‘So did you know about warships sailing to attack the Confederates?’
this is merely your opinion; if it is an ironclad fact, then prove the documentation, with Lincoln’s signature, saying so...you have not yet, and cannot...
‘So what would you do?’
what I wouldn’t do is fire upon someone who, though armed, has made no overtly hostile action towards me, because I was of the opinion that he might sometime later do so...and then whine about how I was ‘provoked’ into starting the hostilities...by the way, who is responsible for the long quote in your post; I didn’t see that you mentioned it...
Seriously? This is the ground upon which you wish to make your stand? That 8 Ships with cannons and supplies decided to go to Sumter to there force a confrontation with the Confederates without Lincoln's direction?
The Orders to most of the ships were issued by members' of Lincoln's cabinet, and with his full authorization. The order for the Powhatan was issued specifically by Lincoln himself, and while we will likely not ever know what was his secret orders to Lieutenant Porter*, his order to relieve Captain Mercer of command is indeed possible to read.
what I wouldn’t do is fire upon someone who, though armed, has made no overtly hostile action towards me, because I was of the opinion that he might sometime later do so
When you know the ships have orders to use force against you, the probability moves towards infinite.
by the way, who is responsible for the long quote in your post; I didn’t see that you mentioned it...
https://books.google.com/books?id=_H0KAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
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*Lieutenant Porter (two ranks below Captain in that era) apparently interpreted Lincoln's secret order as requiring him to disguise the Powhatan to the extent that people who knew her well could not recognize her, Put up a British Flag, sail her far out into the Atlantic, well away from any chance encounters with other US Navy ships, and then head for Florida where if he hadn't been stopped by Captain Meigs, he would have started a war there.