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Ife, *v Joa. H. Sears, Editor and Proprietor. PORT ROTAL, SATURDAY, APRIL IS, | GOOD NEWS. The reinforcements now ordered aud oil their way from the North will soou elevate this Depart- ! ment to the first rank in public interest and military importance. "We are not at liberty to give further indications, but this much is certain, that the grey-b?cks along the Southern coast are about to have some lively and interesting times. CHARLES COS. We have every cause to congratulate the Department and the Country upon tho results of the initial or experimental atta -k upon Fort Sumter by the i:on-clad squadron. While those who absurdly believed that the grim defenders of Charleston would fly affrighted from the first fire of our Monitors, have been inevitably disappointed.?the result* of this experiment furnish solid grounds, not merely for hope, but for conviction, that the rebel stronghold cannot crentuaHf, nor for any length of time, res at the agencies now employed lor its subjugation. All the information needed, as to the character of the obstacles to be overcome, is now possessed by Admiral Im Pont and his galJKnt Council of those who have so nobly earned the title oT niif irot-claa captains."" Tttyirim n?M? sanee has accomplished its object; and, with the increased means already in course of being furnished,?the victory, though it will be one of struggle and protracted labor, both to the army and nav\?ntay be regarded as assured. As to those who. from a safe distance ask quer- J ulonslv why the experiment <1 attack w\ s not pressed forward to the proportions *?f a decisive .engagement ?we have only to reply that the age of miracle* is unfortunately over. That Sumter can be reduced by bombardment, 110 doubt exists. Kven under the brief attack made, its walls were bidly breached in several places, daylight poured freely through its upper ramparts, and two of its heaviest barbette ritied guns were dismounted ?. Under the pounding of our tifteen inch guns, the whole structure was shaken toils foundations, and long tig-sag cracks are now apparent n its walls. Nevertheless, Sumter vs not- Charleston; nor is iwriphn The-?? ft idem ' of oor Nivv i 1) partuicnt, m? uot the ** Joshua'' of our Scriptures ! nor can any amount of horn-blowing, at Washington or dsevfrhere, give us the accursed city." , In a word, before the reduction and capture of > ort Sumter can be any tiling but a fruitless and vet n??*t expensive victory, the Aduii al, in concert with the C ommanding General of the -and force*, will have to mature .?nd perfect all his j prep .'atioiiH to f?llow up the tirst advantage, and I move with assured ? ecessfroin j*>int to p unt ? i t-aeh fort orbitterv thai 1* reduced tending to de vre*se iri geometrical ratio the difficulty of the ! fr.al problem. T?? tli? nsapii^ntiUMl anecesxful gallantry with which the Navy essayed this experimental attack, in which their former education and experience j -nould l?e <-f ;?o little avail, we pay the hum- [ l>le tribute of our imfrt hearty admiration.; hito the tempest of steel bolts and hammered shot, \ which hailed in one continuous torrent over every square yard of the waters fronting and around Fort Sumt-r. the squadron entered with the steadiness of h manoeuvre in the peaceful sunshine of lort Koval Harbor,, wheeling to and fro through the storm of missiles, delivering their fire with I precision, and only withdrawing after all the ob- ' jeots of the jrpeonnoisance hcd been ftilly and tri- j umphautly ^complished. The only casualty,? ; the sinking of the Keokuk is of course to be regretted; but that such would be her fate was a' common anticipation; and it is a matter-of legiti-; * ? * ? ?i_ . i*? j mate joy that the locuraDie laum 01 ner cunairuetion were exposed without causing the loss of her turice-gallant Captain and his worthy crew. All honor to the iron-clads and to the iron-hearted men who man them! The experinfet of' taking a City by machinery " is the last and highest development of ? Yankee labor-saving.'' Resignations.?The resignations cf the following officers in the Department have been accepted during the past fortnight: 1st Lt. J. F. Johnston, 1st South Carolina Volunteers;. Capt. G. W. Bis- j sell. 90th New York Volunteers i Capt.. James P.,; Raymond, 90th New York Volunteers; Capt Ihos. W.. Johnson, 90th New York Volunteers ;. 1st Lt. Phillip Guest, 90th New York Volunteers; j 1st Lt. Ge^S. Stewart, 90th New York Volun-I teers; 1st I*. John Lock, 90th New York. Yolum teers; 2d Lt, Henry F. Blacknell, 90th New York Volunteers; 2d Lt. John Hall, 90th New York Volunteers* Is: Lt. Joseph J. Donohoe od New Hampshire Volunteers, on account of appointment as Adjutantof tlje 10th New Hampshire Volum teers. Promotions ?Sergeant Martin Stottler, 6th Corineciicnt A'olunteers. to be 2d Lieutenant;. Sergeant Ilenrv F. Stanly, 6th Connecticut Volunteers, to be 1M Lieutenant; 1st Lieutenant H. S. Taflt, to be Captain in the loth Massachusetts Volunteers; 2d-Lieutenant H. Clay Snvder, to be 1st Lieutenant in the 7th Penn'a. lteserve Corps.; 1st Sergeant John Kirwin, 3d New Hampshire fcbc_2d lieutenant. [XF*Col John Hay o. Illinois, Private Secretary to the President, and Gol. Daniel Clark P.riggs ol New York have been announced as Volunteer Aides on the Staff ot the Major-General Coiuman- j ding, and will be respected and obeyed accordingly.. CC7" Capt. John llan iltou, Artillery, is announced as thiif of Artillery during General Seymour's absence. No better selection could have been made. Northee.n News.?We have dates ? the ljth inst. They are mostly filled with acuouiita of the j "tight at ( harlestun." in? >ew lorn neraia learns from rebel sources thai the long-ex]?ected attack upon Charleston commenced on Tuesday last. * In the early part of the day only four of our iron-clads were engaged?probably three fitted w ith submarine devils and one other. According the rebels the firing fronv both parties was very heavy and during the action the Irxrnri es grounded, but got oft*and dropped out of range.. Abont two o clock iu the afternoon seven Mory J itor battelies. and the Keokuk and Ironudet again renewed the contest at about one mile and three ; quarters distant as in all probability no obstruction ' j f/v* lv xo. k K/viipu tlio vi-.) u ?*n r\ I was iUtlUU* AIIU J VI IUt W livuio IUV utuiQ nwa iup. | id and heavy. Sumter was the aim of operations ! at that time. The casual;it's in the fort, were one ! killed and five badly wounded No report, had been received frotn Use other batteries." ? On the 8th inst., the President had a.grand review of General looker's army.. lie was at-.j tended by his son.. Mrs..Lincoln and,other ladies were present. - Gen. Foster is reported in a critical situation in North Carolina. Ilia camps, were surrounded ! by the relvls but he pefuses to surrender. One j vessel hail reached him and h^ary reinforcement* were on their way to his succor.. ? Vau Dorn's whole rebel force attacked Gen. Graoger April 10th, at Franklin. After severe fighting for two hours, the rebels retreated, leav-. ing their dead and wounded ou the tie'd. The casualties ou either side are not vet known. Thk Patapsco Kot Injured.?We learn incidentally that the Patapsco was ordered back tothis port, not from any injtiry she received in the engagement, in order to obtain the increased means of aggression found to be necessary from her reconnoisance of the obstructions between Sumter and Moultrie. The impretaion is prevalent thai she was injured to such an extent as to be unable to participate in the fight. This is a mistake, and hence our explanation. She was abso> lutely uninjured, save the many scars of battle on her smoke-stack. ? We have very little news to give this week, us no mail from the North has arrived since our last issue and we must not talk too loud about our own movements. We hope soon, however, to give our readers something ftartliug, which will arouse not only this Department, but the whole country. It is glorious to know that our long quiet here,? at last to be broken by the most vigorous movements ol the war. CF" The return of Gen. Truman Seymour, Chief of'Maffand of Artillery, is anxiously expected., lie will probably come down on the jlrago, and will doubtless be accompanied by Brig. Gen. Egbert L. Yei.le, who, it is hoped, may bring with him his amiable lady. The New Rebel Seal?A cavalier is to be adopted as the seal of the Confederate States of America, because as Mr. Clay observed in the Rebel Senate, the Southern people were a nation of horsemen, and descended Irom the old cavalier.. We arc not so sureihat the chivalry of Dixie are descendants of the cavaliers ol unmixed blood, it is within a comparative recent period that they have boasted of it, and alter the lecords of primo. geniture are wiped out. Randolph certainly boast, ed cf his descent from Pocahontas, and l>cfur< Oglethorpe, Georgia and many other Southern ct'ifou wmm nn h#*ftAr than Rntanv Ttov an/1 Uliliwo n V?V UV 1MWM AfVlrWUJ 4/WJ n UAIU I VV^I I f ed into their bosom hordes of English convicts, to whom half the chivalry can trace their family tree, if they Have Kept the record caref ully. Tht< Diclc lurpiBs ol the highway, as well as the thieves and criminals of lesser grade, had something to do in creating "Southern Society; * and the excellence of the horsemanship of the Rebels in the seceded States, is doubtless owing to the skill acquired by their ancestors on the turf. What is in the blood, will out in the tlesh; and not only their superior equestrianism, but their facility for robbing and plundering federal prisoners may be traced to. one source?that of English freebooters, if the Confederates do adopt tins cavalier as their seal, we hope they will put him in the historical attitude which impartial history demands, that of robbing an honest man in the king's highway.?Cx. The New Upiieavalop Popular Sentiment.? We publish in another column the circular of theLoyal League at Washington, D. C., sent us iu last mail and add the following from the Sunday Mercury. *' The Loyal Leagues springing up throughout the country is another proof, if any were needed, of the unabated patriotism of the people. It may be surmised that this movement is simply a dodge of politicians, anxious to make up a new party, and place themselves at its head. Such maybe the case, but we only know what appears on the surface?we can only judge of the declarations put. a A.% a.I. i At 1 1 t toi ui to iue puoiic, auu mese are souna ana uuoojectionable.. The resolutions adopted by the Loyal League, of this City, and published by us lost, week, go in for carrying on the war to a successful. issue, and for upholding the Government in the exercise of all its constitutional powers. It is to. this declaration of principles that the people respond, and. if there are any wire-pullers behind the curtain, hoping to deceive the people, they are only humbugging themselves. The fact is. there is no positively disloyal party at the North. Every body, not cracked in the brain, knows that the destinies of the People are indent ified with, those ol the Government; and we sink or swim together. li the action of the Administration is criticised,. ' it id nf ita lnrlr nf anvrcrv tn cHvonpp th? _ cause and sustain the dignity of the country.. It is from the popular sensitiveness on these, points that adverse criticism springs. The Government; should not get frightened at the spouting of a few. Copperheads, anxious for a little unenviable notoriety,, and cheap martyrdom; neither should it let; interested panegyrics lull it into- a false repose, nor lead it to overlook or misunderstand. the expressions of a just discontent,, which mismanage; WilT.alwavs elicit. I -- '