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The U.S. Govt had reached an agreement with the Confederate or Florida officials previously, referred to by Capt. Adams as an armistice.

Congress should have been consulted before initiating any action to violate the armistice.

The initial order was issued by the HQ of the Army on March 12, 1861 while Congress was still in session.

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(Extract)
Hd. Qrs. of the Army
Washington, March 12th, 1861

Sir:
(C) At the first favorable opportunity, you will land your company, reinforce Fort Pickens, and hold the same till further orders, etc.

By command of Lieut. Gen. Scott.
Signed: E.D. TOWNSEND
Asst. Adjt. Gen.

To: Captain I. Vogdes,
First Artillery, U.S. Army
on board Ship of War Brooklyn,
off Fort Pickens
Pensacola, Fla.

This order was went by U. S. S. Crusader, and received by Captain Vodges, off Pensacola, on March 31, 1861.

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Whether one chooses to call the conflict war or by some other name, this order would have inevitably led to combat. Congress was in session and should have been consulted.

From O.R., Vol. II, 354, (Mr. Stephens)

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"But the udnerstanding in the city (Washington), at the time of Mr. Douglas' speech, and the time the assurance was given to the Confederate States Commissioners was, that Fort Sumter was to be immediately evacuated.

"This intelligence was telegraphed throughout the country on the 14th of March; the second day after the date of the Confederate States Commissioner' note to Mr. Seward, and the day before the first meeting Mr. Seward had with Judge Campbell. I have little doubt, therefore, that, at that time, Mr. Lincoln had decided to withdraw all United States forces from the limits of the confederate States.

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It seems the Congress was deceived at the time they did adjourn on March 28th. Had they known that orders which would initiate combat had already been issued, it is highly unlikely they would have adjourned. They should have been informed that the administration was issuing orders which would initiate combat.

But again, how was it an act of war?

"The attempt to reinforce Sumter will provoke an attack and involve war. The very preparation for such an expedition will precipate war at that point.
~ William Seward ~

"There was not a man in the Cabinet that did not know that an attempt to reinforce Sumter would be the first blow of the war."
~ Gideon Welles ~

"They have placed an engineer officer at Fort Pickens to violate, as I consider, our agreement not to reinforce. I do not believe that we are entirely absolved from all agreement of January 29."
~ General Bragg ~

"Dissolution of the Union is better than a conflict. I will oppose any attempt to reinforce Sumter if it means war."
~ Salmon P. Chase ~

"The question of reinforcing Fort Sumter has been under consideration in the cabinet, and it is understood that the question, whether or no, it is not desirable to withdraw all the troops except two or three men, rather than incur the bloodshed which will probably occur, before troops and supplies are put into it, is now to be decided. The question has been under discussion in high military circles for some days. Gen. Scott advises that reinforcements cannot now be put in without an enormous sacrifice of life. He is understood to say, that we have neither military or naval force at hand sufficient to supply the Fort against the threatened opposition, which it would require twenty thousand men to overcome. Besides, if it should initiate civil war, in addition to uniting the South, and overwhelming the Union sentiment there, in the waves of passion, it would require two hudred and fifty thousand Government soldiers to carry on the struggle, and a hundred millions of money to begin with."

~ The New York Times, March 11, 1861 ~