Untrue.
FACT: Lincoln's orders to his military forces EXPLICITLY directed them to use force to fight their way into Sumter over any and all resistance they may encounter right then and there.
FACT: This same explicit direction was omitted entirely from the message to Pickens.
As this was a CENTRAL PART of Lincoln's military expedition, its omission from Pickens and inclusion to Fox et al constitutes an attempted deception. Contrary to the teachings of your idolatrous worship of the man, Lincoln was NOT always honest, was NOT always straight forward, and much like you had a severe habit of fibbing. Your near-cultlike worship of Lincoln may hold otherwise, but only by ignoring history. Live with it.
FACT: Lincoln's orders to his military forces EXPLICITLY directed them to use force to fight their way into Sumter over any and all resistance they may encounter right then and there.
I should have said I was going to be out of town for a few days.
As you admit in #394, Lincoln's meaning was plain to the leaders of the so-called CSA.
He didn't try to deceive anyone and he didn't deceive anyone.
Also, President Lincoln made it clear that Major Anderson was not to offer resistance beyond what was reasonable.
A letter went to Major Anderson in early April saying that a "complete, last-ditch-last-man resistance was not expected of him; the major was authorized to surrender if necessary to save the lives of his command and himself."
--"The Coming Fury", pp.297-98 by Bruce Catton.
That doesn't well square with your interpretation, which is grounded in fiction and not fact.
You try to discredit President Lincoln but you only discredit yourself.
Walt