sufficient to occupy all the points necessary for that end.
As many additional troops as may be required can be promptly furnished."
[Jefferson Davis to Braxton Bragg, 3 Apr 1861]""

In point of fact, Davis had made his choice to start Civil War as early as January 20, 1861, when he wrote to his friend, Copperhead Democrat former Pres. Pierce:

"When Lincoln comes in he will have but to continue in the path of his predecessor to inaugurate a civil war"

The following words are not my own, but they do well express my opinions about the clear facts of this matter:

"I think if we look at the total situation, the viewpoint that Davis ordered the firing on Fort Sumter to bring the upper south and the border states into the confederacy fits the entire situation, whereas the viewpoint that Davis was merely passively reacting to bold, brilliant strategic moves made by Lincoln until he finally had to attack because there was no alternative is a misrepresentation of Davis and does him a great disservice."

To my knowledge, Davis never regretted starting the Civil War and never blamed anybody else for it.