New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-16
THE FIRST DEFEAT or THE REBELS.
From The Evening Post.

It's evident that General Scott has once beaten
the enemies Of bis country oy mere fore oi his admir-
able srataCetical genius To do 90 be has IA was ne
cessary suffered not only traitors but loyal men, TO
rest under Misrepresentation.
Those who remem er the Impotence with winch the
American public watched lis apparent naeton 81 one
period OF tie Mexican war; will not have forgotten the
shout of admiration which went up from the people
when IL was al hast discovered that toe supposed ilao
ton had been in reality The wisest and shrewdest ac-
ton; and that by the most mastery display OF military
strategy be had outwited the enemy, and obtained
splendid victory when nough but defeat and disaster
stared our army IN the face
He who reads and compares cnrefuy the dispatches
from Charleston Montgomery and Washington IN this
mornings journals, cannot avoid the gratifying con-
clu-ion that that which looks at first blush like dis
aser TO the government il in reality hut the success
full carrying Of admirable plan OF military oper-
atoms Before this the traitors zee themselves canght
in the tolls. In fact II 70 have Ickened the eliei-
traitor Davis already for Montgomery dispatches
late that when the news from Charleston came, and
the mob serenaded Davis and Walker "be former was
not well and did not appear :" and even his secretary
was costiye Of words aud declined 10 make speech"
The facts which tend 10 the conclusion We have
rotated out NAV be summed up Is follows:
General Scott has been ayerse TO the attempt TO reen
force Fori Sumter. He saw that 1t would cost men
and vessels, which The Government could not spare
Just now.
ton were points # military Importance, and would
only need valuable 10 bold II We took theIn-with
no adequate advantage gained.
lie Jaw that the two keys Of the position Fort
Pckens in the Gulf, aud Warrington, the capital
lie knew that Davis had not generalship 10 perceive
that on the 9TH Of March and for weeks after
ward il would have been almost impossible for tie Fed
erI Government 10 defend Washington against snth
force AS tie traitors lad already collected before Sum-
ter and which could lie marched nj any time on cap
itl yet prepared for ceiense-no yet even purged
of traitors. -,
His plans, based on these farts were at once laid.
MI tad fe
tention Of traitors and loyal Sumter. He must
have seen with infue satisfaction the daily increasing
force gathered at Charleston, willie the Government
lost no time 10 Strengthening the capital Every hour
the traitors spent before Sumter gave them only more
surely into the hands of their master.
To make assurance doully sure, he pretended 10
leave Fort Pckens in the urch. IL said TO be in
DANGER when Scott knew that Formidable force was
investing it, Men feared that All would be lost by the
inact0n Of the Government, when II 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 his hands. Then came the ar
mgnent popularity believed 10 be destined for Sumter
The Goyernme nt said not wOrd-only asked OF tie
traitors the opportunity send It's own garrison
needed supply OF fool. They refu-edand fearing the
arrival Of the Federal hcet-dTunk and besoited wan
treason, and impatient to shed the blood oil loyal
soldiers, they made the attack.
Scarce bad they begun when they saw with evident
terror ships lowering about the haTbors MOUTH they
plied their cannon in desperate haste; but ship
came in TO Anderson's helpl What was the matter
Made bold by the furious ht for blood, they dared
the ships in. But 10 ship offered iIs assistance
10 AndersOni More, the guns Of Sumter were only
directed at the works Of the traitors and Major Andei
son evidently tried 10 ire In such manner as not 10
kill men. He did not even try a few bombs on Tie
city, though it is certain, from letter OF one OF ms
own officers that Ills guns would reach DeyOnl the
center Of Charleston.
What was the roat,eri Beauregard must have
thought the Government officers both Tools ana cow
ards. When his own boats were sailing unharmed
about the harbor between Sumter and MCuiIie, bear
ing his orders was it pOftbe that the forces outside
coud stand apathetic while brave garrison was beng
done to death When tue battle was TO the death,
would shrewd officer neglect 10 overt MS enthys
attention by firing his cityi
If it seemed mysterious to US, waiting on Saturday
wi breathless snspenEe, II must have seemed neom-
prehensible to any cool head in the trafor camp.
Still no ships come Inland in fact the reports state
that only three four small vessels remained IN TIE
oaing After forty hours cannonade in which not one
man il killed. Major Anderson, officer Oh uncoubtod
courage and honor, runs up white lag, sqrrenders
the Fort, and becomes the guest OF General Beaure
gard. Let no man hastily cry traitor lie only
obeyed lis orders. He made an honorable defense.
lie took care 70 shed no blood. lie gave orders not
to sight men, but to lence batteries"
Meantime while the rebels ignoranly clarifying
the victory of five thousand men over eighty, what
news comes from Montgomery The telegraph in the
"Fort Pickens was reinforced last night"
alt is Understood that Charleston harGor ID block
AIDED"
DISPATCHES from Lieut.. Slemmer captured by the
rebels, gave Davis the first ntma,ion Of lis defeat
No wonder the rebel chief was rick" and went 10
bedl No wonder that his Secretary, Walker, declined
TO make a speech.
And what from Washington These significant
paragraphs:
The report Anderson has Surrendered ard the OF
Ger Besuregsd has been communicate to the President The
surprised but the contrary remarked the
supply vees could reach him and be did right" WbeI ho
told that the report that nobody injured In fot
GREETED that Major Anderson could not be supplied that
al he nee ded
The IN the play viii represent at Fort Picsen
in Pensacola Harbor
The position Of affairs is this: Charleston is block
aded Fort Pickens il reinforced by troops which the
traitors fooishly believed were destined for Sumter.
Washington is secure beyond peradyenture. The
traitors have without the slightest cause, opened the
war they have 70 long threatened. The country Is
reused to defend its assaled liberties, and gathers en-
Enthusiastically about the Government and treason has
been checkmated at 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 Administration Let MS
thank God that brave old Gen. Scott remains TO give
bis loyal hear and wise head 70 his e0untys service