After the Davis regime initiated hostilities at Sumter. Once they started the war Lincoln had no choice but to respond.
Yes he did. He dispatched the fleet a week before Fort Sumter to provoke a military conflict.
Nonsense. Lincoln sent men and supplies to Sumter and Pickens in order to hold on to the forts belonging to the United States, just like he said he was going to do.
Nope. Lincoln sent his ships to start a war a week before the first shot. In fact, the confederates only opened fire on the fort to stop it from being used against them once Lincoln's fleet arrived. It was the same preemptive strategy we just used to kick out Saddam.
Nonsense. Lincoln sent men and supplies to Sumter and Pickens in order to hold on to the forts belonging to the United States, just like he said he was going to do.
...and to provoke a war, hence his order that they fight their way into the harbor following the inevitable denial of access to the port by Charleston authorities.