[RasterMaster]

The following timeline gives one hint of the February 1861 date:

February 1861 — The South Seizes Federal Forts.
When President Buchanan — Lincoln’s predecessor — refused to surrender southern federal forts to the seceding states, southern state troops seized them. At Fort Sumter, South Carolina troops repulsed a supply ship trying to reach federal forces based in the fort. The ship was forced to return to New York, its supplies undelivered.

http://rs6.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/tl1861.html

[RasterMaster]

Seven states declared their secession from the United States before Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861:

1.South Carolina (December 20, 1860)[4][5]
2.Mississippi (January 9, 1861)[6]
3.Florida (January 10, 1861)[7]
4.Alabama (January 11, 1861)[8]
5.Georgia (January 19, 1861)[9]
6.Louisiana (January 26, 1861)[10]
7.Texas (February 1, 1861)[11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America

[rustbucket]

At Fort Sumter, South Carolina troops repulsed a supply ship trying to reach federal forces based in the fort. The ship was forced to return to New York, its supplies undelivered.

The 200 armed troops hiding below decks on the Star of the West so they would not be seen were not delivered either.