Re post 18: I was unaware of that, and that Lincoln didn’t listen to his cabinet.
I didn't know about it either until about three years ago. The Ships were the Powhatan, the Pawnee, the Yankee, the Pocahontas, the Baltic, "Uncle Ben", "Thomas Freeborn", and the Harriet Lane.
The Harriet Lane had fired on an confederate ship the night before April 12. The Baltic arrived at 3:00 am on the 12, and the Harriet Lane was already waiting in the Channel.
The Confederates knew these ships were coming and they knew their orders were to use force against them if they resisted. It was the sighting of these ships that confirmed the telegraph information the confederates had about Lincoln sending a force to subdue them. It was the sighting of these ships that convinced them they had to neutralize the fort before the ships attacked them.
Lincoln asked his cabinet about sending these ships:
To Seward: “Assuming it possible to now provision Sumter, under the circumstances, is it wise to do it?Seward answered the same day: “The attempt must be made with the employment of military and marine force, which would provoke combat, and probably initiate a civil war. . . I would not provoke war in any way now.”
Chase replied to the same question: “If the attempt will so inflame civil war as to involve an immediate necessity for enlistment of armies. . . I cannot advise it.”
Cameron replied: “I am greatly influenced by the opinions of Army officers [that] it is now impossible to succor the fort.”
Welles replied: “The military gentlemen represent that it is unwise. I am not disposed to controvert their opinions.”
Smith: “It would not be wise under the circumstances.”
Blair: “The evacuation of Sumter will show the government lacks firmness.”
Bates: “I am willing to evacuate Sumter, rather than be a active party in the beginning of civil war.” (p. 285)
Most likely because it's BS.
The cabinet opposed resupply at first. When they voted again almost two weeks later, some changed their mind and a narrow majority supported Lincoln.
Some people on the Internet have major axes to grind and you can't always trust what they say.