There was no “Confederate military chain” in January 1861. At the time The Star of the West was fired on, South Carolina was the only seceded state (Mississippi seceded later in the day). The cadets were at Fort Moultrie by invitation of the state of SC which had seized the fort after it was evacuated by Federal troops and they were engaged in training.
They fired on the Star of the West by order of Major Stephens who had been instructed by Governor Pickens to fire on any ship flying United States colors that tried to enter Charleston harbor.
The cadets were not kids acting on their own. They fired on The Star of the West by order if their major who was under instructions of the South Carolina governor.
I stand corrected. My reading said they were cadets from the Citadel, and said nothing further about them having orders from the governor.