[FLT-bird]

Davis was willing to go to war over Sumter. He got what he wanted, Sumter and a war. Lincoln sent a heavily armed fleet with hundreds of troops to invade South Carolina's sovereign territory with the express purpose of starting a war.

[Bull Snipe]

2 steam powered tugs, both unarmed, one cargo ship, also unarmed, one revenue cutter and 2 warships, 200 artillerymen and 4 month worth of food, hardly constitute an “armed fleet”. The expressed purpose was to re-provision Sumter. Had Davis allowed that to happen, the warships were to return to their home ports. Their orders were not to fire, unless fired upon.