Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-09
NO. 10.


Not long ago General Dix gave to q report
er of the New York Evening Post an extreme
ly interesting description of the state of af-
fairs that led to the promulgation of his illus
trious order, "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 who attempted to haul down
the American flag, perfect apathy regned in
Washington. The authorities looked quietly
on, and saw our forts, arsenals and revenue
cutters stolen without one word of remOn-
STRANGE. l confess that my blood boiled.
ITO take care of the revenue cutters was
part of my duty 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 con-
spirators at New Orleans through the treach-
cry of its commander, Captain Breshwood, l
despatched to that city Mr.. w. II. Jones,
chief clerk in the first comptrollers Office,
with instructions to Captain Breshwood to
proceed to New York without delay. want
ed to get the vessel in safe quarters. The
Legislature of Louisiana was in session. con-
templating the passing of an ordinance of Sc
cession. Several States had already seeded
and my efforts to get the specie out of the
New Orleans mint-there were $500 OGO there
at the time-had been unsuccessful. The di-
rector of the mint declined to recognize my
authority. When Jones reached the city he
sent me a despatch to the effect that Captain
Breshwood refused positively in writing to
obey my orders, and that this refusal was by
the advice of the collector of the port. i'm
mediately left the White House, where | was
staying temporarily, went to my room i'll the
Treasury building, sat down. and, on the i'm
pulse of the moment, wrote the following an
swer to Jones's despatch:
"'TREAsURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 30, 1861.
"'W. Hemphill Jones, New Orleans-Tell
Lieut. enant Caldwell (of the revenue CUTTER to
arrest Captain Breshwood, assume command
of the cutter, and obey the order through you.
II Captain Breshwood after arrest under
takes to interfere with the command of the
cutter, tell Lieutenant Caldwell to consider
him as n mutineer and treat him accordingly
If any one attempts to haul down the Ameri-
can flag. shoot him on the spot.
"'JoHN a. DIX, Secretary of the Treasury"
''When I had finished writing this despatch
l thought of taking it over to the President
for his approval. But remembering his eau
ton and prudence, especially his paramount
desire that if there must be blood shed the
North should not spill the first drop, l con-
cluded to act at once, and on my own respon-
sibility. gave the letter 10 my clerk, who
Copltu II, duu WuOul sent ulTeCuy Wltu llG
copy to the telegraph Office The letter itself,
as was my custom with the originals of pub
lie documents, threw into a drawer reserved
for the purpose
Receiving no reply from JONES' | feared
that my despatch had been intercepted; and
two or three days afterward, at the next cab
met meeting / remarked to Mr.. Buchanan,
II am afraid, Mr. President that we have
lost another revenue cutter" explaining to
him the loss of the Robert McCleand
What did you do about it - asked the
President
"I sent word to Jones to have Breshwood
arrested, to put Caldwell in command, and, if
any one attempted to haul down the Ameri-
can flag, to shoot him on the spot
He started and said somewhat sternly,
with an air of ineredulity, Did you write
that
No, telegraphed it, l replied. He nev-
er alluded to the matter again, although saw
him almost constantly until the 4th of March
following. About 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 secession passed he hoisted the flag of
Louisiana in place of the stars and stripes.
IAN ordinary seaman on board of the cut
ter saw where the American flag was secret
ed after it had been hauled down. and when
General Butler reached New Orleans the spir-
ited 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 recon-
mendation the patriotic seaman was appoint
ed lieutenant in the revenue service, where
he did gallant work throughout the war. He
died a short time ago.