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4/7/1861 Major Anderson received a letter from Secretary of War Cameron informing him that based on Mr. Fox’s information, they had thought he might hold the fort until the 15th. Secretary Cameron stated that if he could hold until the 11th or 12th, that he would be re-supplied. It was also stated that if the expedition encountered resistance, that the fort would be reinforced with troops. He also told Anderson that if he encountered circumstances

“…beyond what, in your judgment, would be usual in military life…to save
yourself and command, a capitulation becomes a necessity, you are authorized to make it”.

Major Anderson immediately replied to Secretary Cameron. From his reply, it appeared that he was stunned at the cabinet’s decision to send the fleet. It was apparent that
the government was willing to risk war, which he had so skillfully avoided.

“I…confess that it…surprises me greatly…(that these orders) contradict the assurances of Mr. Crawford that Fort Sumter would be evacuated. I trust that this matter will be at once put in a correct light, as a movement made now, when the South has been erroneously informed that none such will be attempted, would produce most disastrous results throughout our country.

“It is, of course, now too late for me to give any advice in reference to the proposed scheme of Captain Fox. I fear that its result cannot fail to be disastrous to all concerned…Colonel Lamon’s remark convinced me that the idea (of re-supply), merely hinted at to me by Captain Fox, would not be carried out. We shall strive to do our duty, though I frankly say that my heart is not in the war which I see is to be thus commenced.”

So, Ditto, it would seem that the idiocity began in Lincoln's head sometime after his inauguration.

Remember he said on March 4 that he would tolerate slavery but not the non-payment of the tariff. He could accept slavery if the South paid the Morill tariff, and he placed himself in the position of deciding the issue in favor of coercion if they didn't.

Of course, his enabling idiots included the governors of Mass., N.Y., Ill., Pa., as well as the shipping, insurance, and banking population of all the other Northern states.

If Ft. Sumter didn't happen, Savannah, Mobile, or New Orleans would have. Idiot Lincoln would have seen to it.

Remember he said on March 4 that he would tolerate slavery but not the non-payment of the tariff. "

No. He said it was not within his power or authority to interfer with slavery where it existed but that he could not tollerate revolution against legitimate constitutional authority. Paying taxes is not and never has been an option that some states could just decide not to do -- George Washington demonstrated that fact 70 years eariler.

Re-supplying Anderson and his handful of men was no military threat even to the measly 7-state so-called confederacy of April 1861. The fact is that the longer Anderson and Sumter could hold out, the more silly the rebellion looked to the rest of the nation and the world and with each passing day diminished the chance their coup had of sucess. Only open warfare could provoke the upper south join with the radical fire-eaters and that is why Davis chose war. If he hadn't, his confederacy would have slowly evaporated.

You neo-rebels turn every fact of history on it's head to try to justify actions of treason and make yourselves look downright silly by doing it.