Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-15
THE RECLINING OF THE WAR.
Extract from the Memoirs OF General
John 4. DIX.

John a. Dix compiled by his son, the Rev.
Morgan Dix, published by Harper " Broth
ers, the following interesting extracts are
made
Howell Cobb, Secretary of the Treasury,
resigned on the 10Th of December, leaving
the treasury empty, and joined the secession |
movement, becoming president of the Mont
gomcry Conference. On his abandonment of
his post Philip +. Thomas of Maryland, was
appointed in his place. The choice was an
unfortunate one. The secretary was codly |
received in Wal street his efforts to obtain
aid for the government were met by frigid
silence At length the Presideut was given
to understand distinctly that not dollar
would be forthcoming from the banks and
financial luglitutlons of the metropolis until
he should have placed in his cabinet men on
whom the friends of the government and the
Union could depend. The argument is one
to which administrations are compelled to
yield. The President asked what would
satisfy them aud at meeting OF our lead
ing men, held at the Bank of Commerce, it
was decided to require of him, MS ia condition
to their support. the appointment of General
Dix TO cabinet position. The understand
ing among the gentlemen present was that
the position should he that OF Secretary of
the Treasury although they did not deem it
courteous to express 1t openly No higher
proof could have been given # the moral
power of II good name.
On the evening of Tuesday, January Sth,
my father received IL despatch from the Pres
idcnt asking him 10 come al once 10 the
White House. lie went Immediately, and
was offered the War Department.. This he
declined, informing Mr.. Buchanan, as had
been agreed upon that at that moment he
could be of no service to him in any position
except that of the Treasury Department,
and thai he would accept no other post The
President asked for time. The following
day he had Mr.. Thomas resignation in his
hands, anl sent General DiX's name to the
Senate; it was instantly confirmed. The
news OF the appointment Was received il
New York and elsewhere with profound sat.
isfaction the financial deadlock was at once
broken; the Government found itself possess
ed of all the money that it wanted, and tht
country saw strong Cabinctand Union Ad
minisritlon.
On Sunday April IA, the fact becam,
know II that Fort Sumter had surrendered
The excitement created by the bombardmen
of that fortress and its magnificent defence
by Anderson was prodigious. The ouirag
on the Government of the United States thu
perpcrated by the authorities of South Caro-
lima sealed the fate of the newborn Con
federacy and the institution Of slavery. In
tegcnt Sou,horners ut the NCrh were we
follow. In the city OF New Yor
a number of prominent gentlemen devoted t
the interests of the South and desirous
obtain boodless dissolution of the UnioI
were seated in anxious conference, studyin
with intense solcitudc the means of preser'
ing the peace. A messenger entered the rool
in breahless haste with the news Scene
al Beauregard has opened fire on Fort Sun
!" The persons whom he thus addresse
remained while in dead silence, looking I'M
each others pale faces; then one of then
with uplifted hands cried in a voice of a
guish, "My God we are ruined" "
The North rose us one man. The que
ton had been asked 10y those who we
watching events GLOW will New Yo
go?' There were sinister hopes in ceTta
quarters Of strong sympathy with the sect
SION movements dreams That New 70
might decide on cutting of from the rest
the country and becoming a free city The
hopes and dreams vanished in day. 7
reply to the question how New York wor
go was given with an energy worthy of b.
self.
The 10Th of that month brought Presid,
Lincoln's proclamation and n call for 10, {
men-a bagacc, us it proved, compal
with the number required; but the figu
seemed enormous 10 the popular eye, and
demand set the whole city in u blaze. New
to my dying day, shall forget scene v
messed on Thursday of that week A II
ment had arrived from Massachusetts on
way to Washington via Baltimore. III
came at night and it was understood
after breakiasting nj the Astor House
march would be resumed. by o'clock
the morning nm imm,n nse crowd had assen
ed about the hotel. broadway, from Bare
to Fulton street, and the Iowcr end Of
Row, were occupied by dense mass of
man beings, all watching the entrance
which the regiment was 10 file out. Fl
side to side, from wall to wall, extended
innumeral host, silent as the grave, exp
ant, something unspeakable on their fa
1t was the dead, deep hush before the Il
derstorm. AT last a low murmur was he,
it eoundnd somewhat like the gasp of me
suspense and the cause was that the
diers had appeared, their lealing files
scendir the steps. BY the twinkle Of I
bayontiI above The heads of the crowd
course could be traced out into the
street in front. Formed at last In col
they stood, the band at the head
the word was given "March!' Still
silence prevailed. Then the drum r.
out the time--the regiment was In mo
And then the band, bursting into full vo
struck up-what other tune could the Nj
chusetts men hrTe chosen ?-"Yankee
die" ! caught about two bars and he
the old music, not more. For instantly
arose a sound such as many man l
heard in ull bis fife aud never will hear;
as is never heap more than once In a
time. Not m6re awful is the thund
heaven as, with sudden peal, 1t smites