[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.

[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp on alleged "secret orders" to the Fox mission: "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? "

Your unsubstantiated claim of "secret orders" is just that unsubstantiated.
I've neither seen nor heard of such.

What I know for certain are Lincoln's orders to all his mission ship commanders, including Fox in SS Baltic and commanders of Powhattan, Pocohantas, Pawnee and Harriet Lane, because they were later published in the New York Times.
Those orders said, in part:

"...The primary object of the expedition is to provision Fort Sumter, for which purpose the War Department will furnish the necessary transports.
Should the authorities of Charleston permit the fort to be supplied, no further particular service will be required of the force under your command, and, after being satisfied that supplies have been received at the fort, the Powhatan, Pocahontas and Harriet Lane will return to New York, and the Pawnee to Washington.

Should the authorities at Charleston, however, refuse to permit or attempt to prevent the vessel or vessels having supplies on board from entering the harbor or from peaceably proceeding to Fort Sumter, you will protect the transports or boats of the expedition in the object of this mission -- disposing of your force in such a manner as to open the way for their ingress, and afford, so far as practicable, security to the men and boats, and repelling, by force if necessary, all obstructions to provisioning the fort and reinforcing it; for in case of resistance to the peaceable primary object of the expedition, a reinforcement of the garrison will also be attempted..."

These orders exactly match what Lincoln told South Carolina Governor Pickens.