Ellsworth American., 1879-05-08
The Famous Order Of General Dix

4 lew years ago General DIX related to
a reporter of one of the New York papers
the circumstances which attended the send
ing OF his famous order. The authorities
al Washington had looked quietly on Al the
seizure OF forts, arsenals and revenue cut
tiers without a word OF remonstrsnce, and
| confess" he said, that my blood boil
ed" When he received word from his
xgcnt that the captain OF the McClelland
refused positively IN writing TO obey his
orders, hs went from the White House,
where no was staying temporarily, to his
room in the Treasury Building, sat down,
and "obey ing the impulse OF the moment"
wrote the dispatch. When he had finished
It he thought Of taking it over to The Pres
ideut tor approval, but remembering his
csutiou and prudence, especially his para
mount desire that If there must be blood
shed the North should not spill the first
drop, | concluded TO act at once aud on my
own responsibility
The letter was given TO clerk who
copiC u il and went with 1t direct to the teie-
graph office. Receiving no reply from the
aaeut Mr Dix feared his dispatch had
laeu Intercepted, and two or three days
4flerward, nj the next Cabinet meeting, he
remarked 10 Mr.. Buchanan: II am afraid,
Mr.. President, we have lost another rev.
enue cutter" and explained to him the loss
OF the McClelland. What did you do about
i,?' asked the President. II sent word to
Jones to have Breshwood (the captain) ar
rested, to put Caldwell in command, aud If
any ous attempted tn haul down the Amer
lean flag to shoot him on the spot" The
President started, and said, somewhat
sternly, with an air of Incredibly Did
you write thatg' mo; | telegraphed IT,
vas the reply. the President never allud-
ed to the matter again, although Mr.. Dix
saw him almost constantly until the Il h OF
March following. About a week afterward
Louisiana seeded. Captain Breshwood,
saving that he acted under the orders OF
the Legislature. had meanwhile transferred
the revenue cutter TO The care of that body.
and when the ordinance of secession pass
ed, he hosted the nag OF Louisiana in place
OF the Stars aud Stripes.
An ordinary seaman," continued Mr..
Dix ,u the interview, ION board the cutter
saw where the American flag was secreted
after II had been taken down, and when
Gen. Butler reached New Orleans the
spirited young fellow FASTENED to the cut
ter, took the flag from its place of conceal
ment and gave it TO the General, who sent
| IL to me. IL is now in my possession.
| Upon my recommendation the patriotic
seaman was appointed a lieutenant in the
Revenue Service. where he did gallant
work throughout the war. He died a
short time ago. The order to Jones, very
unexpectedly to me, leaked out through
/ the persons who had intercepted it, and
was soon the subject of remark in Wash
| ington, where it was accorded a variety Of
receptions. One day at dinner in the
/ White House. large number of guests be-
| ing present, a niece of the Presidents
turned suddenly to me with the question
| Did you issue that orderr She was, [
believe. connected by marriage with a
prominent Southern family. At any rate
her sympathies were strongly with the
South. aud were ardent in the extreme
answered her very quietly that did. She
Strengthened herself, and with bearing
OF queeniy dignity and authority, not de-
void OF certain spice OF sarcasm, said
What authority had you for doing 1t 2
oh, Madam, replied. it was senti-
1 ment.' The President made no remark. "
Tribune.