[nolu chan]

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 ~

[Non-Sequitur]

But how is it an act of war? Fort Sumter and For Pickens were federal facilities. The Lincoln administration was within their authority to send food and supplies to those forts and they didn't need the approval of either congress or the southern governors to do that. There didn't have to be a war except if the south wanted one, and as it turned out they did.

[WhiskeyPapa]

But again, how was it an act of war?

"The attempt to reinforce Sumter will provoke an attack and involve war...

You take President Lincoln to task for initiating actions that were entirely within his purview and entirely required by his oath and duties as president.

You neo-confederates could probably be safely ignored completely. The things you profess to throw up your hands in disgust over don't amount to a hill of beans.

Walt