He was on Major Robert Anderson's side. "He protested against Major Robert Anderson's removal from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, and offered to buy the fort from the Federal government. On January 9, 1861, Governor Pickens sanctioned the firing upon the relief steamship Star of the West, which was bringing supplies to Anderson's beleaguered garrison. He also approved of the subsequent bombardment of Fort Sumter. He remained a fervent supporter of states rights."