To: Non-Sequitur
There was no reason to bombard them other than Jeff Davis wanted toExcept that the states had seceded and wanted the Feds out. If I recall, President Davis was not a fire-eater and preferred other means of handling the situation. Remember it was Davis who said:
"A question solved by violence must remain unsolved forever."
It's very clear from Lincoln's orders to Gen. Scott and Anderson that a means of force was necessary. Included in those orders were naval signal books for Gen Anderson to communicate with the Union fleet.
To: stainlessbanner
But it is also clear that force would have been used by the Union fleet only if opposed. Had the south not fired the North would have landed food only, no guns or reinforcements. The status quo would have been maintained and the chance for negotiation would have remained alive. Instead the south chose to take the fort through force of arms, for no good reason other than that they 'wanted the Feds out.' Well, if that was reason enough to start a war then I don't see what the complaint it. You got your war, it just didn't turn out the way you had planned. Those are the breaks.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson