Yes, even if it were just Sumter it would raise red flags. That was in December and sort of an implied threat. Then in January, Pickens becomes inhabited when it was sort of not worthy of human company before, one would be a bit like the village idiot if one couldn't connect a few dots. Mallory was trying to get info on the numbers and stores in the forts while he was still sitting in the US Senate but was denied because it was thought to not be in the US best interest. Here's yer sign. That may have been the original we've got to stock em before you can figure out what it's for tactic that was reworded in the last couple of years.
Two forts in strategic areas for messing up a supply line to the South were all of a sudden 'activated'? Yep, it was walking and quacking.

Somebody was doing some moving and if one were in the neighborhood they'd probably want to know why. If you don't hear any weather reports, and the neighbors start boarding up the windows and filling the generator tanks, you'd probably be sorry you did not figure out a storm was coming your way. No matter what you hear, the consensus is, somethings brewing and it's probably a good idea to at least be prepared.

Pam