The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-01-25

ssDHOOT HIN On THE SPOT
Geuesal Dix Gives ahe Hisl0Fy Of
Hls Fam0as Order.
A reporter Of the Ereaiag Post called
on Saturday upon the General In order
to learn from him the circumstances
which attended the issue OF his famous
order. The General, who alludes to
his exploits with the modesty OF q
true hero, gave q number OF facts and
incidents hitherto unpublished. In
answer TO many questions, he spoke
in substance as follows:
AT the time of my sending the order
to shoot any man that attempted 70
haul down the American flag perfect
apathy reigned in Washington The
authorities looked quietly on, and saw
our forts. arsenals and revenue cutters
stolen without one word Of remon-
STRANGE. / confess that my blood
boiled.
To take care of the revenue cutters
was = part of my duty Is Secretary Of
the Treasury, and determined not TO
leave it undons. Hearing that the
Robert McClelland WAS i'm danger OF
falling into the hands of the con-
spiraion at New Orleans through the
treachery Of its commander, Captain
Breshwood, / despatched to that city
Mr.. w. III. Jones, chief clerk Of the
First Comptroller's Office, with in
structions TO Captain Breshwood to
psoceed to New York without delay.
/ Wanted TO get the vessel in safe quar-
tiers. The Legislature Of Louisiana
was in session, contemplating the
passing Of m ordinance Of secession.
Several States had already seeded,
and my efforts to get the New Orleans
were $50, 900 there at the
been unsuccessful. The
Director of the mint declined to recog-
nize my authority. When Jones
reached the city he sent me despatch
to the effect that Captain Breshwood
refused positively in writing 10 obey
my orders, and that this refusal was
by the advice Of the Collector Of the
Port. | Immediately left the White
House, where | was staying temper
arily, went to my room i'm the Treas
ury building, sat down, aid, obeying
the impulse Of the moment, wrote the
following answer to Jones despatch
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
January g, 1861.
a W. HemphW Jones, Ner Orleans.
Tell Lieutenant Caldwell of the
revenue cutter to arrest Captain
Brentwood, assume command of the
cutter, and obey the orders through
you. IfCaptain Breshwood, after ar
rest, undertakes TO interfere with the
command Of the cutter, tell Lieutenant
Caldwell to consider him a a mutt
neer and treat him accordingly. Ii
any one attempts to haul down the
American flag. shoot him on the spot.
JOHN A. DIX,
Sec'y of the Treasury"
When / had finished writing this
dispatch, ] thought Of taking it over
to the President for his approval. But
remembering his caution and pru-
denee, especially his paramount de-
sire that if there must be blood shed
the North should not spill the first
drop, | concluded TO act at once and
on my own responsibility. gave the
letter to my clerk, who copied it, and
whom / sent directly with the copy to
the telegraph office. The letter itself,
as was my custom with the originals
Of public documents, / threw into a
drawer reserved for the purpose.
Receiving no reply from Jones,
feared that my dispatch had been in
tercepted; and two or three days after
ward, at the next Cabinet meeting,
remarked to Mr.. Buchanan: Il am
afraid, Mr.. President, that We have
lost another revenue cutter" explain
ing to him the loss of the Robert Me-
Clelland.
What did you do about it - asked
the President.
~ sent word to Jones to have Bresh-
wood arrested, to put Caldwell in COM
mand, and, If any one attempted to
haul down the American flag, to shoot
him on the spot"
He started, and said, somewhat
sternly, with an air Of incredulity,
Did you Write that"
NO; | telegraphed it," | replied.
de never alluded to the matter again,
although ! saw him almost constantly
until the 4th of March following.
About a week afterwards Louisiana
'eceded. Captain Breshwood, saying
hat he acted under the orders of the
Legislature, had meanwhile transfer
ed the revenue cutter to the care of |
hat body. When the ordinance of
accession passed he hoisted the flag of |
louisiana in place of the Stars and |
stripes.
An ordinary seaman on board Of the |
utter saw where the American flag |
vas secreted after it had been taken
Iown, and when Gen. Butler reached
>ew Orleans the spirited Young fellow
fastened To the cutter, took the flag
rom its place of concealment and
ave II 10 the General, who sent il to
ne. 1t is now in my possession.
pou my recommendation the patri-
tic seaman was appointed hsut~n-
mt in the revenue service, where he
i'd gallant work throughout the w&r.
lie died short time ago.
Mr.. Seward thought that the war
there should be would he oyer
n sixty days, at most. did not
hink so. My idea was 10 concentrate
large force and discipline H. b..
n public opinion and Conyrss. bur
led the army on 10 the disaster ~ b25s
iun. What had seen In lslz- ss&e,s
was an adjutant Of a bs,islIf1n. a4afss
he distrustful Of the strength. n grass1s-
'iplined militia.
Although at that time the Pre<lttefs,
vas extremely cautious, nt~t ~ the
'abinet valorously appreciated the
ituation, especially Mr.. stanton. ,hs
Attorney General: Mr.. Kin, the Port