alt.war.civil.usa

Hugh Lawson wrote:

> Firing on Fort Sumter didn't force the upper south to
> secede. Considering that the North had determined to destroy the CSA,
> Fort Sumter put the upper south to the test: they had to decide
> whether to join the North in the suppression of the CSA,

Of course, if secession is legitimate, which you're arguing, then the CS
has de facto and de jure declared war on the United States, and the use
of force is entirely legitimate and expected.