“There wasn’t anybody on either side that believe that was going to happen. Certainly not Lincoln’s cabinet, because the vast bulk of them said it would start a war”
Just as Davis’s cabinet advised him of the consequences of firing on the Fort. to wit “Firing on that fort will inaugurate a civil war greater than any the world has yet seen.” Robert Toombs, Confederate Secretary of State.
“their orders were to use all force at their command to place troops and supplies into Fort Sumter.” You have seen the orders to Powhatan. you know that is not what they said. Force was authorized only if the resupply mission was opposed by force. If not, once the resupply mission was complete, the ships were to return to their ports.
Porter does not mention that he was sent orders countermanding the Pensacola mission on the afternoon he sailed, directing him to proceed to Fort Sumter. He ignored those orders because they were signed by Seward.
Which was a given. You keep trying to ignore the fact that opposition was guaranteed, and therefore the orders required an attack.
You don't want to admit that Lincoln started the war when he sent those warships with their defacto orders to began an assault against the Confederates who were blocking them.
Mercer was to take command and lead the response in force. Unknown to the rest of the fleet, Mercer had been secretly relieved of command, and his warship had been placed under the command of Lieutenant Porter who's instructions, based on his efforts, appeared to have been "deliberately start a war" in Pensacola.
Two different plans to start the same war, and you just want to pretend this is all accidental, or a misunderstanding.