I cannot speak to the rest of your comment because you mention things of which I have no knowledge, but I am pretty certain that I have the supply train letter correct. It has been a very long time since I have looked at this issue, but at the time I was doing research I found corroboration for Lincoln having sent a letter to the Confederates informing them of an overground supply train to the Fort.
As for the letter to the Fort, I have not been able to corroborate that, but that doesn't necessarily mean it didn't happen. I recall my friend being very insistent on that point, so I doubt I remembered it wrongly. Apparently he saw evidence for it that I have yet to discover.
In any case, it is my understanding that the Nation accepted Southern Secession as a fait accompli, and made no bones over it. It was only Lincoln, who faced the humiliation of being the President who presided over the division of the Nation that was loath to accept what was then the status quo.
Ah, I think i've found them.
Abraham Lincoln to General Anderson:April 4, 1861
SIR: Your letter of the 1st instant occasions some anxiety to the president. On the information of Captain Fox, he had supposed you could hold out till the 15th instant without any great inconvenience and had prepared an expedition to relieve you before that period.Hoping still that you will be able to sustain yourself till the 11th or 12th instant, the expedition will go forward, and, finding your flag flying, will attempt to provision you, and in case the effort is resisted, will endeavor also to reinforce you.
You will therefore hold out, if possible, till the arrival of the expedition.
It is not, however, the intention of the President to subject your command to any danger or hardship beyond what, in your judgment, would be usual in military life; and he has entire confidence that you will act as becomes a patriot and a soldier under all circumstances.
Whenever, if at all, in your judgment, to save yourself and command, a capitulation becomes a necessity, you are authorized to make it.
And:
Abraham Lincoln to Robert Chew: April 6, 1861
SIR: You will proceed directly to Charleston, South Carolina, and if, on your arrival there, the flag of the United States shall be flying over Fort Sumter and the fort shall not have been attacked, you will procure an interview with Governor Pickens, and read to him as follows: "I am directed by the President of the United States to notify you to expect an attempt will be made to supply Fort Sumter with provisions only; and that, if such attempt be not resisted, no effort to throw in men, arms, or ammunition will be made without further notice, or in case of an attack upon the fort."After you shall have read this to Governor Pickens, deliver to him the copy of it herein enclosed, and retain this letter yourself.
But if, on your arrival at Charleston, you shall ascertain that Fort Sumter shall have been already evacuated, or surrendered by the United States force, or shall have been attacked by an opposing force, you will seek no interview with Governor Pickens, but return here forthwith.
Pretty much what my friend said, but with a few details not quite right.
DOCUMENT #16: Letter from Lincoln to the Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, March 29.
SIR: I desire that an expedition, to move by sea, be got ready to sail as early as the 6th of April next, the whole according to memorandum attached, and that you cooperate with the Secretary of the Navy for that object.
Your obedient servant,
A. LINCOLN
So, as you can see from your own documentation, Lincoln ordered the expedition to go by sea.
Just to make certain and save you the trouble, I did a Google search for Lincoln, Ft. Sumter, supply train, overland and found no evidence of your assertion:
:"...at the time I was doing research I found corroboration for Lincoln having sent a letter to the Confederates informing them of an overground supply train to the Fort."
This is just not true. If you give it some thought, you would realize that the railroads and standard roads were controlled by the states. Any sort of military expedition overland would have been stopped at state borders. Moreover, Ft. Sumter was about two nautical miles from any rail head in Charleston, thus making it impossible to transfer military items.
The man Lincoln put in charge of the resupply was Gustavus Fox. You can see more of him and his efforts here.
Actually, very little of what your friend said was right.
For example, your listing of the communication between Lincoln and Chew mentions resupply but says nothing about a "supply train" as you stated.
Here is the relevant part of the message with no mention of "supply train": "I am directed by the President of the United States to notify you to expect an attempt will be made to supply Fort Sumter..."
So, your friend's assertion is not validated by your own quote:
You also listed a letter of April 4 from "Abraham Lincoln to General Anderson."
It was not Lincoln that wrote this, but SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. Washington, D. C., on April 4, 1861. Reference here
Anderson was not a General but a Major in the U. S. Army.
You also said:
"Lincoln dispatched a letter to the commander of Fort Sumter informing him that he would soon be attacked by the Confederates, and that he was to take all steps to reduce loss of life, hold the Fort for one day, and then surrender it, which is exactly what happened."
The actual quote makes no mention of an order to "hold the Fort for one day". See here
One final comment and I won’t bother you anymore.
You said: “In any case, it is my understanding that the Nation accepted Southern Secession as a fait accompli, and made no bones over it. It was only Lincoln, who faced the humiliation of being the President who presided over the division of the Nation that was loath to accept what was then the status quo.”
Over the months leading to and after secession, the opinions varied but generally the newspapers were accepting secession and calling for peace.
That changed radically in March of 1861. As soon as the Confederacy announced its tariff rates, everyone began calling for war.
Lincoln quickly found that there was great interest in a military attack on the South by most of the governors and businessmen of the North. His own cabinet was reluctant as well as his military.