Treasury Secretary Dix issues his order to "shoot on the spot" anyone hauling down the national flag

Secretary John Dix, incensed with the refusal of Captain R.G. Brushwood to turn over command of his revenue cutter Robert McClelland to a U.S. Treasury agent in Louisiana, responded with his soon-to-be-famous order.  He instructed a Lieutenant Caldwell to take command of the vessel, and ordered that "if anyone attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot."  The message never reached Caldwell and the McClelland was already in the hands of Louisiana but Dix's words quickly spread in the North to great acclaim.  (By John Osborne) 
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Washington Monument, Washington, DC, 1860

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Library of Congress
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Cropped, sized, and prepared for use here by John Osborne, Dickinson College, January 9, 2011.
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photograph
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Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
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Original caption
Washington Monument as it stood for 25 years.
Source citation
Brady-Handy Photograph Collection, Library of Congress
Source note
Photographer: Mathew Brady 

Israel Washburn Jr. to Abraham Lincoln, January 21, 1861 (Page 4)

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Library of Congress
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Cropped, edited, and prepared for use here by Don Sailer, Dickinson College, November 20, 2010.
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document
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Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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Public
Original caption
Israel Washburn Jr. to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, January 21, 1861 (Opposes Cameron)
Source citation
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress
Source note
Original image has been adjusted here for presentation purposes.

Israel Washburn Jr. to Abraham Lincoln, January 21, 1861 (Page 3)

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Notes
Cropped, edited, and prepared for use here by Don Sailer, Dickinson College, November 20, 2010.
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document
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No
Courtesy of
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Permission to use?
Public
Original caption
Israel Washburn Jr. to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, January 21, 1861 (Opposes Cameron)
Source citation
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress
Source note
Original image has been adjusted here for presentation purposes.

Israel Washburn Jr. to Abraham Lincoln, January 21, 1861 (Page 2)

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Library of Congress
Notes
Cropped, edited, and prepared for use here by Don Sailer, Dickinson College, November 20, 2010.
Image type
document
Use in Day View?
No
Courtesy of
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Permission to use?
Public
Original caption
Israel Washburn Jr. to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, January 21, 1861 (Opposes Cameron)
Source citation
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress
Source note
Original image has been adjusted here for presentation purposes.

Israel Washburn Jr. to Abraham Lincoln, January 21, 1861 (Page 1)

Scanned by
Library of Congress
Notes
Cropped, edited, and prepared for use here by Don Sailer, Dickinson College, November 20, 2010.
Image type
document
Use in Day View?
No
Courtesy of
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Permission to use?
Public
Original caption
Israel Washburn Jr. to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, January 21, 1861 (Opposes Cameron)
Source citation
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress
Source note
Original image has been adjusted here for presentation purposes.
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