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Here's what his orders said: [quotes from a memorandum relating the verbal instructions that Don Carlos Buell relayed to Anderson]

Now for the rest of the story (/Paul Harvey voice)...

Buell's verbal authorization was countermanded by Buchanan. When Buchanan learned of Buell's instructions to Anderson, he had Secretary Floyd send instructions that countered them. From "Don Carlos Buell: most promising of all," by Stephen Douglas Engle; see pages 61 and 62 [Link]:

"When Anderson received the Secretary's latest words of guidance, he became furious. Buell's message had allowed Anderson to decide for himself when and how to act. Now the Administration was drawing back."

If Anderson thought he already had approval from Buell to move to Sumter, he wouldn't have subsequently wired Washington on December 22 saying [Link, my emphasis below]:

I think that I could, however, were I to receive instructions so to do, throw my garrison into that work [Sumter], but I should have to sacrifice the greater of my stores as it is now too late to attempt their removal.

Anderson never received the instructions he asked for on December 22 to move his garrison.

Buchanan's reaction after leaning than Anderson had moved into Sumter was as follows [Sources: Klein, "Days of Defiance," page 170; Tilly, "Lincoln Takes Command," page 110; emphasis mine]:

"My God! Are calamities ... never to come singly! I call God to witness -- you gentlemen better than anybody else know that this is not only without but against my orders. It is against my policy."

PeaRidge, I think we went over all the above and more in the past with non-seq. non-seq's earth shaking ultimate argument back was, "Absolute nonsense."

Buell's verbal authorization was countermanded by Buchanan. When Buchanan learned of Buell's instructions to Anderson, he had Secretary Floyd send instructions that countered them

But that's not what the orders Anderson received on December 22 said. Here it is:

SIR: In the verbal instructions communicated to you by Major Buell, you are directed to hold possession of the forts in the harbor of Charleston, and, if attacked, to defend yourself to the last extremity. Under these instructions, you might infer that you are required to make a vain and useless sacrifice of your own life and the lives of the men under your command, upon a mere point of honor. This is far from the President's intentions. You are to exercise a sound military discretion on this subject.
It is neither expected nor desired that you should expose your own life or that of your men in a hopeless conflict in defense of these forts. If they are invested or attacked by a force so superior that resistance would, in your judgment, be a useless waste of life, it will be your duty to yield to necessity, and make the best terms in your power.
This will be the conduct of an honorable, brave, and humane officer, and you will be fully justified in such action. These orders are strictly confidential, and not to be communicated even to the officers under your command, without close necessity,
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. FLOYD."

There's no revocation of Anderson's authority to move to the most defensible position, only a statement that, if attacked and unable to hold out out, he is empowered to surrender.

Anderson never received the instructions he asked for on December 22 to move his garrison.

And the lack of direction from Washington left him with his original orders and his initiative as a United States officer trying to protect his command.

Buchanan's reaction after leaning than Anderson had moved into Sumter...

Yeah, well there's little doubt that Buchanan wasn't exactly on top of the situation. But it's noteworthy that Buchanan refused to order Anderson to return to Moultrie and within a few days had order the Star of the West to reinforce him, so it couldn't have been that directly opposed to anything Buchanan wanted. Mostly what Buchanan wanted was to go home before the shooting started.