The National tribune., 1892-09-15

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also was no. a little in it.
Butler went there when
the negro question was o lively one, and he
made it a bone of contention from which the
Government fought shy. Mr.. Lincoln soon got
enough of Butler and sent him to New Orleans
where tho General could not readily reach
Lincoln and Lincoln could enjoy the exemption
from Buffers peculiar ways and ideas-more
political than military, as a rule.
1t was clear sailing with Wool, who though
Democrat of some possibilities in former days
was then not much if not military. WooPs
subsequent transfer TO Baltimore as commander
of the Middle Department sent Dix TO Fortress
Monroe to succeed Wool. The area Of opera
tions had become enlarged to take in good
slice of Virginia and, possibly political ques-
tions might come up for which Dix, an old
Democrat and Union man as true as steel,
would be found better adapted than Wool,
while the latter was quite the man for holding
a close rein Baltimore, in military rs
well as civil sense. In this Mr Lincoln had
hand as the head of the army aud, at the
same time, the consummate politician and
statesman.
Dix, like Wool, was at the retiring age when
the war of rebellion broke out. Like Wool
also, he had seen service in the war OF 1872,
he having served as Ensign and Adjutant IN
that war. lie was lawyer in CooperstowD,
n Y, in 1928, and in the years that followed
held a number Of State offices at the hands Of
the Democratic party. In 1915 he was sent to
the United States Senate to fill the vacancy
created by the election OF Silas Wright Gov
ernor. As leading Free-Soiler and anti
slavery Democrat, he was man of command
ing influence. When the rebellion came on
he was conspicuous among the class of Demo-
Gratis who soon came to tho support of Mr..
Lincoln in prosecuting the war When Howell
Cobb, to follow secession in the last days of
Buchanan's Administration went South, Dix
was appointed to succeed him rs Secretary of
the Treasury. Two revenue cutters were then
in New Orleans which city was virtually in
the hands of the Secessionsts, and Dix ordered
the cutters to proceed to New York without
delay. The Captain of one refused to obey.
1t was then that Dix telegraphed the following
to the Collector Of the Port:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Jan. 20 1861.
Tell Lieut.. Caldwell to arrest Capt. Eastwood,
assume command OF the cutter, and obey the
orders L gave through you. If Capt. Bushwood,
after arrest, undertakes to interfere with the
mand of the cutter. tell Lieut. Caldwell to consider
him rs mutinous 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.
The original of this document, which at the
time had an electrifying effect on the North, is
to be found framed and well preserved in Han
cocks, the we'll known drin king-sa on the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue east of
Thirteenth street. The letter had the desired
effect. little more of the spirit which die
tated it might have put the rebellion down in
it's infancy. But there were few such men as
Dix in high places then. Buchanan had too
late begun to think what his duty was. but he
had not Dx's nerve and patriotism to do it.
As soon as Mr.. Lincoln became President, Dix
was one of the many prominent Democrats of
the country who signifed their intention to
give him their support in putting the rebellion
down. He was Major General of New
York militia. In 1862 he was made Major
General of United States Volunteers and
ordered to succeed Wool at Fortress Monroe,
having the command of the Seventh Corps.
Subsequently, during the New York riots he
was military commander there.
Gen. Dixs services to the Government and
his part in saving the Union are not to be
judged by the battles he fought or the marches
he made. He was one of Mr.. Lincon's most
valued advisers; never getting "above his
business" as some others did who possessed not
the measure of his ability. In New York, as
Democrat he fairly Offset Gov. Seymour who
led the '' Peace at-any price party" In 1872 he
was the Republican candidate for Governor and
elected having subsequently been appointed
Minister to France by Mr.. Lincoln.
Gen. Dix belonged to the class of men who
had all their lives been Democrats, and rem
dered great service in supporting Mr.. Lincoln
in putting down the rebellion, and had his full
confidence. These services, though not con-
spcuous in the field, were great in creating and
maintaining to the last the loyal sentiment
that led to victory. In this sense John A. Dix
deserves to be included among the Union heroes
of the war.
While commanding at Fortress Monroe Gen.
Dix rendered timely and valuable service in
the exchange of prisoners of war, especially in
obtaining the release of Union soldiers from
rebel prisons. l frequently went up the James
River, as l had gone to Norfolk before the sur
render of that place, to meet flags of truce from
the rebel SIDE The scenes of one of these meet
ings 1 recall with peculiar vividness. The rebel
boat contained an unusual number of Union
officers and men whose release had been
effected by exchange. They were as ragged
and every way sorry lot of fellows as one
would ever expect to see, and yet a happier lot
of good fellows it would be impossible to de-
scribe. A number of Union men were on our
boat to meet them, and although as general
thing there had been no previous acquaintance,
they all knew each other ut sight, and heartier
handshaking there probably never was than
that which took place when the released men
upon OuT A>ot Oucc Uut tNlCo
aud thrice did we shake hands around.
Stories of the life of imprisonment flew thick
and fast. We cheered the flag, and the canteen
which was discovered in the party went as far
as a single canteen under such circumstances
could be expected to go. Then someone of the
prisoners q pale, worn young man, whose
thoughts were not fully expressed in cheers,
in weak yet not unmusical voice struck up
the old song Home again." 1t took them ali,
and they Joined in, or tried to do So but they
stuck fast with the opening words Home
again." and after repeating them even more
times than the song called for they all broke
down and went to crying like children. Cry
ing for the moment expressed more truly than
singing the feelings in which all shared. Be-
sides, all could cry-cOuldn't help it, in fact
whereas few only could sing. At the instant
when this sort of thing was at its hight was even
distressing, someone struck up we'll rally
round the flag boys!" Everyone knew that
song and it was sung through to the end,
chorus and all. And then the band struck up
" Yankee Doodle" followed by Hail Column
bia J" and there was NO more crying after that.
Ladies of the GAR.