The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-28

How General Dtxs Famous order
New York Tribune.
A few years ago General Dix related to
a reporter Of one Of the New York papers
the circumstances which attended the
sending Of this famous order. The authori.
ties in Washington had looked quietly on
at the seizure Of forts, arsenaIs and
revenue cutters without word OF renon-
STRANGE and II confess" he said, "that
my blood boiled" When he received
word from his agent that the Captain OF
the McClelland refused positively in writ
ing to obey the orders, he went from the
White House, where he was staying tenn.
porarily to his room in the Treasury
Building, sat down, and "obeying the
impulse Of the moment" wrote the dis.
patch. When he had finished It he
thought of taking it over to the President
for approval, but remembering his eau.
ton and prudence, especially his para.
mount desire that II there must be blood
shed, the North should not spill the first
drop, l considered TO act at once, and on
my own responsibility" The letter was
given to q clerk, who copied it and went
with It directly to the telegraph office.
Receiving no reply from the agent, Mr..
Dix feared his dispatch had been inter-
cepted, and two or three days afterward,
at the next Cabinet meeting, he remarked
to Mr.. Buchanan: II am afraid, Mr..
President, we have lost another revenue
cutter" and explained to him the loss
OF the McClelland. "What did you do
about it2" asked the President. ~
sent word to Jones to have Breshwood
1.-THE Captain arrested, to put Caldwell in
command, and II any one attempted Is
haul down the American flag to shoot him
on the spot" The President started, and
said, somewhat sternly, with an air OF
Gredulity: did you write that?" mo;
! telegraphed it, was the reply. The
President never alluded to the matter
again, although Mr.. Dix saw him almost
constantly until the 18th Of March follow
ing. About week after Louisiana Sc
coded. Captain Breshwood, saying that
he acted under the orders OF the LegislS-
ture, had meanwhile transferred the rev.
enue cutter to the care Of that body, and
when the ordinance OF secession passed,
he hoisted the flag Of Louisiana in place
OF the Stars and Stripes.
IAN ordinary seaman" continued Mr..
Dix In the interview, ION board the cut
ter saw where the American flag had been
secreted after it had been taken down,
and when Gen. Butler reached New Or.
leansthe 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 pos.
session. Upon my recommendation the
patriotic seaman was appointed Lieu
tenant in the revenue service, where he
did gallant service through the war. He
died short time ago. The order to
Jones, very unexpected to me, leaked out
through the persons who had intercepted
It, and was soon the subject OF remark in
Washington, where it was accorded
q variety Of receptions. One day
at dinner In the White House, a
large numbers OF guests being present, a
niece OF the Presidents turned suddenly
to me with the que ton, Sid you issue
that order? She was, believe, connect
ed by marriage with prominent Southern
family. At any rate, her synpathies were
strongly with the South, and were ardent
in the extreme. l answered her very
quietly that ! did. She Strengthened her
self, and with bearing Of queenly digni-
ty and authority, not devoid Of certain
spice OF sarcasm, said: What authority
had you for doing it?' 'Oh, Madame I
replied, 1t was a sentiment The Presi.
dent made no remark.n