The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-03-14
"shoot Him on the Spot. "

the "GOvernOr'S 8 Roon1, City Hall, New
York, aud the event has brought the
old warrior again under the conside
rate care Of the interviewers. One Of
these has CLEANED from him the follow
ing account of that famous order which
gave the veteran Son of Mars such a
fame. The General, who alludes to
his exploit with the modesty of a true
hero, gave q number of facts and in
cidents hitherto unpublished. In an.
swer to many questions he spoke in
substance as follows:
AT the time Of my sending the order
to shoot any man that attempted to
haul down the American flag, perfect
apathy reigned at Washington. The
authorities looked quietly on and saw
our forts, arsenals and revenue cutters
stolen without one word~0f remon-
STRANGE. / confess that my blood boil
ed To take care Of the revenue cut
ters was part Of my duty as Secretary
Of the Treasury, and / determined not
to leave it undone. Hearing that the
Robert McClelland was in danger of
falling into the hands of the conspira-
tors at New Orleans through the
treachery Of its commander, Captain
Breshwood, dispatched to that city
Mr.. w II. Jones, chief clerk in the
First Comptroller's office, with instruc
lions to Capt. Breshwood to proceed to
New York without delay. 1 wanted
to get the vessel in safe quarters The
Legislature of Louisiana was in sea-
sion, contemplating the passing of an
ordinance Of secession. Several States
had already seeded, and my efforts to
get the specie out Of the New Orleans
mint-there we're @S00,000 there at
the time-had been unsuccessful. The
Director of the Mint declined to rec.
ognize my authority. When Jones
reached the city he sent me dispatch
to the effect that Capt. Breshwood re-
fused positively in writing to obey my
orders, and rhat his refusal was by the
advice Of the Collector of the Port. l
Immediately lett the White House,
where | was staying temporarily, went
to my room in the Treasury building,
sat down, and, obeying the impulse Of
the moment, wrote the following an.
swer to Jones Dispatch
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, !
january 20, 1861
" HemphW Jones, NelO Orleans:
Tell Lieutenant Caldwell of the
revenue cutter to arrest Capt. Bresh-
wood, assume command Of the cutter,
and obey the order through you. If
Capt. Bres hwood, after arrest, under
takes to interfere with the command
of the cutter, tell Lieutenant Caldwell
to consider hin as a mutineer and
treat him accordingly. If any one
attempts to haul down the American
flag, shoot him on the spot.
"JoHN A. DIX.
Secretary of the Treasury"
When I had finished writing this
dispatch, / thought Of taking it over to.
the President for his approval. But
remembering his caution and pru-
dence, especially his paramount desire
that if there must be blood shed the
North should not spill the first drop, |
concluded to act at once on my own
responsibility. / gave the letter to
my clerk, who copied it and whom |
sent directly with the copy to the tel
egraph office, The letter itself, rs was
my custom with the originals Of pub
lie documents, threw into drawer
reSeryed for the purpose. Receiving
no reply from Jones, l feared my dis
patch had been intercepted and two
or three days afterward, at the next
Cabinet meeting, l remarked to Mr..
Buchanan, 81 am afraid Mr.. Presi-
dent, that we have lost another reve-
nue. cutter" explaining to him the loss
of the Robert McClelland.
"What did you do about it p asked
the President.
Il 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 incredibly,
"Did you l0rite that -
"No; telegraphed it," l replied.
He never alluded to the matter again,
although l saw him almost constantly
until the 4th Of March following.
About a week afterward Louisiana
seeded. Captain Breshwood, saying
that he acted under the orders Of the
legislature, had meanwhile transferred
the revenue cutter to the care Of that
body. When the ordinance Of seees'
sion passed be hoisted the flag Of Lou
isiana in place Of the stars and stripes.
The order to Jones, very unexpectedly
TO me, leaked out through the persons