- Apr 1, 2011
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There is no doubt that Lincoln wanted war. He provoked the SC garrison to fire on Ft Sumter:
Debating DiLorenzo: Lincoln, Secession, and Sumter « Crossroads
Debating DiLorenzo: Lincoln, Secession, and Sumter « Crossroads
BRIAN LAMB: How did he trick the South Carolinians?
DILORENZO: Well, he promised he would not send war ships to Fort Sumter, certainly, when he did. And then in my book, I quote him a letter from Lincoln to his naval commander, Commander Fox, Gustavus Fox thanking him for his assistance in getting the outcome that they desired, and the outcome that they desired was getting the South Carolinians to fire on Fort Sumter because he guessed correctly that the people of the north would rally behind the flag and support the war that he wanted to get into.
And at the same time, you had the confederates had sent peace commissioners to Washington to offer to pay the souths portion of the national debt and to pay for federal forts like Fort Sumter. Napoleon III of France offered to broker some sort of compromise, but Lincoln refused to speak to any of them. He wouldnt see any of them. He was determined to go to war, which he did.