[stainlessbanner]

Had the south not fired the North would have landed food only, no guns or reinforcements

Incorrect. In his letter to Gov. Pickens, Lincoln indicated he would resupply the troops with provisions (meaning food) only. No men, no guns, no ammo.

However, if you read Lincoln's correspondence to his commanders, he was preparing for a fight. On the flipside, I'm sure the incident was not a total suprise to the Confederates - tension had been building for years.

[WhiskeyPapa]

owever, if you read Lincoln's correspondence to his commanders, he was preparing for a fight.

That only seems prudent.

You would deny that the federal government had a right to defend itself, which is ground you simply don't occupy.

Walt

[Non-Sequitur]

I think that you are the one in error. Lincoln's letter to Governor Pickens said, "I am directed by the President of the United States to notify you to expect an attempt will be made to supply Fort-Sumpter [sic] with provisions only; and that, if such attempt be not resisted, no effort to throw in men, arms, or ammunition, will be made, without further notice, or in case of an attack upon the Fort." In a letter to Major Anderson at the same time Lincoln said the same thing, if Anderson could hold out then supplies would be landed, and if the landing was opposed an attempt to land reinforcements and addtional arms would be made. So yes, Lincoln was prepared to land reinforcements if opposed. But if it was all a ruse and Lincoln had planned to fight all along then the two questions I would pose are 1) Why did he lie to the commander on the scene, and 2) Why didn't the Union expedition fight it's way in? The answer has to be that a fight was the last thing Lincoln wanted.