Quote:
Originally Posted by icenine
As Commander in Chief you do not have a choice in re-supply matters.
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In any case he feels warrants it, the Commander in Chief can assert control. Everybody knew that Sumter was about out of food, the commander had already advised his Southern counterparts, in response to their demands for surrender, that it would be forthcoming in a few days due to the exhaustion of victuals. Lincoln could have let the surrender happen, or attempt resupply, with the latter being viewed by the South as a hostile act. The Southerners had made it explicitly clear that they would respond with force to a resupply attempt. He chose to attempt it, and it was a personal, considered, and informed decision.