They were there to land supplies for the garrison that the South was trying to starve into surrender.
On April 11, 1861, one of those ships, the “Harriet Lane” or “Harriet Lee” (I can’t remember which) fired on the Confederate ship “Nashville” in Charleston Harbor. The next day, Beauregard ordered the shelling of Sumter.
The Harriet Lane stopped the Nashville and had her identify herself. Once she did she was allowed to continue into Charleston. Interestingly enough, she was promptly seized by the confederate authorities from her lawful owners, a New York shipping firm. So Southern theft took many forms.
“The Harriet Lane stopped the Nashville and had her identify herself. Once she did she was allowed to continue into Charleston. Interestingly enough, she was promptly seized by the confederate authorities from her lawful owners, a New York shipping firm. So Southern theft took many forms.”
Details please. Who gave the order to fire on the “Nashville?” What was the chain of command that ultimately authorized the action? If a standing order, who wrote it, and when? Did the “Harriet Lane” give the “Nashville” a warning before firing, as required under maritime law? Or did it violate maritime law? If it did signal the “Nashville”, what specifically did the warning state? Was it by semiphore? Did the warning comply with maritime law? Was “Harriet Lane’s” action a war crime? If not, why not? You see how ridiculous this can get? We can play this idiot game forever.