The history of the Fort Sumter attack is pretty complicated but just what really happened? I know people on this forum are more informed than me about this issue but lost causers, libertarians especially and other right wing groups blame Lincoln for starting the war. I would like an informed response about:
DId Lincoln, against the advice of six of his seven cabinet members, took precipitous actions that provoked the Civil War? Did his advisors noted that Fort Sumter was not a finished fort and was of no strategic value. Did they warned that sending a flotilla to reinforce the fort would be seen as an act of war and would force the South to take preemptive action. Did They argued, as Virginia had argued, that the South would calm down and negotiate a settlement if Lincoln would stop fanning the flames of war.
Did Only one cabinet member, the postmaster general, argued in favor of Lincoln's action, saying failure to do so would make Lincoln "look weak."
Is it true that not one occupant of Sumter was killed by the Southern attack, and the occupants were allowed to return to the North under escort. As a courtesy, they allowed the commander of the fort to take with him the tattered American flag. Lincoln used that flag to provoke outrage and justify the war.
I'm suspicious of the propaganda of libertarians who consider Lincoln a dictator but I'm just want the truth.