New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-14
FORT sUnTE B.

Two days are nlcinornOie III conheoti"" WIN
Fort Sumter; the 10Th on which the Rebellion
fired its first shot. and the Hth on (which Major
Anderson yielded to superior force and hauled
down the United States Hsg. The former
will be the day historically significant in
coming years; the latter, we suppose, is
rightly selee ted for the commemoration which
marks the resumption Of the authority OF the
Union over this hallowed spot. -Four years
complete tho cycle; four years witness the
beginning and the end of the Rebellion, which
four hundred times four years will not see again
attempted. And il is fit that such IN anniver-
sary be marked by ceremonies A.. impressive as
those which to-day are performed at Fort
Sumter.
For nearly two years, the Rebel flag waved
unchallenged over the fort which the United
States, BY the voice Of its President had pledged
itself to repossess As Charleston was sea-
port, and Fort Sumter q work meant to protect
is harbor, il seems To- have been taken for
granted that city and fort must fall by pure
IL naval attack The Rebels went on strength
ening their position til Sumter became the
center Of a circle Of forts mounting not less than
800 guns, and the harbor Of Charleston rivaled
that of Cronstadt in the strength Of its ioritoa-
tons toward the sea. On our side, preparations
for attack but feebly kept pace with these
enormous preparations for defense. The Navy
Department devoted Itself 10 the com
petion of a few Monitors, which being
then untried, were deemed in official bnreGus
competent TO conquer dsfenses Of earth aud
stone mounting twenty times their number OF
guns. When the Department had done its best,
an attack was ordered, and Admiral Du Poni
was sent into the barber and under the walls 0
Sumter with feet consisting Of nine vessel,
carrying 80 guns-a single vessel, thu
Ironsides. having half the whole number. Tb,
Monitors, on which the Department chiefly re
lied, were seven only, with IL guns
Gen. Gilmore hsssince reported that $50 gum
were captured in. Charleston, of which much thu
larger part were mounted tyr the defense Of th'
harl,or. In such circumstances. and in obedi
enco 10 the belief entertained in Washington
thas the Monitors wero impregnable, aut
that, o. Mr.. Assistant Secretary of tho Navy
Fox declared. Fort Sumter would be abandono,
in fright the moment Monitor approached, thu
attack was ordered. 1t was conducted viii
consummaie skill. and with galautry unsur
passed, and it failed only because success in sucl
circumstances was impossible. The inequality
between tho assaulting and. tho dc
Tending force was not to DO over
come by any courage or auy professional
capacity; so the attack Of April Z, lo6:. passe,
into history as q failure. Admiral Du Pom
frankly reported TO the Department his opinion
that purely naval attack against Sumter bor'
no promise Of success with the means then pos
sesscd by the Navy. For expressing that opn
ion, he was removed. and Admiral Dahgrer
made his successor. But from that day to this
there never has been purely naval attack
against Sumter, and Charleston fell at last, ant
, with it Fort Sumter, by movement Of lant
forces wholly independent Of the navy.
i On the 10th laly. 1863. Gen. Gllmor