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Except that Scott did exactly that -- exasperating Buchanan by creating fait accompli regarding the Administration's deliberations over what to do about the forts.

So you would have us believe. Yet Scott initiated communications with Lincoln in October 1860, as evidenced by this November letter. And apparently continued his communications through November and December, as evidenced by this letter. There is no evidence that Buchanan or Floyd were unaware of the communications. Or that they objected to it. And Lincoln made it clear in his second letter that he relied on Scott to send him only information that he "deem it proper to make to me."

Lincoln didn't go behind Buchanan's back, and he wasn't planning a war. Except in your hyperactive imagination.

Yet Scott initiated communications with Lincoln in October 1860, as evidenced by this November letter.

Your link doesn't work.

Yeah, that good old Scott. He couldn't help himself revealing Lincoln's intention to reinforce Sumter. See Winfield Scott's message on page 236 of the OR, Series I, Volume I that reads in part:

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, D. C., April 4, 1861.

Lieutenant Colonel HENRY L. SCOTT, A. D. C., New York:

SIR: This letter will be landed to you by Captain G. V. Fox, ex-officer of the Navy, and a gentleman of high standing, as well as possessed of extraordinary nautical ability. He is charged by high authority here with the command of an expedition, under cover of certain ships of war, whose object is to re-enforce Fort Sumter.

Yet Scott initiated communications with Lincoln in October 1860, as evidenced by this November letter. And apparently continued his communications through November and December, as evidenced by this letter. There is no evidence that Buchanan or Floyd were unaware of the communications. Or that they objected to it.....

Oh, but there is.

"General Scott, scarcely able to rise from his sick bed in New York, hastened to Washington on December 12th. [War Secretary] Floyd had hitherto with studied neglect kept him excluded from knowledge of War Department affairs; but now, for the first time consulted, and recognizing the gravity of the situation, the General heartily joined [Secretary of State] Cass in recommending that reinforcements be instantly sent. "Floyd was surprised, disappointed, disconcerted. He summarily rejected the advice of Scott, as he had opposed that of Cass." (Emphasis added.)

-- John G. Nicolay, The Outbreak of Rebellion, 1881, pp. 24-25.

Keeping in mind, of course, that Nicolay is a burning partisan on your side and one of Lincoln's two personal secretaries (the other being John Hay, with whom Nicolay wrote another history of the Lincoln Administration), and has absolutely nothing good to say about any Southerner, unless he betrayed and helped burn down his home State.