Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-04-26
THE FIRST DEFEAT OF THE
REBELS.
IFrom the Evening Post. I

From the Evening Post
1t is evident that General Scott has one,
more beaten the enemies of his country by
mere force of his admirable strateGica
genius. 10 do so, he has, as was necessary
suffered not only traitors, but loyal men, tc
rest under misrepresentation.
Those who remember the impatience with
which the American public watched his ap.
parent lnaction at one period of the Mexi-
can war, will not have forgotten the shout OF
admiration which went up from the people
when 1t was at last discovered that the sup
posed lnaction had been in reality the wjsest
and shrewdest action and that by the most
mastery display Of military strategy he had
outwltted the enemy, and obtained splen-
did victory when naught but defeat and dis,
aSter stared our army in the face
He who reads and compares carefully the
dispatches from Charleston, Montgomery and
Washington in this mornings journals, can
not avoid the gratifying conclusion that that
which looks at first blush like disaster to
the government, is in reality but the sue
cessiul carrying out of an admirable plan Of
military operations. Before this the traitors
see themselves caught in the tolls In fact
1t seems to have sickened the chief traitor,
Davis, already, for Montgomery dispatches
relate that when the news from Charleston
came, and the mob serenaded Davis and
Walker, "the former was not well, and did
not appear - and even his secretary was
costive of words, and declined to make a
speech.
The facts which tend to the conclusion
we have pointed out may be summed up as
follows
General Scott has been aVeTse to the at
tempt to reinforce Fort Sumter. lie saw that
1T would cost men and vessels which the gov
ernment could not spare just now.
A. AN able general, he saw that Sumter
and Charleston were points Of no military
importance, and would only need valuable
men to hold, if we took them, with no ade-
quate advantage gained.
Tie saw that the two keys of the position
were Fort Pickens in the gulf and Washing
ton, the capital.
lie knew what Davis had not generalship
to perceive, that on the 4th of March, and
for some weeks afterward, it would have
been been almost impossible for the federal
government to defend Washington against
such a force as the traitors had already
collected before Sumter, and which could be
marched at any time on capital not yet
prepared for defence-not yet even purged
of traitors.
HIS plans. based on these facts, were at
once land. BY every means in his power, be
concentrated the attention of traitors and
loyal men on Sumter. lie must have seen
with infinite satisfaction the daily increass
ing force gathered at Charleston, while the
government lest no time in strengthening
the capital. Every hour the traitors spent
before Sumter gave them only more surely
into the hands of their masters.
To make assurances doubly sure, he pre-
tended to leave Fort Pickens in the lurch. 1t
was said TO be in no danger, when Scott
knew that formidable force was investing
it. Men feared that all would be lost by
the inaction of the government, when it was
never more shrewdly energetic.
At last Washington was reasonably safe.
Forces were gathered. Once more our brave
old general saw himself with means in hls
hands. Then came the armament popularity
JeheUed 10 be destined for Fort SumteT. The
government said not wOrd-only asked OF
the traitors the opportunity to send its own
garrison a needed supply of food. They re-
fused-and fearing the arrival of the federal
heet-drunk and besotted with treason, and
impatient to shed the blood of loyal soldiers,
they made the attack.
Scarce had they begun, when they saw,
with evident terror, ships lowering about the
harbor's mouth; they piled their cannon in
desperate haste; bm no ship came 10 Ander-
sons help! What was the matter?
Made bold by the furious thirst for blood,
they dared the ships TO come in. But no
ship offered rs assistance 10 Anderson More,
the guns of Sumter were directed at the
works of the traitors, and Maj. Anderson
evidently tried to fire in such a manner as not
10 kill men. He did not even try few
bombs on the city, though it is certain, from
letter of one of his own officers, that his
guns would reach beyond the center of
Charleston.
What was the matter? Beauregard must
have thought the Government officers both
fools and towards. When his own boats
were sailing unharmed about the harbor,
between Sumter and Moultrie, bearing his
orders, was it possible that the forces out
side could stand apathetic while brave
garrison was being done to death When
the battle was to the death, would a shrewd
officer neglect to divert his enemy s attention
by firing his city?
If it seemed mysterious to US, waiting ON
Saturday with preathless suspense. it must
have seemed incomprehensible to any cool
head in the traitor camp.
Sul no ships come in-in fact the reports
state that only three OF four small vessels
remained in the oGiipg. After iOur hours
cannonade, in iclsioh not one man is killed
late reports show that good many were kill
ed, Major Anderson, an officer of undoublec
courage and honor, runs up white flag
surrenders the tort, and becomes the CUES
Of General Beauregard. Let no man hastily
cry traitor He only obeyed his orders
He made an honorable defence. He tool
car, to shed no blood. lie "gave orders no
to sight men, but to silence batteries.
Meantime, while the rebels are ignorantl,
gloriIying the victory of five thousand mel
ever eighty, what news comes from Mont
gomery? The Telegraph, in the hands o
tn e reb Is, says:
Fort Pioktns reinforced last ntght.'
III is understood thai Charleston hasb sbr i, blackaded
Dispatches from Lieutenant Slemmer
capt red by the rebels. gave Davis the frs
intinat on of his defeat No wonder tha
the rebel chief was 'sck." and went
led No wonder that bis Secretary, Walk