The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-04-20
By rRE President.
WILLIAM b. SEWARD. Secretary of St
The First Defeat Of the Rebels.
Hrvm the New York Post.

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 dis
covered that the supposed inaction had been in
reality the wisest and shrewdest action; and
that by the most mastery display of military
strategy he had outwitted the enemy, and OBJ
tanned splendid victory when nought but de-
feat and disaster stared our army in the face.
He who reads and compares carefully the dis.
patches from Charleston, Montgomery and Wash
ington in this mornings journal, cannot avoid
the gratifying conclusion that that which looks
ut FIRST blush like disaster TO the Government,
is in reality but the successful carrying out of
an admirable plan of military operations. Be-
fore this the traitors see themselves caught in
the tolls. In fact it seems to have sickened the
the chief traitor, Davis, already, for Aontgom-
ery dispatches relate that when the news from
Charleston came, and the mob serenaded Davis
and Walker, 1.-THE former was not we'll 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:
Gen. Scott has been averse to the attempt 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 impor
lance, and would only need valuable men to
hold, if we took then-with no adequate advan-
tage gained
He saw that the two keys of the position were
Fort Pickens in the Gulf, and Washington the
capital.
He knew that Davis had not generalship to
perceive that on the 4th of March and for some
weeks afterward it would have been almost i'm
possible for the Federal Government to defend
Washington against such force as the traitors
had already collected before Sumter, and which
could be marched at any time on capital not
yet prepared for defense-not yet even purged
Of traitors.
His plans, based on these facts, were at once
laid. By every means in his power he concen-
trsted the attention of traitors and loyal men
Sumter. He must have seen with infinite salts
faction the daily increasing force gathered at
Charleston, while the Government lost no time
in strengthening the capital. Every hour the
traitors spent before Sumter gave them only
more surely into the hands of their master.
To make assurance douby sure, he pretended
to leave Fort Pickens in the lurch. 1t was said
to be in danger, when Scott knew that formi-
dable force was investing it Men feared that
all would be lost by the inacton of tie Govern
ment, when it was never more shrewdly ener-
getic.
At last Washington was reasonably safe. For
ces were gathered. Once more our brave old
General saw himself with means in his hands
Then came the armament, popularity believed to be
for Sumter. The Government said not a word
only asked OF the traitors the opportunity to
send its own garrison a needed supply Of food.
They refused-and fearing the arrival of the
Federal feet-drunk and besotted with treason,
and impatient to shed the blood oil 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; but no ship came in to Anderson's help!
What was the matter?
Made bold BY the furious thirst for blood, they
dared the ships to come in. But no ship offered
its assistance to Anderson! More, the guns Of
Sumter we're only directed at the works Of the
traitors, and Major 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 I'M
harmed about the harbor, between Sumter and
Moultrie, bearing his orders, was it possible that
the forces outside could stand apathetic while a
brave garrison was being done to death? When
the battle was to the death, would a shrewd Off.
Ger neglect to divert his enemy's attention by
firing his city?
II it seemed mysterious to US, waiting on Sat-
urday with breatless suspense, it must have
seemed incomprehensble to any cool head in
the traitor camp.
Still no ships come inland in fact the reports
state that only three or four small vessels re-
manned in the ofing. After forty hours cannon
AIDE, in which not one man is killed, Major An
derson, an officer Of undoubted courage and
honor, runs up white flag, surrenders the Fort,
aud becomes the guest Of General Beauregard
Let no man hastily cry traitor! He only obey
ed his orders. He made an honorable defense
He took care to shed no blood. He "gave
orders not to sight men, but to silence bat
teries"
Meantime, while the rebels are ignorantly glo.
rifying the victory Of five thousand men over
| eighty, what news comes from Montgomery ?
The telegraph in the ha, of the rebels says
Fort Pckens was reinforced last night
at is understood that Charleston hsrbor 10
blockaded'
Dispatches from Lieut.. Sleminer, captured by
the rebels, gave Davis the first intilnation of his
defeat! No wonder the rebel chief wis 'sick, ("
and went to bed /! No wonder that his Secret nv,
Walker, decllned to make speech.
Aud what from Washington! These signif-
cant paragraphs:-
The report that Anderson has surrendered,
aud is the guest Of Gen. Beaur.gard. has been
communicated to the President. The latter was
not surprised, but on the contrary, remarked,
:. The supply vessels did hot reach him, and he
did right" When he has told that the report
was that nobody was injured in Fort Sumter, he
seemed very much gratided, and remarked that
he regretted that Major Anderson could not be
supplied, No that WAS all he needed.
The next act in the play will represent scene
ut Fort Pickens, in Pensacola Harbor.
The position of Affairs is this: Charleston ia
blockaded. Fort Pckrns is reinforced by ttoops
which the traitors fooiishly believed were des
tined for Sumter Washington 10 secure beyond
persdvcntnrs. The traitors have, without the
slightest cause, opened the war they have 60
long threatened The country is reused to de.
send its assailed Liberties, and gathers enthusias-
ticaIly about the Government; and treason has
been checkmated ut the first blow it struck.-
Let them keep Sumter few weeks
Let no man cry traitor to Major Anderson
Let no one fear for the energy Of the Admins
tration. Let ~ thank God that brave old Gen.
SCOTT remains 70 give his IoysD heart and wise
head 70 bic country's service!
A Touch MANA witness was called the
othse day in the riot case, who answered to the