Major-General John A. Dix to Edwin M. Stanton, November 3, 1864 – Received 4 p.m.

NEW YORK CITY, November 3, 1864.      

(Received 4 p.m.)

Hon. E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

General Butler has arrived and presented his order. It seems to contemplate that he is to be in the city, in command of the troops to be sent here. This is not the weak point; it is on the frontier from Saint Albans to Buffalo, and at least half of the troops should go there. I write to know whether disposition of the troops is in my discretion. I should not make the inquiry but for the peculiar form of the order.

JNO. A. DIX,

Major-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 43, Part 1 (Serial No. 91), p. 535

Major-General John A. Dix: General Orders, No. 97, December 14, 1864

Head-quarters, Department of the East, New York City,

December 14,1864.

General Orders, No. 97:

Information having been received at these head-quarters that the rebel raiders who were guilty of murder and robbery at St. Alban's have been discharged from arrest at Montreal, and that other marauding enterprises of a like character are in preparation in Canada, the commanding General deems it due to the people of the frontier towns to adopt the most prompt and efficient measures for the security of their lives and property. All military commanders on the frontiers are therefore instructed, in case farther acts of depredation and murder are attempted, whether by marauders or persons acting under pretended commissions from the rebel authorities at Richmond, to shoot down the perpetrators, if possible, while in the commission of their crimes; or if it be necessary with a view to their capture to cross the boundary between the United States and Canada, said commanders are hereby directed to pursue them wherever they may take refuge; and, in the event of their capture, they are under no circumstances to be surrendered, but are to be sent to these head-quarters for trial and punishment by martial law.

The Major-general commanding the Department will not hesitate to exercise to the fullest extent the authority he possesses under the law of nations in regard to persons organizing hostile expeditions within neutral territory, and fleeing to it for an asylum after committing acts of depredation within our own, such an exercise of authority having become indispensable to protect our cities and towns from incendiarism and our people from robbery and murder.

It is earnestly hoped that the inhabitants of our frontier districts will abstain from all acts of retaliation on account of the outrages committed by rebel marauders, and that the proper measures of redress will be left to the military authorities.

John A. Dix, Major-general.

SOURCE: Morgan Dix, Memoirs of John Adams Dix, Volume 2, p. 112

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Saturday, March 26, 1864

It's a fine day; no wind; dull in camp; only ball playing for amusement which isn't half as exciting as being shot at by a Johnny. Our visitors from Vermont returned to St. Albans, Vt. this morning; services were held in the chapel this evening by Rev. Mr. Roberts of Williamstown, Vt.; weather fine.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 30

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Thursday, March 24, 1864

Weather fine; some snow on the ground yet. Messrs. Smith and Farra arrived this evening from St. Albans, Vt. The regiment remained in line nearly all day in anticipation of General Grant's visit to the Army of the Potomac. A special train which he was probably on passed about 2 p. m. But what was the use of keeping troops under arms in line all day? It looks like C. W. again, or schoolboy management of which there is too much; got a letter from home to-night.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 29