On this date 150 years ago, President Lincoln received a message from Secretary of State Seward in which the latter spoke of relations between the United States and France, Britain, Spain, and Russia. Seward indicated his willingness to assume responsibility for dealing with the Confederacy. In addition, the Secretary of State told the President that the issue with the Confederacy ought to centre around union or dis-union rather than slavery, and advised that Fort Sumter be abandoned while Federal occupation of other forts should continue. Lincoln's tactful yet firm response proved that he, and not Seward, would continue to make policy decisions.

In a seperate action, the President ordered the USS Powhatan to proceed to Florida where it could then aid Fort Pickens. This effectively removed the Powhatan from the Fort Sumter rescue efforts. Secretary of State Seward had advised this course of action but it was not made clear to the Department of the Navy, introducing some later confusion when the Fort Sumter expedition was finally under way.