Buchanan's policy was to hold on to the forts. That was Lincoln's policy as well. Nothing Lincoln did or said caused Scott to disobey his commander-in-chief.
I'm off for the rest of the week. You have fun and learn some history for a change.
Something you might devote some time to as well.
According to Lincoln's inaugural speech, it is unclear exactly what his policy was. If you'll remember, a lot of the newspaper editorials of the time noted that too. Lincoln said the following in the editorial:
In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority. The power confided in me, will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property, and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion—no using of force against, or among the people anywhere.
His wording is intentionally unclear, I think. What did occupy and possess the property and places belonging to the government mean to him? Was he going to occupy and possess the many forts, armories, etc., then in possession of the Confederates and would not use force unless fired upon? He says "beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion—no using of force ..."
So, force is OK to occupy and possess those properties and places he feels belong to the government? Sounds like it. His words don't seem to rule out the retaking of forts and the use of force if necessary to occupy and possess those forts.
After inauguration Lincoln started reinforcing the forts then held by Union troops, Fort Pickens, Fort Sumter, the fort in the Keys, Fort Monroe in Virginia (Buchanan might have done the reinforcing of Monroe -- I don't know who did it, but it was done). Once Lincoln secured these, he could turn his attention to other forts that might be hard for the Confederates to defend, like those near the mouth of the Mississippi. He could (and did later) attack those Mississippi mouth forts with his navy and that helped block shipping up the river. The Confederates had very little in the way of a navy to defend those forts.
As Lincoln's letter to Scott said, be ready "to either hold or retake the forts, as the case may require, at and after the inauguration." Forts occupied by Confederates were the cases that might require retaking. The war started before Lincoln could try to retake forts occupied by Confederates.
I had a meeting here in town this morning and now I'm heading to the car after I shut down the computer. Buh bye for a few days.