Connecticut western news., 1879-04-30
Gen. DiX's " Sentiment"
HOW HE CAME TO SEND HIS NOTABLE TFLE. r GRAM TO NEW ORLEANS IN 1861.

A few years before his death the late Gen. John A. Dix related to a reporter of one of the New York papers the cir cumstances which attended the sending of his notable order to New Orleans, when he was Secretary of the Treasury under Buchanan.
 When he received word from his agent that the captain of the McClelland re- fused positively in writing to obey his orders, he went from the White House, where he was staying temporarily, to his room in the Treasury Building, sat down, and "obeying the impulse of the mo- ment," wrote the dispatch. When he had finished it he thought of taking it over to the President for approval, but sAremembering his caution and pru- dence, especially his paramount desire that if there must be blood shed the North should not spill the first drop, l concluded to act at once and on my own responsibility" The letter was given to clerk who copied it and went with it directly to the telegraph office. Receiv- ing no reply from the agent, MT. Dix feared his dispatch had been intercepted, and two or three days afterward, at the next Cabinet meeting, he remarked to MT. Buchanan ssI am afraid, Mir. President, we have lost another revenue cutter" and explained to him the loss of the McClelland. "What did you do about it ?" asked the President. CT sent word to Jones to have Breshwood (the captain) arrested, to put Caldwell in command, and if any one attempted to haul down the American flag to shoot him on the spot" The President start ed, and said, somewhat 'sternly, with an air of incredulity: "Did you write that ? " No; telegraphed it, "was the reply. The President never alluded to the matter again, although MT. Dix saw him almost constantly until the 4th of March following. About 8 week after ward Louisiana seeded. Captain Bresh- wood, saying that he acted under the orders of the Legislature, had mean while transferred the revenue cutter to the care of that body, and when the or dinance of secession passed, he hoisted the flag of Louisiana in place of the Stars and Stripes.
 "An ordinary seaman" continued MT. Dix in the interview, "on board the cutter saw where the American flag was secreted after it had been taken down, and when Gen. Butler reached New Or leans the young fellow hastened to the cutter, took the flag from it's place of concealment and gave it to the General, who sent it to me. It is now in my possession. Upon my recommendation the seaman was appointed lieutenant in the. Revenue Service. He died short time ago. The order to Jones, very un- expectedly 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 variety of receptions. One day at d1nner in the White House, large number of guests being present, niece of the President $ turned suddenly to me with the ques- tion, Did you issue that order ? She was, believe, connected by marriage with prominent Southern family. At any rate, her sympathies were strongly with the South, and were ardent in the extreme. I answered her very quietly that l did. She strengthened herself, and with bearing of queenly dignity and authority, not devoid of certain spice of sarcasm, said: What authority had you for doing it? sOh, Madame, I replied, . it was sentiment.' The President made no remark"