As for Fort Sumter...An armistice had been entered into between South Carolina's government and the United States government, December 6, 1860. A similar armistice had been entered into between Florida and the United States government, January 29, 1861. These armistices agreed that the forts, Sumter and Pickens, should neither be garrisoned nor provisioned so long as these armistices continued in force.

Lincoln sending a resupply ship to Fort Sumter was a violation of this armistace, and an act of war. The first act of war.