[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp on alleged "secret orders" to the Fox mission: "If they did not, then why would they be kept secret?
Why keep secret something that says the exact same thing as something which is not secret? "

Your unsubstantiated claim of "secret orders" is just that unsubstantiated.
I've neither seen nor heard of such.

What I know for certain are Lincoln's orders to all his mission ship commanders, including Fox in SS Baltic and commanders of Powhattan, Pocohantas, Pawnee and Harriet Lane, because they were later published in the New York Times.
Those orders said, in part:

"...The primary object of the expedition is to provision Fort Sumter, for which purpose the War Department will furnish the necessary transports.
Should the authorities of Charleston permit the fort to be supplied, no further particular service will be required of the force under your command, and, after being satisfied that supplies have been received at the fort, the Powhatan, Pocahontas and Harriet Lane will return to New York, and the Pawnee to Washington.

Should the authorities at Charleston, however, refuse to permit or attempt to prevent the vessel or vessels having supplies on board from entering the harbor or from peaceably proceeding to Fort Sumter, you will protect the transports or boats of the expedition in the object of this mission -- disposing of your force in such a manner as to open the way for their ingress, and afford, so far as practicable, security to the men and boats, and repelling, by force if necessary, all obstructions to provisioning the fort and reinforcing it; for in case of resistance to the peaceable primary object of the expedition, a reinforcement of the garrison will also be attempted..."

These orders exactly match what Lincoln told South Carolina Governor Pickens.

[PeaRidge]

Brojoke offers this: "Your unsubstantiated claim of 'secret orders' is just that unsubstantiated.
I've neither seen nor heard of such.

Now you have Brojoker. All of this is from the "Official Records" as well as various biographies.

April 1, 1861
To: Commandant, Brooklyn Navy Yard

You will fit out the Powhatan without delay....She is bound on secret service; and you will under no circumstances communicate to the Navy Department the fact that she is fitting out.

Signed: Abraham Lincoln

April1, 1861 by General Scott
April 2, 1861 approved by Abraham Lincoln
To: Brevet Colonel Harvey Brown, U.S. Army

You have been designated to take command of an expedition... without delay proceed at once to your destination. The object and destination of this expedition will be communicated to no one to whom it is not already known.

April 1, 1861 To: Lt. D.D. Porter, USN

You will proceed to New York and with least possible delay assume command of any steamer available.

This order, its object, and your destination will be communicated to no person whatever...

[PeaRidge]

Regarding Lincoln's intentions at Ft. Sumter, Brojoker said “These orders exactly match what Lincoln told South Carolina Governor Pickens.”

Pickens was advised of a resupply by a low level clerk with no written evidence. Lincoln ordered reinforcement.

April 4, 1861
To: Lieut. Col. H.L. Scott, Aide de Camp

This will be handed to you by Captain G.V. Fox, an ex-officer of the Navy. He is charged by authority here, with the command of an expedition (under cover of certain ships of war) whose object is, to reinforce Fort Sumter.

Winfield Scott
Approved by A. Lincoln

[PeaRidge]

“What I know for certain are Lincoln's orders to all his mission ship commanders, including Fox in SS Baltic and commanders of Powhattan, Pocohantas, Pawnee and Harriet Lane, because they were later published in the New York Times.”

So, next time I say I know something is certain because of a newspaper article reporting something after the fact...well you are just going to have to accept it.

What you report is a communication from the Secretary of the Navy to a commander that was instructed to turn over authority to another man under different orders. It says nothing about Fox. You made that up.

Lincoln's documented direct orders to the mission commander Fox was for reinforcement.

April 4, 1861 To: Lieut. Col. H.L. Scott, Aide de Camp This will be handed to you by Captain G.V. Fox, an ex-officer of the Navy. He is charged by authority here, with the command of an expedition (under cover of certain ships of war) whose object is, to reinforce Fort Sumter.

If you want to continue to argue with the Official Records, have at it.