Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-04-25
THE REPUBLICAN.
A PLAUSIBLE THEORY.
Why Fort Sumter was Surrendered.
the ACTION OF THE FLEET EXPLAINED.

ernment. and the inexplicable inaction of
what the Charleston agent of the Associ-
ated Press said was the abolition fleet"
lying off the harbor, while the lombard
ment of Sumter was going on:
THE FIRST DEFEAT OF THE REBELS.
1t is evident that General Scott has
once more beaten the enemies OF his coun
try by mere force of his admirable strate-
gical genius. To do so. he has, as was ne
cessary, suffered not only traitors, but
loyal men, to rest under misapprehen-
sion. - .,rss
Those who remember the .impatience
with which the American public watched
his apparent inaction at one period Of the
Mexican war. will not have forgotten the
shout of admiration which went up from
the people when it was at last discovered
that the supposed inaction had been in re-
ality the wisest and shrewdest action; and
that by the most mastery display Of mill
tary strategy he had outwitted the enemy,
and obtained splendid victory when
noughr but defeat and disaster stared our
army in the face.
He who reads and compares carefully
the dispatches from Charleston, Montgom-
cry and Washington in this mornings
journals. cannot avoid the gratifying con-
clusion that that which looks at first blush
like disaster to the government. is in re-
ality but the successful carrying out of an
admirable plan of military operations
r ~ Al. Al ell.
caught in the tolls. In fact it seems to
have sickened the chief traitor. Davis. al
ready, for Montgomery dispatches relate
that when the news from Charleston came.
and the mob serenaded Davis and Walker,
"Me former scas not reH and did not dp-
pear" and even his Secretary was cos
tive of words, and 'declined to make q
speech"
The facts which tend to the conclusion
we have pointed out may be summed up as
follow:
General Scott has been averse to the at
tempt to reinforce Fort Sumter He saw
that it would cost men and vessels which
the government could not spare just now.
AS an able general. he saw that Sumter
and Charleston were points Of no military
importance, and would only need valua-
Die men to hold, if we took them-with
no adequate advantage gained.
He saw that the two keys OF the posi-
ton were Fort Pickens in the Gulf, and
Washington. the capital.
He knew what Davis had not general
ship to perceive, that on the 4th of March.
e. cft L.. IL
have been alIaost impossible for the Fed
eral Govern nent to defend Washington
against such force as the traitors had al
ready collected before Sumter, and which
could be marched at any time on Capt.
tai not yet prepared for defence-not yet
even purged of traitors.
His plans, based on these facts. were at
once laid. BY every means in his power,
he concentrated the attention of traitors
and loyal mea ON Sumter. He must havs
seen with infinite satisfaction the daily in
creasing force gathered at Charleston.
while the Government lost no time in
strengthening the Capital. Every hour
he traitors spent before Sumter gave them
only more surely into the hands of their
master.
To make assurance 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 invest
ing il. Men feared that ell would be lost
oy 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 General saw himself with means
in his hands. Then came the armament
popaiarly 5eiieucd 10 be destined for .Sumter.
The Government said not word-only
asked of the traitors the opportunity to
send its own garrison needed supply of
food. They refused-and fearing the ar
rival of the Federal heet--drunk and be-
sottei with treason. and impatient to shed
the blood Of loyal soldiers. they made the
attack. ~ - -. ..sf ~
Scarce had they begun. when they saw.
with evident terror. ships hoyering about
the harbor's mouth. They piled their
cannon in desperate haste: but no ship
came IN TO Anderson's helpi What was
the matter? -t.-g
Made bold by the furious thirst for
blood. they dared the ships to come in.-
Bat no ship offered its assistance to Ander-
son! More. the guns of Sumter were on
ly directed at the ,corks Of the traitors.
and Maj. Anderson evidently tried to FIRE
in such manner as not to 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 outside could stand apsthetic while
brave garrison was being done to death?
When tie battle was to the death. would
{ shrewd officer neglect to divert his ene-
my's attention BY firing his city2 -.
If It seemed mysterious to u.s.. waiting
on Saturday with breathless suspense, i
must have seemed incomp prehensible to any
cool head in the traitor camp.
Still no ships come in-and in fact the
reports state that only three or four small
vessels remained in the ofing. After for
fy hours can1lonsde IN wkieh not sixgls.
man is Killed. Maj. Anderson, an officer of
undoubted courage and honor, runs up 8
white fiag, surrendess the fort, and be-
comes the guest of Gen Beauregard. Let