[DiogenesLamp]

The truly deciding factor was the sending of that war fleet to attack the Confederates. As I mentioned, Anderson himself said this would start the war.

[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "The truly deciding factor was the sending of that war fleet to attack the Confederates.
As I mentioned, Anderson himself said this would start the war."

First, let's see that quote from Anderson.

Second, as we've now reviewed frequently, Lincoln's alleged "war fleet" was ordered "no first use of force".
Once resupply was accomplished, they were to return home in peace.

Third, it was not a "war fleet" because by Lincoln's own understandings, it was incapable of defeating Confederates surrounding Fort Sumter, but only strong enough to possibly accomplish its stated purpose of resupplying Union troops in Fort Sumter.

Finally, whatever Major Anderson may have predicted, or to whom, Jefferson Davis ignored the warnings of his own Secretary of State Robert Toombs:

"Mr. President [Davis], at this time it is suicide, murder, and will lose us every friend at the North.
You will wantonly strike a hornet's nest which extends from mountain to ocean, and legions now quiet will swarm out and sting us to death.
It is unnecessary; it puts us in the wrong; it is fatal."

So please explain why is it that Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs intuitively understood something which today, over 150 years later, "geniuses" like DiogenesLamp and jeffersondem can't figure out?