[RexBeach]

Good one, PR, but the question is nearly moot in that South Carolina seceded in January, 1861. But yes, Lincoln was a clever man and he knew well what would happen if he tried to resupply Fort Sumter. But the spark for war certainly would have occurred somehow; if not in Charleston, then somewhere else.

Thanks for your very cogent post!

[PeaRidge]

South Carolina did not secede in January of 1861. The state seceded in December of 1860. There was no law preventing that action, so nothing is moot, and nothing was contingent upon this action that caused any act of war.

"But the spark for war certainly would have occurred somehow; if not in Charleston, then somewhere else."

'Sparks' had been occurring since almost at the time of ratification of the Constitution. Massachusetts had threatened secession on several occasions. Remember the Nullification Crisis. Sectional hostility was manifested in Kansas/Missouri.

But sparks did not bring about war. Conscious decisions of men in power did. And you have not answered the question of what outcome did Lincoln seek by sending the US Navy to Charleston.