I found the following letter stuffed away in an appendix to chapter III of Volume I of the Military Operations of General Beauregard by Alfred Roman. It is pertinent to the line of inquiry posted below by David Upton, but I wish to give it it's own space on this forum.

Washington

May 1, 1861

Capt. G.V. Fox
My Dear Sir- I sincerely regret that the failure of the late attempt to provision Fort Sumter should be the source of any annoyance to you. The practicability of your plan was not, in fact, brought to a test. By reason of a gale, well known in advance to be possible, and not improbable, the tugs, an essential part of the plan, never reached the ground; while, by an accident, for which you were in no way responsible, and possibly I, to some extent, was, you were deprived of a war-vessel, with her men, which you deemed of great importance to the enterprise.

I most cheerfully and truthfully declare that the failure of the undertaking has not lowered you a particle, while the qualities you developed in the effort have greatly heightened you in my estimation. For a daring and dangerous enterprise of a similar character, you would, today, be the man of all my aquaintances whom I would select. You and I both anticipated that the cause of the country would be advanced by making the attempt to provision Fort Sumter, even if it should fail; and it is no small consolation now to feel that our anticipation is justified by the result.

Very truly your friend, A. Lincoln

Please read the last sentence carefully, with all due consideration. HW