MAJOR GENERAL JOHN A. DIX - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/20/1862 - HFSID 31327

GENERAL JOHN ADAMS DIX
He pens this war-dated letter letter from Baltimore in 1862 to say that his son was in possession of a paper that the recipient was interested in. He sent this famous order to an American boat less as Secretary of the Treasury 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, 4¾x8. In full: "Dear Sir, The original paper referred to by you is in the hands of my son. I believe he proposes to have it photographed. In that case, I will send you a copy. I am respectfully, 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 and rippled. Signature and body of letter are lightly smeared but legible. Small tear near bottom left corner. Light nick in bottom left corner. Random ink stains. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.