Head-quarters, Department of the East, New
York City,
November 18,1864.
Lieutenant-general
U. S. Grant, General-in-chief:
General, — I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter
of the 15th instant in regard to the arrest of Mr. Bergholz by
Major-general Butler, of which I had previously received no intimation
whatever. Had I been apprised of it, I should have directed him (Mr. B.) to be
sent to my head-quarters for examination. I have always regarded the arrest of
citizens as a high prerogative, and even when in the field have required
persons taken into custody by my subordinate commanders to be reported to me
immediately, with a written statement of the grounds of arrest. Mr. Bergholz
was sent to Fort Hamilton without any notice to me, and without any charges
against him. General Butler had no geographical command, and the arrest and
confinement of Mr. Bergholz were altogether without authority.
I enclose herewith authenticated copies of the report of Major
Woodruff, commanding at Fort Hamilton, and the order under which Mr. Bergholz
was sent there by General Butler.
I am, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
john A. Dix.
SOURCE: Morgan Dix, Memoirs of John Adams Dix, Volume 2, p.
96
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