- Joined
- Aug 17, 2011
- Location
- Birmingham, Alabama
The Fox expedition had orders to initiate military action lawful under the Militia Acts. Its intent was to enforce US sovereignty in an area where sovereignty was in dispute. It was not an invasion because it did not get there in time. If it had gotten there, it would not be an invasion in the Union POV dictated by claims of sovereignty. It would be an invasion in the CSA POV also dictated by claims of sovereignty. The fact of invasion would be settled several years later. I find the debate over the term invasion, to be quibbling, but you all have fun at it.
Davis initiated military action first. Maybe the remaining States in the Union were ready to go to war or maybe not without that. Lincoln's leadership had shifted public opinion from debate/compromise to ready, but it was not a sure thing. Some historians paint Lincoln as lucky. I agree, but Lincoln prepared the nation for war so he hedged his bets. Davis shifted the probability far in Lincoln's favor. It could have been a blame Lincoln fest and our history would have been different if the Fox expedition had open fire first. It did not happen.
In any case it was not a hearts and flowers expedition. It was a expedition with the apparent intend to make the Rebels either acknowledge the Union as their sovereign or got to war. With the fate of his nation on his shoulders, Davis chose war. If I have been a Davis adviser and asked about going to war I'd say what are you waiting on. Likewise if Lincoln had asked me, I'd agree with his actions. It is history not a morality play.
Davis initiated military action first. Maybe the remaining States in the Union were ready to go to war or maybe not without that. Lincoln's leadership had shifted public opinion from debate/compromise to ready, but it was not a sure thing. Some historians paint Lincoln as lucky. I agree, but Lincoln prepared the nation for war so he hedged his bets. Davis shifted the probability far in Lincoln's favor. It could have been a blame Lincoln fest and our history would have been different if the Fox expedition had open fire first. It did not happen.
In any case it was not a hearts and flowers expedition. It was a expedition with the apparent intend to make the Rebels either acknowledge the Union as their sovereign or got to war. With the fate of his nation on his shoulders, Davis chose war. If I have been a Davis adviser and asked about going to war I'd say what are you waiting on. Likewise if Lincoln had asked me, I'd agree with his actions. It is history not a morality play.