The order I read in the OR's and the Lincoln Papers did place the decison on Lincoln. Why he thought this up, and for what purpose, I cannot say. The Powhatten stopped in the Tortugas before coming to Pickens. That was a small delay but never the less, a delay. Without finding any more of the communication, it's just pretty much us tossing the ideas around. Possibly Lincoln thought that if, by some chance, they were able to 'resupply' Sumter and nothing happened, the arrival of the Powhatten at the mouth of Pensacola Bay would surely do the trick. Honest Abe may well have been a 'bet hedger'.
Pam