The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-25
General Dlx,s Eamaus order.

Not long ago General Dix gave to areporter
of the New York Evening Post an extremely
interesting description of the state of affairs
that led to the PRONUNCIATION Of his famous Or
der, "If any one attempts to haul down the
American flag, shoot him on the spot" The
general said
"At the time of my sending the order to
shoot any man that attempted to haul down
the American flag, perfect apathy reigned in
Washington. The authorities Looked quietly
on and saw our forts, arsenalS ard revenue
cutters stolen without one word of remons.
trance. confess that my blood boiled,
10 take care OF the revenue cutters was a
part OF my duty as secre AIRY IT the trea-ury
and determ!Ded not TO leave il undone. Hear-
ing that the Robert Mcclellan was 10 danger of
falling into the hands of the consprators at
New Ohleans through the treachery of its com.
maDder, Captain Breshwood, dispatched to
that City Mr.. W. I'll. Jones, chief clerk in the
first Com Dtrolets off e. with Instructions to
Captain b reshwood 10 proceed TO New York
without delay, | wanted to get tn. vessel in
safe quarters. The Legislature of Louisiana
was III session, contemplating the passing of an
ordnance OF secession. Several States had al
ready seeded, and my efforts to get the specie
out of the New O1eans mint-there was $780,
900 there at the tlme-bad been unsucces fol.
The director of the mint declined 10 recognize
my authority. When Jones reached the CITY
he sent me a dispatch TO the effect that Cap.
tain Bresh wood refused positively iu writing TO
obey my orders, aud that this refusal was by
the advice of the collector of the port. imme-
diately left the White House, where L was
staying temporarily, went to my room ip the
Treasury bailding sat down, and obey ing the
impulse of the moment, wrote the following
answer to Jones's desp Itch;
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 90. 1861.
w. Hemphll Joues, New Orleans Tell
Lieutenant Caldwell (of the revenue cutter) to
arrest captain Breshwood, assume command of
the cutter, and obey the order IT. rough you If
Capssih bresnwood, after arrest, undertakes to
interfere with the command of the cutter, tell
Lieutenant Caldwell to consider him as a mu-
tlneer 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 had finished writing this despatch
thought of taking it over to the President for
his approval. But remembering his caution
and prudence, especially his paramount desire
that II there must be blood shed the Nortb.
should not spill the first drop, concluded to
act at once and on my own Responsibility. I
gave the letter to my clerk, who copied il, and
whom sent directly with the copy to the tele-
graph Office. The letter itself, as was my Gus.
som with the originals of public documents, L
threw into drawer reserved for the purpose
Receiving no reply from Jones, feared
that my despatch had been intercepted; aud
two or three days alter ward, at the next cabi-
net meeting remarked TO Mr.. Buchanan, Il
hm h1TalO, AE. ITeSiO6Ht, LuaG we nave I0S6
other revenue CUTTER exploiting to him the
loss of the Robert McClelaDd.
"'What did you do about it?' asAed the
President.
Z" Il sent word to Jones to have Breshwood
arrested, to put Caldwell in command, and, if
any one attem pied to haul dow n the American
flag. to shoot him on the spc,s.'
''He started, and said somewhat sternly, with
an air of iocredulity. Did you write that?'
.uas no telegrsr ned it, replied. He never
sneaeu 10 tn' matter again, although saw
alm almost Constantly until the 4th of March
ionowiDg About week afterward Louisiana
seceaeo Captain Breshwood saying that he
ac.t' under the orders of the Legislature, had
" sauwhile transferred the revenue cutter to the
care IF that body. When the ordinance of Sc
cessiop passed be hoisted the flag of Louisiana
in place Of the stars and stripes.
ian ordinary seaman Old board of the cutter
saw where the American flag was secteted af-
ter it had been taken down, and when General
Boiler reached New Orleans the spirited young
fellow FASTENED to the cutter, took the flag
from its place of concealment and gave it to
the general, who sent it to me. 1t is now in
my possession. Upon my commentator the
patriotic seaman was appointed leute nant in
the revenue service, where he did gallant work
throughout the war. He died short time sgo."