Neither was defensible from a motivated populace surrounding it.
His “war fleet” carried out their orders.
Well, considering their orders were to wait for Captain Mercer to take command of the task force and then reinforce Sumter, then yes, they did follow those orders, but everyone on the Confederate side believed that his showing up was just a formality and that these ships would soon be attacking the shore emplacements.
The force presented a credible threat, but unbeknownst to the Confederates, Lincoln had secretly left the pin in that hand grenade he threw at them.
Unless you can cite orders to the contrary. The mission was to resupply Sumter. The ships were not authorized to use force (i.e. start shooting) unless Charleston authorities resisted (i.e. opened fire) on the resupply effort. The Navy ships did not have carte blanche orders to attack Charleston or the Confederate forces present.
“but unbeknownst to the Confederates, Lincoln had secretly left the pin in that hand grenade he threw at them.”
You mean Seward. He is the person that failed to mention, in Porter’s recall order, that it was by direction of the President. Hoping that Porter would ignore it and continue on to Pensicola as Seward had planned.