Oh my, Contrarian, logic tells me the point over Sumter is being stretched, more than a little. If the State of South Carolina had the right to peaceibly untie its bonds with the union, it was not a thing that peaceably would be settled by bombarding the fort into submission. That was totally an aggressive act which negated any resolve to settle the matter by diplomatic or other means. The foundation of your assertion of wrong is seriously flawed. If Beauregard acted without knowledge and support of the political leadership of the south, then he acted in a manner that most certainly was calculated to elicited their support. Such license is not unwillingly granted. Your claim, in my opinion, is not merely false, it is intentionally so. For it is only by ignoring verified historical fact can such a claim as you make be asserted.