I do hang more toward "the battle for Virginia" theory when it comes to the first shot on Sumter.

It was crusial for the South to get that state into the Confederacy before it was too late.

As we know - if Virginia had stayed in the Union - the WBTS had been shorten down with at least 2 years.

I have no trouble to understand Andersons actions - I beleive I my have done the same if I was in his shoes. One have to have in mind that the session of South-Carolina and the creation of the Confederacy in the short time of Dec 1860 to Apr 1861 created confusion amoung many US officers and their state of affairs and responsabilities when it came to standing orders and assignments given them. Anderson did make a stand on what he belived was right at the time.

Roy H