Lincoln did not inform the Confederacy that he would not be sending troops or weapons along with the food supplies to Fort Sumter because he wanted to avoid escalating tensions and potentially provoking a violent response. By sending only food supplies, he hoped to signal his commitment to avoiding conflict and seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Additionally, by not sending troops or weapons, he may have been trying to demonstrate his willingness to de-escalate the situation and engage in diplomatic negotiations with the Confederate government.
