[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "The one thing that is absolutely known is that the commander of the Mission had secret orders."

And so you, ahem, conjecture that those allegedly "secret orders" which we don't know about somehow contradicted those other official orders which we do have on record?
I don't think so.
Links have been posted to copies of orders which confirmed Lincoln's message to SC Governor Pickens, that no Union troops would reinforce Fort Sumter if they met no resistance.

[DiogenesLamp]

And so you, ahem, conjecture that those allegedly "secret orders" which we don't know about somehow contradicted those other official orders which we do have on record?

If they did not, then why would they be kept secret? Why keep secret something that says the exact same thing as something which is not secret?

Do you think Lincoln simply amused himself with pointless pranks?

Links have been posted to copies of orders which confirmed Lincoln's message to SC Governor Pickens, that no Union troops would reinforce Fort Sumter if they met no resistance.

Well the Letter sent to Major Anderson by the Secretary of War gave him authority to surrender. If that's not telegraphing your intentions, I don't know what is.

Apparently they knew exactly what would be the outcome of their effort.