The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-04
The Family and Early Life Of the
Man Who was Shot at Yazoo.

Inc Family ana Early Life Of the
Man Who was Shot at Yazoo.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.-Whether the
quarrel between Henry NJ. Dixon and
Barksdale. in Yazoo, Miss, resulting in the
death Of the former, was personally or part.
ly political, it is a fact that Dixon was a
bloody-handed and dangerous man. From
boyhood he was an unprincipled scapegrace.
HIS father was one OF the most violent men
of the old regime In Virginia, whose chief
characteristic were obstinacy and physical
courage, and these led to his voting for
Lincoln in 1860, the only Republican vote
cast in Fauquier county. Some of the
Democratic leaders of his n%eighborhood
with whom he had a feud declared that not
a man should vote for Lincoln in that coun-
ty, whereupon Dixon swore with many
oaths that he would do as he pleased. and
on election day he went to the polls with q
drawn revolver and cast his vote for Lin
coin and Hamlin. Fauquier county there
after became too hot to hold him. and he
fed 20 Washington, leaving his slaves and
plantation to his enemies.
For this conduct he was rewarded bv the
incoming President with a paymastership,
though his lack of an education disqualified
him from performing the simple duties of
Tie ONCE. OUlv Iuc extreme 1OrOcaraDCe
Of the Administration enabled him TO re
tain his commission. He always carried
firearms and used them freely. He often
threatened to kill negroes because, in driv-
ing, they took half the road, as if thew
were white. His two oldest sons, Collins
and Henry, imbibed from him these ideas.
and both of then engaged in hunting hu-
man game from time to time. Collins, then
about 20, had a controversy in the halls of
Wizards hotel, drew a revolver, missed his
man, and shot a stranger in the leg.
The wounded man was put to bed,
and was generous enough to &C.
cept IN apology from the youth who
had sent a bullet into him.
Henry, who has now been killed in the
streets of Yazoo, was then about IA, and
was a member Of Mosby's guerrillas. From
this band of free-booters he deserted, from
which he would come to Georgetown and
make r~eprisals on the family-once retreat
ing to Mosby with 800 which his mother
gave him to pay a market bill.
Major Dixon thought no worse of his
boys for these innocent escapades. Indeed
he insisted that they thus ''showed their
spirit" "pd have lone the same thing
myself I" he said, with an oath, alludlng
to the quarrel which Collins had forced
upon an acquaintance.
One day, in 1865, Major Dixon heard
that his old enemy, DR.. Matthert, had ven
tured to come to Alexandria, whereupon he
armed himself to go and meet him, "Ill
cut off his ears !" he said, ooastingly, to
his family, as he left his residence in
Georgetown for Alexandria, "or maybe I
shall shoot him like a dog" He went to
Alexandria, found Matthert, chased him
around a block, when they exchanged
shots, and Matthert shot Dixon dead.
At this event Mrs. Dixon, who had had
seventeen children, was given a small clerk
ship in the Patent Office, which she still
occupies. She was a most excellent wife
and mother, kind, loving, forbearing, in
dustrious, careful, conscientious, benevo-
lent, working night and day for others.
But Major Dixon was a bad man, selfish,
lazy, cruel, profane, ignorant and brutal.
He brought up his sons in the same way.
He frequently amused himself by coaxing
his infant children to blaspheme, paying
them ten cents each time. Young Harry
was an amiable youth, in spite Of his father,
but with such an example constantly before
him, it could hardly be expected that ne
would meet a peaceful and reputable end.