Well, of course his secretaries and his friend just made that up in a vacuum. He never told them what he was thinking Do you actually believe that?
And when Lamon told him Pickens' and Petigru's answers, he just dismissed it. And the memo... you got me on that on a technicality... reinforce versus resupply, so you escaped that bullet.
So, you believe Lincoln thought he could sail in the harbor and maintain the status quo regardless of what anyone told him about the reality in the South?
Okay... if that is how you perceive him. To me, your Lincoln is very stupid. Oh, well. As long as you are happy with him.
And will that warrant a "so's your mother" crack about Jefferson Davis. Oh, boy!
Actually yes, and I'm not saying that just to be argumentative. Lincoln was a master at hiding exactly what he was thinking, and any biography of his will bear that out. He kept his own counsel always, and never let people know what he was thinking until he was ready to make his decision. He always did. This was the man who was arguing against an emancipation proclamation with a delegation from Chicago while at the same time he had the proclamation written, reviewed by the cabinet, ready and waiting for the proper moment to announce. So yes, I can easily see how people thought Lincoln was leaning one way only to see him go the other. Especially this early in his administration.
And when Lamon told him Pickens' and Petigru's answers, he just dismissed it.
No, I don't think he dismissed anything that anyone was telling him. I think he weighed all the information carefully before making his decision. Just because he didn't follow their advice didn't mean he dismissed it.
And the memo... you got me on that on a technicality... reinforce versus resupply, so you escaped that bullet.
But I don't think it was a technicality. The two are very different and Lincoln knew that. Which is why I really think that he believed that peace might be maintained and the South would allow the status quo to continue if he made it clear that food and supplies were all he was landing. And where he knew that a reinforcement would be a match to the powder keg.
So, you believe Lincoln thought he could sail in the harbor and maintain the status quo regardless of what anyone told him about the reality in the South?
Yes. One word answer.
Okay... if that is how you perceive him. To me, your Lincoln is very stupid. Oh, well. As long as you are happy with him.
And the alternative is...what? That Lincoln deliberately chose his path to start the war? If that was his goal there were a lot surer ways to do it. Why not dispense with the message altogether and set out to land troops first along with the food, and add some ammunition while he was at it? You can choose to believe that absent any evidence to support you. As long as you are happy.