Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-09
HOW DIXIE ORIGINATED.
CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS or
ITS BIRTH.
Theory Of Northern origin Objected 10 BY a
Southern Writer - Con. Long.
streets Evidence.


A writer of the New Orleans Delta,
IN an issue of that paper published
some years ago. gave, rs below, his
opinion Of the origin of ''Dirie.'
II do not wish to spoil pretty H.
fusion, but the real truth Is that Dix
le Is an indigenous Northern negru re-
frain, as common to the writer as the
lamppost In New York City seventy
i've years ago. II was one of the every
day illusions Of the boys at the time In
all their outdoor sports Aud no one
ever heard Of "Dixie's" land being other
than Manhattan Island until recently,
when IL has been enormously supposed
TO refer to the South. from its counec-
uon with pathetic negro llegory.
When slavery existed In New York,
one Dixie owned large tract Of land
on Manhattan Island, aud a large num-
Der of slaves. The increase Of the
slaves and the increase OF the abolition
sentiment caused an emigration Of the
to more thorough and secure slave sec
tons, and the negroes who were thus
sent on (many being born there) natur-
ally looked back 10 their old homes,
where they had lived in clover. with
feelings of regret, aud they conld not
Imagine anw place like Dixie's Hence
u became synonymous with an ideal
locality, combining ease, comfort and
material happiness of every descrip-
ton.
In those days negro singing and min
stelsy were In their infancy and any
subject that could be wrought into II
ballad was eagerly picked UP. This
was the case with Dixie IL originat-
ed IN New York, and assumed the pro-
portions of Il song there. In its tray
els it has been enlarged and has gath
cred moss II has picked up a note here
and there. a chorus has been added
TO it and from an indistinct chant Of
thra4a a hne hafnnln
elaborate melody. But the fact that il
is not n Southern song cannot be rub
bed out. The fulacy is SO popular TO
the contrary that 1 have. thus been ut
pains to state the real origin"
writer In the Charleston Courier,
under date OF June IL, 1861, says
Dixie is an old Northern negro air,
and that the words IT fer to one. Dix, or
Dixey, who had an estate ON Manhat-
tan Island, now New York City.
Southern sentiment would indeed re-
coive severe shock IL these two news
paper articles contained nj that could
he learned concerning the Dixie re-
frain, Fortunately however, | have in
formation from another source that will
prove very soothing to Southern feelings
after what has been given above. From
a letter received from General James
Lengstreet, of Gainesville, Ga, present
this extract;
Yours referring to the origin Of the
Confederate song of Dixie is received
and noted Writing from memory one
cannot claim TO stand closely by the
records, hence ] can only give reconect-
ions o. the matter. II originated with
the Southern boys at the military acad-
emy ut West Point, and sprang from
their admiration OF q Northern man
named Dixie, who took noble stand
unon the que stion of Southern rights,
| He had moved South and lived among
us many yenrs. The song came after
| ward"
General Longstrcet became a graduate
of West Point In the year 1872. lie "
| pre-eminently q man of "Reminiscences,
! and, as every one knows, is especially
regarded as authority upon all matters
pertaining 10 the civil war or IN any
way associated with It, The inforina-
ton he has contributed in this instance
vii therefore be recognized as In the
| highest degree valuable.
| BY General Longstreets account The
nan Dixie is certainly placed in u
very much more enyiable light than he
| IL by the correspondent Of the New Or
| leans Delta, who leads US TO believe
| that upon the increase Of the abolition
sentiment the shrewd Dixie disposed of
| his slaves to unsuspecting Southerners,
thus terrifying himself against the pos
! sible loss Of property which might hc-
crue from the agitation regarding slavery
| then prevailing at the North.
The origin Of the song Dixie, MS
| indicated by General Longstreet, makes
| il appear particularly fitting that this
song should 20 forth 10 the world rs
the national air Of the Confederncy.
To Southern soldiers there was IN.
| SEPARATION in every note OF Dixie
| Songs like Dixie" embodylng the
| spirit of a nation live forever in the
hearts of It's people. a.,
Yankee Doodle" though hoary with
| the winters of more than n hundred
| years. and though tho name Of its author
| has passed from the annals Of history
still lives to remind us Of the spirit of
our Revolutionary fathers when they
said to England: I'VE VIII have mono of
| your tea V to obtain the luxury we must
| sacrifice our principles"
1t Is related that ON public oceasion
soon after the surrender OF some Of the
| Confederate troops, President Lincoln
ordered a Northern baud TO play
'Dixie." Upon herring IN expression of
surprise az the selection of an mir so
| intimately associated with the Southern
cause, tile president replied. Have we
not captured the song with the rebel
troopsT Captured It may have been,
Int whenever sung ii stil proclaiIns the
patriotism Of Southern heroes-heroes
| whose hearts glowed with tue resolve to
| Give or die for Dixie"
/