That is not what the orders said. Anderson was instructed only to move if he was in danger and had evidence his men were going to be killed. He had nothing.
Thanks for your response.
Are you and I reading the same orders?
Let's review:
You posted "Instructions from President Buchanan presented to Major Anderson at Fort Multrie [sic]":
You are carefully to avoid every act which would needlessly tend to provoke aggression. and for that reason you are not, without necessity, to take up any position which could be construed into the assumption of a hostile attitude; but you are to hold possession of the forts in this harbor, and, if attacked, you are to defend yourself to the last extremity. The smallness of your force will not permit you, perhaps, to occupy more than one of the three forts; but an attack on or attempt to take possession of either of them will be regarded as an act of hostility, and you may then put your command into either of them which you may deem most proper to increase its power of resistance. You are also authorized to take similar steps whenever you have tangible evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile act.
The political history of the United States of America, during the great rebellion, By Edward McPherson pg. 31
You posted "His Direct Orders"
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, December 21, 1860.
Major ANDERSON,
First Artillery, Commanding Fort Moultrie, S.C.:
SIR: In the verbal instructions communicated to you by Major Buell, you are directed to hold possession of the forts in the harbor of Charleston, and, if attacked, to defend yourself to the last extremity. Under these instructions, you might infer that you are required to make a vain and useless sacrifice of your own life and the lives of the men under your command, upon a mere point of honor. This is far from the President's intentions. You are to exercise a sound military discretion on this subject.
It is neither expected nor desired that you should expose your own life or that of your men in a hopeless conflict in defense of these forts. If they are invested or attacked by a force so superior that resistance would, in your judgment, be a useless waste of life, it will be your duty to yield to necessity, and make the best terms in your power.
This will be the conduct of an honorable, brave, and humane officer, and you will be fully justified in such action. These orders are strictly confidential, and not to be communicated even to the officers under your command, without close necessity.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. FLOYD.
ORDNANCE OFFICE,
Washington, December 21, 1860.
In summary, Anderson was to "hold possession of the forts in the harbor of Charleston", "avoid every act which would needlessly tend to provoke aggression", "if attacked, to defend yourself to the last extremity". Because of "the smallness of your force" it may not be possible to defend all three installations. "Any attack on or attempt to take possession of either of them will be regarded as an act of hostility, and you may then put your command into either of them which you may deem most proper to increase its power of resistance'. Further, Anderson was not required to wait to be attacked: "You are also authorized to take similar steps whenever you have tangible evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile act."
Finally, Anderson was not required to sacrifice his command, but "to exercise a sound military discretion on this subject."
Regardless of what Buchanan and Floyd said afterward, they clearly gave Anderson the leeway to defend the installations as he saw fit. As a good soldier, he knew his best chance of achieving his mission was- as had been suggested to him in his orders- to defend the strongest position, a position of his choice. He was told not to threaten the South Carolina authorities but authorized to determine when his command was threatened and act accordingly.
Major Anderson operated entirely within his orders.