What were lincoln's choices in regard to fort sumter

Licoln knew that he could not prevent the war, but he insisted that the Confederacy must fire the first shot. Afree the bombardment began US ship was sent to evacuate Fort Summer , but it was unable to do so.
In short Licoln strategy was to make no aggresive moves toward the south until after the fort had been fired upon thus giving the union the moral high ground ^-^