St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-19
RATHER ROMANTIC.
Why Henry Nj. Dixon Received a
West Point CadetshiD.

. WASHINGTON. April 1S.-The APP
pointment yesterday of Henry M. Dix
on, of Mississippi, as a cadet at large to
West Point, brought to light sad fam
lily history, probably without parallel in
the tragic features which mark
it. Several days ago feeble
old lady was ushered into the
office of Private Secretary Halford and
asked him to present to President Har-
rison an application from her for the
of eighteen, as a cadet at West Point,
Her story deeply interested Mr.. Hal
ford, and he took her directly to Presi.
dent Harrison. To him she re-
peated a tale which, he said afterward-
greatly moved him. AT his suggestion
Mrs. Dixon, for that was her name, pre-
pared statement in detail of the eX-
periences of herself and family, which
were accompanied by formal applica-
ton for her grandson's appointment.
From this statement it appears that
Mrs. Dixon is the widow of Maj.
Henry L. Dixon, the only man in
Fauquier county, Virginia, who voted
for Lincoln for president in 1860. He
had to send to Washington for the
ballot, which he deposited in the box
being in his right. He had been
warned that forty men had sworn
to kill him if he voted for Lin
coin. Some time afterwards he went to
Alexandria. Va. on business, to be gone
two drys. After he had gone friend
informed Mrs. Dixon that her husband
would be shot OH the depot platform as
he alighted from the cars If he returned.
She telegraphed her husband not to re-
turn home, and he did not see his home
again for four years. He served
through the WOr, was one of the defend
erS of the capitol, and was afterward
commissioned as paymaster. During
the war, Mrs. Dixon suffered much IN
secluSiOn. and was several times taken
prisoner. Their property was all de-
stroyed, and six weeks after the war
closed, Maj. Dixon was assassinated by
an ex-Confederate officer, being shot in
the back. His family was in destitute
circumstances, but at the re-
quest of Gen. Grant, who was
acquainted with the circumstances,
postmaster-gederal Randall gave the
widow employment in his department.
After about ten years of service she
left it and is now old and feebse, penni-
less and without home. Her son,
Henry NJ. Dickson, went south after
war, mere boy, and married in Miss
iSsippi at the age of Is, his wife being a
native of that state. He opposed the
Democratic ticket at his home in YaZoo
City, and in 1879 he was warned by a
mob to leave the town. This he re-
fused to do, and in. August, 1879, he
was shot down from behind, as
wife did not long survive him,
and six small children were
thus bereft of their parents care aud
love. 1t was for the eldest of these.
named for his father, that Mrs. Dixon
asked the appointment. Accompany
ing the application was a package of
papers that were mutely eloquent
One OF these was letter taken
from the hip pocket of Henry NJ
Dixon, through which the fatal bull
let had cut its deadly way. Another
was letter from his widowed mother,
full of tenderness and pathos. These,
with the rest, were referred to Secre-
tary Proctor, who was as deeply moved
point the boy if there was place for
him. So deep and sincere was
the secretary's interest that he
personally looked up the record of Mrs
Dixon and was satisfied of the correct
ness of her statements. There was a
vacancy in the list of cadets at large,
caused by the failure of an appointee to
fulfil the requirements, and, greatly
qualification of President Harri-
son, he today received no
tice from Secretary Proctor that
Mrs. Dixon had been notified of the ap.
pointment of her grandson. 1t may be
added that the boy. who has been at
tending school in Quebec, is most
highly recommended by his teacher
apd rector as well meriting the appoint
ment because OF his accomplishments
and worth.