Jeffersondem was criticizing. I was just following precedent.
Once Lincoln sent the fleet to attack them. Even Major Anderson admitted this was the trigger for the war. The first act of war was the sending of that fleet with orders to attack them. Lincoln struck first, but the Confederates beat him to the punch after he had already thrown his first punch.
The act that started the war was bombarding the fort into surrender. No hostile acts had been made by Anderson or the North prior to that. Had Lincoln been allowed to resupply the fort then no hostile acts by Anderson and the North would have been committed after that. The status quo would remain. Why wasn't that enough for the South?
I feel as if it is a waste of my time to look up and post the salient communications for your benefit, because I know from past history you will simply pretend I didn't do it, and then you will ask this same question, or variation thereof, again and again.
- Adjutant-General.HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C., April 4, 1861.
Lieutenant Colonel HENRY L. SCOTT, A. D. C., New York:
SIR: This letter will be landed to you by Captain G. V. Fox, ex-officer of the Navy, and a gentleman of high standing, as well as possessed of extraordinary nautical ability. He is charged by high authority here with the command of an expedition, under cover of certain ships of war, whose object is to re-enforce Fort Sumter.
To embark with Captain Fox you will cause a detachment of recruits, say about two hundred, to be immediately organized at Fort Columbus, with a competent number of officers, arms, ammunition, and subsistence. A large surplus of the latter-indeed, as great as the vessels of the expedition can take-with other necessaries, will be needed for the augmented garrison of Fort Sumter.
The subsistence and other supplies should be assorted like those which were provided by you and Captain Ward of the Navy for a former expedition. Consult Captain Fox and Major Eaton on the subject, and give all necessary orders in my name to fit out the expedition, except that the hiring of vessels will be left to others.
Some fuel must be shipped. Oil, artillery implements, fuses, cordage, slow-march, mechanical levers, and gins, &c., should also be put on board.
Consult, also, if necessary, confidentially, Colonel Tompkins and Major Thornton.
Respectfully, yours,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/001/0236
BroJoeK, I will point out to you that the Pickens letter was not sent until two days later. Reinforcement was already the plan before the Pickens letter went out.