The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-18
GEN nIx,s HEROIC ORDER.

GEN. DIX'S HEROIC ORDER.
| Jn the various editorial and oratorical tri
butes to the late Gen. John A. Dix the CHIEF
incident In his career dwelt on by his eulo
gtsts la that of his eheroic" order to O suhor-
| dnate official to 'shoot down the man who
should dare to haul down the American flag
from the masthead Of United States reve-
nue. cutter then lying In our port. 1t is won
derful that q mere verbal declaration OF
heroic purpose should so often pass as an act
and achievement Of real heroism. Gen. TX 9
life must have been very sterile one to have
furnished no higher proof of his valorons pa
triotsm and devotion than this simple written
order, which had no more elect or oetter
practical illustration than followed It's issu-
ance or characterized Its execution.
Away off In Washington City. the utterance
of such an order was quite cheap display OF
courage and devotion to the national honor
and flag. The imputed heroic response OF
Cambronne. the commander Of the Imperial
Guard at Waterloo, to the demand Of the Eng
lshto surrender: "The guard dies 1t never
surrenders," lost all It's grandeur and effect
before the fact OF the capitulation OF that
corps with comparatively small loss. After
that fact became known, Cambronne shrunk
from real into mock hero. 1t was only
Victor Hugo, who fifty years afterward could
rescue him from the ignominy and ridiculous
ness OF this contrast, Of the vgor Of his resolve
with the spirit Of his manifesto by putting
In his mouth far less heroic, but more en-
phatic expression of his disgust In the morti-
flying occasion referred to. Now, this high
sounding menace Of Gen. Dix. had
more unhappy illustration and conclusion
than even that Of poor Cambronne as will be
shown from the following statement Of facts,
which are historical:
The order, 1t is now asserted, was brought
to this city on the twenty fourth OF January,
1861, by clerk In the Treasury Depart
ment, pleasant, white-haired, clerical, elder
ly gentleman, of sedate and diplomatic bear
ing and quite unwarlike aspect Never was
80 truculent and an heroic order entrusted to
SO seemingly mild q hammered man; one who
indicated go little OF homicdal intents or
familiarity with shooting instruments.
His name, to,was well adapted to his aspect
and characteristics. 1t was Jones Mr.. j.
HemphilI Jones, with not even a colonel,
major, captain or sergeant, or any other war
like office. In the most quiet. unobtrusive man
ner Mr.. Jones went aboard the revenue cutter
John A. Dix, lying In the river, and asked
for private interview with the commander,
a young lieutenant. The captain. a stalwart
old sailor named Brushwood, a native OF Vir-
ginia, was absent. The young lieutenant,
the official character Of his visitor,
to communicate to the captain, who
was ashore, the presence Of gentleman who |
probably had orders for him from Washing
on.
Brushwood Immediately hurried to Collec-
or Hatch, and asked him for instructions.
latch, who was q ehrewd politician, In full |
record with the secession movement, was
to surrender to the State Of
Louisiana on the final passage Of the ordi-
lance Of secession. The vote had already |
,een taken on that ordinance, But the twen-
iy-sixth was the day fixed for Its final pass i
'ge and signing.
SO Hatch advised Brushwood to diplomatize |
With Mr.. Jones, but to hold on to his ship de-
Zine to surrender her or to leave the port. |
Brushwood was no diplomatist, and on meet |
ng Jones was pressed by the latter to posi-
i've refusal to surrender and declaration Of
lis purpose to raise the flag Of Louisiana to |
he mast head as soon as the ordinance of |
secession was passed.
Mr.. Jones feebly but unavailIngly argued
gainst this resolve, but never made the
lightest allusion to his order to shoot down
he man who should haul down the United |
'tates flag; and IL he remained here till the
wenty- sixth he witnessed this "nefarious
ct of the exchange Of flags, and heard the
alvo Of artillery which greeted the unfurling
4 the Pelican flag. Nor was it ever known or
inspected until many months after that Jones
lad any such order, nor was 1t ever commu-
heated to anybody in this State And, in
act, the production and publication of this
rider was never made for a long time after,
ven in the North, when some political sup
porter of Gen. Dix conceived the idea that it
would be a good match to fire the Northern
leart and furnish one example at least Of the
leroic valor and warlike prowess OF the vet
ran office-holder. Old Capt. Brushwood
ived to share much more serious perils of
'eing shot down In the subsequent events
han he ever incurred by the act for which
Zen. Dix had directed the meek and pacific
Zones to infiict on him such summary ven
yeance.
OOTORED EMIGRATION