No. The USS Powhatan was deverted from her assigned rendevous (taken by Lt. David Porter) with the fleet by secret presidential orders and deverted to the fleet that was to start the war at Fort Pickens, the actual intent of the operations. Fort Sumter was a deversion, Fort Pickens (an actual viable fort with military value) the target. Captain G.V. Fox never was informed of this and his fleet, without the "fighting force" sat on the Charleston Bar waiting for her. With the arrival of Fox's fleet, starting late on April 11th, General Beauregard, was forced to act. He knew that his gunner's could not hit moving targets, especially small launches in the dark. His orders had been changed from reducing Fort Sumter to prevent its reenforcement just weeks before. It looks like his only option was to force the surrender of the fort before Fox could reenforce it. With the arrival of each new ship the time to act grew closer. So Beauregard gave Anderson an ultimatum, (Anderson wouldn't comply with the fleet in sight) and began bombardment an hour later. Fox's plan was busted and he sought the rest of the war to clear his name.

Lt. David Porter was promoted to commander on April 22, 1861 and on up to admiral. His "Naval History of the Civil War" never mentions his role on the USS Powhatan.

_________________________
David Upton