[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "Beauregard's whole intent was to prevent the fort from attacking them at the same time the fleet did. In order to make that happen, he had to attack *BEFORE* the entire fleet showed up."

The term for that is "preemptive attack".
It's what many aggressive nations have claimed as their justification for starting wars.
But history does not usually look kindly on such aggressive nations and that is one reason why, for just one example, that the United States took no blatant military actions against the Japanese before December 7, 1941.

Oh, dear... now did I just hurt your sensitive feeeeeeeeelings?

[DiogenesLamp]

The term for that is "preemptive attack".

What would they be "preempting" then?

I very greatly doubt you will say "a coming attack."

for just one example, that the United States took no blatant military actions against the Japanese before December 7, 1941.

And here we go again with your silly effort to make Fort Sumter into Pearl Harbor. I wouldn't be surprised if your own allies cringed at this.

Oh, dear... now did I just hurt your sensitive feeeeeeeeelings?

I've got think skin. Pretty sure I can bear it.