"There is not one incident that I can think of where the southerners occupied any of these sites by use of force. Can you give references to any case where force was used by the Southerners?"

Yes, at 10:30 a.m. on December 30, 1860, Col. John Cunningham, 17th Regt. Inf., S.C.M., sent the following demand:

"Sir: I herewith demand an immediate surrender of the the U.S. Arsenal at this place and under your charge, and a delivery to me of the keys and contents of the arsenals, magazines, &c.

I am already proceeding to occupy it with a strong armed detachment of tropps.

I make this demand in the name of the State of South Carolina, and by virtue of an order from its governor, a copy of which is inclosed"

O.R. Series I, Vol. I, p. 7.