MAJOR GENERAL JOHN A. DIX - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/16/1857 - HFSID 46743

GENERAL JOHN ADAMS DIX
He pens this letter of congratulations from Philadelphia in 1857. He was President James Buchanan's Secretary of the Treasury in 1861 and sent this famous order to an American boat less than three months before the American Civil War: "If any man attempts to haul down the American Flag, shoot him on the spot".
Autograph Letter Signed: "John A.Dix". 1 page, 5x6½. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Feb. 16, 1857. Addressed to Arch. Campbell, Esq. In full: "Dear Sir: - After offering you my congratulations on your appt. let me add to what my wife has said, that I shall be gratified if you can comply with her wishes & those of his friend I am, Dear Sir, Truly Yours,". As President James Buchanan's Secretary of the Treasury (1861), Dix (1798-1879) telegraphed this famous order to the American cutter Robert McClelland in the port of New Orleans on Jan. 29, 1861, less than three months before the start of the American Civil War: "If any man attempts to haul down the American Flag, shoot him on the spot". Dix later commanded the Department of Virginia (1862-1863) and the Department of the East (1863-1865). After the Civil War, he was Minister to France (1866-1869) and Governor of New York (1872-1874). The U. S. Army's Fort Dix in New Jersey is named in his honor. Lightly toned, stained, foxed and creased. Ink transference, which touches signature and body of letter. Light tear in top left corner, which touches salutation but not signature. Show-through from adhesive residue on verso (does not touch signature). Otherwise, fine condition.