Early on, Lincoln had unilaterally decided to arrange hostile events at the forts. He had communicated this intention to the military several months before his inauguration.
After taking office, he introduced to his cabinet the idea of armed reinforcement of Ft. Sumter, and asked for suggestions. All were opposed to a greater or lesser degree except his Postmaster General, who brought in a retired naval lieutenant familiar with Ft. Sumter to help Lincoln formulate a way to provoke hostilities.
His cabinet was against the action, but Lincoln persisted and finally got tepid approval from some of the cabinet members.
Lincoln wanted the naval expedition to be a secret. He had no funds to pay for the outfitting or rental of civilian ships for part of the action, so he sent Seward to take money ($10,000) from the State Department safe to give to the civilian naval officer to pay New York outfitters and ship owners.
Early in April, Lincoln ordered the fleet to sail South, some with the names of the ships painted black.
In your description, you used the term “supply train”. There was no such proposal or act.
Also, you mentioned a letter to Anderson asking him to hold out for one day. That is also not true. There is no such item in either the Confederate or Union historical papers or accounts.
The bottom line is that Lincoln, without Congressional authority, arranged and initiated a secret military invasion of Charleston harbor, designed to evoke a military response. In the process of attacking the area, without permission, and causing a blockade of an open port, he started a war that proved to be the worst event in this country's history.
Perhaps your friend, because of his cultural values, saw this as genius, but only in the sense of a political leader that falsely believed in his supreme right to carry out efforts of one section of the country to invade, destroy, and kill the other.
I cannot speak to the rest of your comment because you mention things of which I have no knowledge, but I am pretty certain that I have the supply train letter correct. It has been a very long time since I have looked at this issue, but at the time I was doing research I found corroboration for Lincoln having sent a letter to the Confederates informing them of an overground supply train to the Fort.
As for the letter to the Fort, I have not been able to corroborate that, but that doesn't necessarily mean it didn't happen. I recall my friend being very insistent on that point, so I doubt I remembered it wrongly. Apparently he saw evidence for it that I have yet to discover.
In any case, it is my understanding that the Nation accepted Southern Secession as a fait accompli, and made no bones over it. It was only Lincoln, who faced the humiliation of being the President who presided over the division of the Nation that was loath to accept what was then the status quo.
Ah, I think i've found them.
Abraham Lincoln to General Anderson:April 4, 1861
SIR: Your letter of the 1st instant occasions some anxiety to the president. On the information of Captain Fox, he had supposed you could hold out till the 15th instant without any great inconvenience and had prepared an expedition to relieve you before that period.Hoping still that you will be able to sustain yourself till the 11th or 12th instant, the expedition will go forward, and, finding your flag flying, will attempt to provision you, and in case the effort is resisted, will endeavor also to reinforce you.
You will therefore hold out, if possible, till the arrival of the expedition.
It is not, however, the intention of the President to subject your command to any danger or hardship beyond what, in your judgment, would be usual in military life; and he has entire confidence that you will act as becomes a patriot and a soldier under all circumstances.
Whenever, if at all, in your judgment, to save yourself and command, a capitulation becomes a necessity, you are authorized to make it.
And:
Abraham Lincoln to Robert Chew: April 6, 1861
SIR: You will proceed directly to Charleston, South Carolina, and if, on your arrival there, the flag of the United States shall be flying over Fort Sumter and the fort shall not have been attacked, you will procure an interview with Governor Pickens, and read to him as follows: "I am directed by the President of the United States to notify you to expect an attempt will be made to supply Fort Sumter with provisions only; and that, if such attempt be not resisted, no effort to throw in men, arms, or ammunition will be made without further notice, or in case of an attack upon the fort."After you shall have read this to Governor Pickens, deliver to him the copy of it herein enclosed, and retain this letter yourself.
But if, on your arrival at Charleston, you shall ascertain that Fort Sumter shall have been already evacuated, or surrendered by the United States force, or shall have been attacked by an opposing force, you will seek no interview with Governor Pickens, but return here forthwith.
Pretty much what my friend said, but with a few details not quite right.