[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "The North Attacked first.
Both in terms of sending a war fleet to engage the Confederate forces around Sumter, and in the fact of firing the first gun shots at members of the Florida Militia at Fort Pickens."

Nonsense.

1. First, you continue to lie about Lincoln's resupply mission to Fort Sumter, claiming it was ordered to attack Confederates.
   In fact, Lincoln's commanders were ordered no first use of force.

2. So Lincoln's resupply mission was no more an "attack" than any resupply mission today to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

3. Second, Union troops at Fort Pickens, Florida, did not "attack" the secessionists who tried to seize the fort, before Florida declared its secession.
   So there was no possible issue of who owned Fort Pickens on January 8, 1861.
   Union troops fired warning shots and the advancing secessionists retreated.

[DiogenesLamp]

First, you continue to lie about Lincoln's resupply mission to Fort Sumter, claiming it was ordered to attack Confederates. In fact, Lincoln's commanders were ordered no first use of force.

It is a lie to portray it as benign. The previous mission only required one ship. General Scott's orders clearly state it was a reinforcement mission.