"If the south had not attacked the North at Ft. Sumpter, Mr. Lincoln would not have any war powers authority."

I agree that maybe the southern forces shouldn't have fired on Fort Sumpter. But that would have demanded a great deal of forbearance on the people of South Carolina's let alone the rest of the Confederate States part.

South Carolina in fact after December 20th, considered themselves as an Independent Country from the United States, before Fort Sumpter was ever occupied by Major Anderson against the orders of his superiors. It is a matter of history that Anderson occupied Fort Sumpter 7 days after South Carolina declared itself that independent country being no longer a part of the US.

So from what standpoint do you determine who attacked who?

If you are a Unionist, Yes the South fired the first Shots.

If you are a Southern Nationalist, the North made the first, second, and third Acts of War, in the Occupation of Fort Sumpter and the attempts to forcible resupply and reinforce that threatening position by first the "Star of the West" in January 1861 and the second stronger attempt that was in the works just offshore on April 12th, 1861.

So in my opinion the South did show forbearance in even that matter.