Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-09-05
GEN. DIN'S FAMOUS IELEGRAu-
VINO WROTE TTY
Historical "Reminiscences.

anew to his celebrated telegraphic dispatch
ending with the patriotic words: "If any one at
tempts to haul down the American dag, shoot
him on the spot" and various versions OF the
telegram have been given, well as dfferen
statements of the circumstances under which IL
was written. All of these accounts are imper-
feet, and most of them are incorrect, both in
their statement of facts and the differences
sought to be drawn from them. But the worst
of the lot is that of the New York Sun, the eii-
tor of which paper, with the view doubtless Of
weakening the strength of General Dix in the
present canvass, pretends that he is not the man
to write such a sentence, and starts the TidicG-
lOus story that it was written by Hon. Edwin
NJ. Stanton, and signed by Gen. Dix at the soli-
citation of Mr.. 5. There is plenty OF evidence
to disprove this wild statement, and there is no
reason to believe that Mr.. Stanton hal any
thing to do with the writing or sending Of the
dispatch in question, or knew anything of its
existence until it became a matter of public
notoriety.
The history of the famous dispatch and the
facts which called it forth is briefly as follows:
In the winter of 1850, on account of the seces-
sion sentiment manifested in the southern states.
and owing to the great difficulty OF procuring
accurate and reliable Information from that
quarter through the regular channels, IL was
deemed necessary by the government to send
into the disaffected territory a trusty secret
agent, whose duly it should be to observe and
report TO the Secretary of the Treasury the state
of feeling there, and to take such action as he
could looking u the safety of the public prop
erty. For this delicate and responsible task
Col. William Hemphill Jones, then as now CHER
Clerk of the First Comptroller's olice, was Sc
lected. Col. Jones lett this city about the mid
die of December, and spent some time in Ten
nessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana,
before reaching New Orleans, his final point of
destination. He made regular report of his 90
servations both on the way and at New Orleans
but as all mail matter going to the government
or TO persons in the north supposed to be un-
friendly TO the southern cause was sure to be
opened by the rebel authorities Mr.. Jones cor
respondence was not sent directly to the Treas
ury Department. twas addressed to ictitIons
parsonage at Baltimore, to be called for ar the
post office. From there it was brought to this
city by the hands of a confidential messenger,
and delivered TO Gilbert Rodman, Esq, then
Chief Clerk Of the Treasury Department, now
deceased.
During his stay in New Orleans, Col. Jones
had occasion to report reasonable action on the
part of Capt Brentwood, OF the revenue marine
service, at that time commanding the fine cut
ter Le,ris Cass, then lying in that port. 1t was
in answer to this report of Col. Jones that the
now celebrated dispatch was written. 1t was in
the following words:
lTele grant,
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
January 20, 1851.
WILLIAM HEMPHILL JONES,
Nei0 Orlecns.
Tell Lieut.. Caldwell to arrest Capt. Bresh-
wood, assume command OF the Cutter, and obey
the order 1 gave through you. If Capt. Bresh-
wood, after arrest, undertakes ID interfere with
the command of the Cutter, tell Lieut.. Caldwell
d
accordingly. II any one attempts to haul down
the American flag, shoot him on the spot.
JOHN A. DIN,
Charge Treasury Department.
JOHN A DIX,
Secretary ot the Treasury.
AS stated above, Mr.. Stanton had nothing
whatever to do with writing or sending the dis
patch. The letter press copy of the telegram
originally sent, low on file in the Treasury De-
partment, and which we have more than once
seen, shows the body to have been written by Mr..
William Handy. an old and trusted clerk in the
Treasury Department, who died in this city
during tue last month. Mr. Handy was then at
the head OF the Revenue Marine branch of the
Secretary's Office, and the speoial matter in
question came under his charge in the natural
order of things. As we have said, the text OF
the telegram is in his neat, plain chirography
although it was evidently written at the dicta-
tIOu VI OClls DlA VI COpltu lEOm TIE urdlt maze
by him, now in possession of Rev. DR.. Dix, of
New York, and the signature in each place is
the bold, daShing autograph of the distinguished
General. The subject was disposed of in the
usual manner and in the regular course, AMI
both the matter and the language of the order
were beyond any question the inspiration Or
General Dix's own patriotic spirit, without any
outside aid or suggestions.
This is in brief the whole history of the tele-
gram and of the causes which led TO its prepa-
ration and TRANSMISSION. 1t should be added,
however, as a matter OF fact, that the dispatch
did not reach the hands of Col. Jones, as in
tended. 1t was intercepted by the rebel authori-
ties at Montgomery. A copy of i. was sent by
ttem to the Governor of louisiana, and by him
it was transmitted TO the Mayor of New Orlean-,
with instructions or request to arrest the pro-
posed recipient. This made the crescent city
too hot for the prospecting Colonel, who thence
forth found 1t necessary to secrete himself while
there, and he shortly after succeeded in maxim.
his escape from the city IL such IN amer as 70
misead and elude the vigilance of those whI
were lying 10 wait for him On the route it Wa
thought he would travel on his way northward
After the capture Of New Orleans the re5s!
copy Of the historic telegram was found among
the archives which fell into the hands OF I'll,
Union forces, aud il was subsequently sent {,
Col. Jones by a member OF General atler's
staff. We need hardly add that it is treasured
by Col. j. as Souvenir OF the most interestin.r
and exciting episode of his life.
WHAT THE EMPERoRs ARE MEETING FOR
In Berlin yesterday Bismarck called On Prince
Gortschakotf, and subsequently had an audience
with the Emperor William. The Provincial
correspondence, semi-official organ, saws the
meeting of the EmperOrs at Berlin has not for
IT'S object the mere exchange of personal friend
snip It's purpose is to give 10 the world a
pledge OF continuance OF the entente cordidIe be-
tween Germany, Russia, and Austria, and the
unmistaksble evidence that the three neighbor-
ing Empires Of Eastern Europe have accepted
the new order Of things growing out Of Sedan
ana other German battle fields. Europe may