John A. Dix, October 14, 1861

GENERAL:

I send you the steamer Balloon, Captain Kirwin, which is placed at your disposal for the purpose of aiding you in breaking up the commercial intercourse with the Confederate States of which the Eastern Shore of Maryland furnishes the material. You have, as I suppose, ere this taken measures to seize all merchandise brought from Delaware to Salisbury by rail and destined to Virginia. With the aid of the Balloon you may intercept much of that which finds its way – down the Chesapeake by water, and I trust be able to confine this illicit – traffic to very narrow limits. It is believed that the Balloon will also be of essential use in sending to different points the force necessary to disarm such companies of militia or such unauthorized military bodies as are training with intentions notoriously hostile to the Government. The duty is one of the greatest delieacy, and requires the utmost prudence and discretion. It is not doubted that numbers of individuals on the Eastern Shore of Maryland have been led into the support of disloyal measures by gross misrepresentations of the views and intentions of the Government. While the purpose you have in view should be steadily maintained and carried out with inflexible firmness, those who have been deceived and misled, instead of being confirmed in their prejudiees and driven hopelessly off by harshness on our part, should, if possible, be reclaimed by kind treatment, and convinced of their error by correcting the misapprehensions under which they labor. If, in spite of all efforts to induce them to discontinue their aets of hos- ` tility to the Government, they persist in carrying on correspondence with the enemy and in giving him aid and comfort, they should be arrested and sent to Fort MeHenry; but unless a case of extraordinary urgency should occur, I trust it may not be necessary to make an arrest without first consulting me. I have full authority from General Me. Clellan to act in all eases.

You will bear in mind that we are on the eve of an election in Maryland of vital importance. The preservation of this State is indispensable to the safety of the capital. It is not doubted that all your measures will be so tempered with discretion as to give strength to the cause of the Union; but while all the just rights even of those who are disloyal should be respected, they should be made to feel that

no act of open hostility to the Government will be tolerated for a moment. > à ; pps

e o E o A PE NR AS o – usd pe m. O ETA f 3 yi oE fT » – T DT – MN ; & ^ A t . N > TS Tc Å¡

TA . 5 5 í 250 – qe OmiXIV] ^ CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION.

I inclose copies of letters which have passed between Major-General — McClellan, Governor Hicks, and myself in regard to the disarming of – military. companies.* The one at Westminster has been already dis- -— armed by a force sent from this city. All those on the Eastern Shore _ of Maryland are left to you, and I consider any company drilling in _ avowed hostility to the Government as coming within the authority . given to me by Major-General McClellan and sanctioned by Governor _ Hicks, though not specifically named in the letter of the latter. The . authority- conferred on me-is hereby delegated to you, not doubting – that it will be firmly and discreetly exercised. It will be advisable to consult with our leading friends in the counties in which you adopt these stringent and delicate measures.

You will please report to me the result of every such movement with all convenient dispatch. Should you deem the co-operation of a-police force advisable in any ease, please notify me, and it shall be provided.

very respectfully, yours,