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Auction: 316 - The Collector's Series
Lot: 1227

Civil War: John Adams Dix. Secretary of the Treasury, Major General, NY Senator and Governor, President of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad. As Treasury Secretary, at the outbreak of the Civil War, Dix sent a telegram to Treasury agents in New Orleans ordering that "if anyone attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." This quote (with "haul" changed to "tear") found its way onto some of the best known Civil War Patriotic tokens, known popularly as "Dix Cents". Autograph Letter Signed "John A. Dix". Two pages on a 5x8 sheet of Headquarters, Department of the East stationery, "New York City" lined through and replaced by inked "Boston", 22 Oct. 1863, Unofficial. Writing to Maj. Gen. Halleck, Dix says: " I have been as far as Portland on a tour of inspection, and find everything satisfactory, except at Newport, which is utterly defenceless, having nothing but old guns…I write for now to request that Maj. Halpine may not be taken from me. His presence in NY just now is very important. He is an intolerable thorn in the side of the Copperheads, and I am told they are conspiring to get him removed. It is all important, for the good of the country, that he should remain…" Major Halpine is likely Charles Halpine, future brevet brigadier general. The back has been taped for support at the middle fold, some small nicks top and bottom, Good-About Very Good. Accompanied by an engraving of Dix in uniform. [2]

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$100