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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.

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

The Buchanan administration had an understanding with Governor Gist of South Carolina that the federal government would not attempt to reinforce the garrison in Charleston if Governor Gist would guarantee the safety of the federal facilities in the area. That agreement was violated long before President Lincoln was inaugurated when South Carolina seized Fort Moultrie, Castle Pinkney, the federal arsenal, and other federal facilities in the area in December and January. Then they fired on ships flying the stars and stripes in January and again in April the week ebfore it finally initiated the war by firing on Sumter In Florida, local militia started demanding the surrender of Pickens on January 12.

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

As I pointed out the armistace had been voided by the south long before President Lincoln had entered office. When he sent supplies to Sumter he made it clear in a communication to Governor Pickens that he planned on landing supplies only, and would land arms and reinforcements only if the supply effort was opposed. He needed no congressional approval for that, even if Congress had been in session. The responsibility for peace or war lay with the confederate regime, and they chose war.