American Historical Ephemera & Photography

2 pages, 7 5/8 x 9 5/8 in., creased, with several separations, some partially repaired. 

In this letter marked "unofficial" to General Henry Halleck, Dix writes, in full:

"We have not received the advice expected from you assuming the command of the Army. I nevertheless take the liberty of writing to you in regard to this post. I have only 500 men in the Fort, half of them armed only with swords. This should be a Regiment of Artillery. I have asked for Col. Gibson (Capt. in the regular army) and his Regiment near Washington. He is just the man for this post. Everything about it is dirty in the extreme. Maj. Roberts, the commanding officer has an excuse in the small number of men, which is not sufficient for guard & police duty. 

I trust the importance of this command (though I could have no personal objection) may not be increased by the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac, a measure, as I learn[?] still under consideration. I cannot err, I am sure, when I say it would be nearly fatal. It would break the spirit of the country, now exceedingly depressed in some quarters, and go very far to ensure intervention from abroad. If we can ever reach Richmond, it seems to me the object can be best effected from the position we now occupy, at all costs, I feel a painful conviction that we cannot bear a retrograde movement at this moment. 

I have conversed freely with Genl. Burnside on this subject before you were here and since his return, and he concurs with me entirely. Excuse these suggestions and believe me respectfully & truly yours, John A. Dix, Maj. Genl."

Letter accompanied by modern printed transcript. 

Henry Halleck (1815-1872) served as General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States from 1862 until 1864 when General US Grant was appointed.