That was Scott's opinion, (and it still hasn't been expressed correctly) which was only one of many.
Cite a second opinion on the force neccesary to reduce the rebellion in Charleston.
Yes, General's Scott's appreciation of the situation is only an opinion.
And your posts to FR are only an opinion, and so are mine.
Are you discounting opinions generally?
Lincoln had no reason to incite a war in Charleston or anywhere else. There was quite a roil in Virginia at this same time. Lincoln was trying to mollify the Virginians. Starting a war in South Carolina was not in his mind.
Offering only to end supplies to Charleston was a brilliant stroke worthy of the best chess master. It put the ball (to mix metaphors) right back in the rebel's court.
Walt
Fox's, the one that was accepted and put into action. Actually, Scott's opinion was not on the force needed to "reduce the rebellion in Charleston" since Lincoln's question had been "what amount of means and of what description, in addition to those already at command, it would require to supply and re-enforce the fort". Many people submitted their opinions to be reviewed. Scott, not surprisingly, went with one of the highest submitted. Lincoln, however, went with Fox's. His suggestion was next to the smallest. So, to answer your question about a second opinion: Fox's. It was Fox's opinion on the matter that Lincoln chose, and Fox's opinion he put into force, as history clearly shows.
Yes, General's Scott's appreciation of the situation is only an opinion. And your posts to FR are only an opinion, and so are mine. Are you discounting opinions generally?
LOL - No, absolutely not. My point was that Scott's opinion was immaterial since Lincoln had dismissed it and had decided to go with Fox's opinion. The moment he did that, the only opinion that mattered in regards to the events that occurred and the motivations behind them was Fox's. Scott's opinion was absolutely meaningless in regards to Lincoln's actions, since Lincoln rejected Scott's opinion.
Lincoln had no reason to incite a war in Charleston or anywhere else. There was quite a roil in Virginia at this same time. Lincoln was trying to mollify the Virginians. Starting a war in South Carolina was not in his mind.
He needed a conflict that appeared to not be of his making, so he delibertely provoked the situation at Sumter for that purpose. He admitted it to Fox afterwards: "our anticipation is justified by the result."
Offering only to send supplies to Charleston was a brilliant stroke worthy of the best chess master. It put the ball (to mix metaphors) right back in the rebel's court.
And clearly demonstrated his desire to provoke war, since by that time South Carolina had joined the new Confederacy and the previous status quo was a thing of the past. Peace meant being the first President to have States withdraw from the Constitutional union, and losing those States meant many other things as well. By that point in time he knew he had to have a war, and so he provoked one, and then firmly resisted every attempt at peace that followed. If he had obeyed the will of the people, there would have been peace. Many times. Peace is not what he wanted.