FREE ESSAY ON LINCOLN: COULD HE HAVE PRESERVED THE UNION?

LINCOLN: COULD HE HAVE PRESERVED THE UNION?

From the time the South demanded the return of Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens, tension had
been building in expectation of Lincoln's reply. The options available to Lincoln were
limited, and those that were available were further limited by constraints of time and
man-power.
Lincoln's options were also limited by his goals. Lincoln had a set agenda, with
preserving the Union at the head of the list. Lincoln also aimed to preserve Fort Sumter
and Fort Pickens. Lincoln's most pressing goal was to instigate the war without seeming
to be the aggressor. This proved to be the most difficult goal, because to achieve this,
he had to know how far to push without seeming to push at all. An additional goal was to
perhaps lure the border states onto the northern side. This was an important goal because
it fell in line with Lincoln's un-hostile attitude. By being attacked first, he could say
he was responding to an act of war on the United States. 
One of Lincoln's options was to sit by and do nothing. This was not really an option,
however, because abandoning his soldiers at this fort would not only lower the morale of
his entire army, but could also turn many of his supporters against him. So, needless to
say, Lincoln could not really consider this as an option.
Lincoln, for a time, also entertained the idea of compromise. The southern resolve was so
concrete that this idea was abandoned rather quickly.
Another idea, proposed by Secretary of State Seward, was to abandon Fort Sumter and
concentrate on Fort Pickens. Lincoln did not accept this idea either, mainly because
abandoning a fort anywhere in the South would recognize the South as an independent
nation. Even so, Seward managed to get a force together, and taking one of the strongest
ships in the United States Navy, went to Pickens anyway. One idea with similar traits was
the idea to abandon both forts, leaving the South. Though open to consideration, this was
not at all in line with Lincoln's thinking. Again this would recognize the South as an
independent nation, which would finalize the secession.
For lack of a better idea, some suggested the reinforcing of the forts, to protect them
from bombardment. This idea was cast aside also, because, first of all, Fort Sumter lies
in between two points of land, both protected by forts. To make this idea work, those
forts would have to be taken, too. Lincoln could not amass the needed number of soldiers,
either. Secondly, the thought of risking more lives on just a pile of rock in the middle
of a harbor was not appealing.
Considering the resolve of the Southern states, Lincoln for a while considered a military
invasion. This, however, was not feasible. Lincoln's forces were so scattered, it would
take weeks on end to produce enough soldiers to achieve this goal. An estimate by General
in chief Scott suggested "5,000 regular troops and 20,000 volunteers." (Current 50) The
time frame for collecting this number of soldiers was much greater than the supplies in
Sumter could last. Fort Sumter was also reinforced by surrounding forts in Charleston
Harbor, meaning a loss of soldiers could be expected also. 
Lincoln's most favored option, the one he eventually went with, was to take a
non-aggressive force into the harbor, carrying supplies in to the short-rationed
soldiers. Although Lincoln went in under peaceful pretenses, one could assume that he was
attempting to achieve his goal of appearing to be the tormented, not the tormentor. His
ploy worked, and the South did as predicted and fired upon the re-supply fleet. By
achieving his non-aggressor goal, Lincoln also strengthened his case for winning the
border states.
Lincoln was faced with a dilemma when he had to decide between peace or unity. The
southern resolve eliminated any chance of compromise, so Lincoln had to chose the route
which seemed the best for the Union. He could not be seen as aggressive, because if he
did he risked losing the support of the border states, which could reduce the Union to
nothing. To reiterate, the southern states' hard nose attitude encouraged no
deliberation, so no compromise could have ever been achieved. Lincoln, in light of this
incident, might not be seen as your typical image of "Honest Abe", but he comes shining
through as a great leader.