The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-23
THE ORIGIN OF "DIxIE."

Tune Tint Went from the North to he.
come Famous in the South.
Savannah Morning News
A writer of the New Orleans Delta. in an
issue OF that paper published some years
ago, gives. as below. this opinion or the
origin of ''Dixie:"
II do not wish TO spoil pretty illusion,
but the real truth Is that Dixie" 10 an
indigenous Northern negro refrain, as
in New York city seventy five years
ago. 1t was one Of the everyday allu.
stone of boys at the time in all their out.
door sports. And no one ever heard Of
island until recently. when it has been or.
roneously supposed to refer to the South,
from it's connection with pathetic negro
alleRory. When slavery existed in New
York. one Dizzy owned large tract OF land
on Manhattan island and = large number
of slaves. The increase of the slaves and
the increase OF the Abolition sentiments
caused an emigration OF the slaves to more
thorough and secure slave sections. and
the negroes who were thus sent of many
being born therel naturally looked back TO
their old homes. where they had lived in
clover. with feelings of regret as they could
not imagine any place like Dixy'a Hence
it became synonymous with an ideal
locality, combining ease. comfort and ma
terial happiness OF every description. In
those days negro singing and minstrelsy
were in their infancy. AMI any ubjeot thau
could be wrought into q ballad was eagerly
PICKED up. This was thu case with Dixie
1t originated in New \ ork and assumed the
proportions Of d song there. In Its travels
IT has been enlarged and has gathered
moss 1t has picked mp o note here aud
there. A chorus has been added to il. and
from an indistinct chant Of two or three
notes il has become an elaborate melody.
But the fact that il is not a Southern song
cannot be rubbed out The failacy is so
popular to the contrary that have thus
beenIat pains 10 state the real origin OF IT.
A writer in the Charleston Courier. un-
der date of June IL, 1861, says: Dixie" IL
an old Northern negro cir. and that the
words refer to one Dix, or Dlxy. who had
On estate on Manhattan island. near New
York city.
Southern sentiment would indeed receive
q severe shock II those two newspaper artt-
cles contained all that could be learned
concerning the Dixie" refrain: Fortu-
another source that will prove very sooth-
ing to Southern feelings after what has
been given above. From letter received
from zen. James Lon gstreet, OF Gainesville.
Ca, present this extract:
yours. referring to the origin OF the
confederate cong Of Dixie 10 received and
noted. Writing from memory, one cannot
claim to stand closely by the records, hence
| can only give recollections OF the matter.
It originated with the outhern boys at the
Military Academy at West Point, and
sprang from their admiration Of Northern
man named Dixie. who took noble stand
upon the question OF Southern rights' he
had moved South, and lived among US many
years The song came afterward."
General Longstreet became q graduate OF
West Point in the year 1872 He Is pre-
eminently man of "reminiscences aud, as
every one knows 10 especially regarded 90
authority upon all matters pertaining to
the civil war or in any way associated with
it. The information ne has contributed IN
this instance will therefore be recognized
as in the izhest degree valuable.
By General Longstreet's account the man
Dixie IL certainly placed In q very much
more nviable light than he 10 by tho cor
respondent of the New Orleans Delta. who
leaves us to believe that upon the increase
Dixie disposed of his slaves to unsuspect-
ing Southerners, thus fortifying himself
against the possible loss of property which
might accrue from the agitation regarding
Tna orSsn Of shs song =. ind
Gated by General Longstreet, makes IL ap-
pear particularly fitting that this song
should 60 forth to the world az the national
air of the Confederacy.
tions is true. even among the lower orders
Of the animal world. / once saw o pet mock
ing bird which was Away aroused TO frenzy
by the SOUND Of she tearing Of cloth, and
never failed to give In return similar dis
To Southern soldiers there was inspira-
ton in every note OF Dixie" Songs like
Dixie" embodying the spirit Of . nation,
live forever in tho hearts of its people.
Yankee Doodle" though hoary with the
winters of more than 1f0 years. and though
the name of It's author has passed from the
annals of history. still lives to remind ne
of the spirit OF our revolutionary fathers
when they said to England: eve Will have
none of your tea II TO obtain the luxury We
must sacrifice our principleso
1t Is related that on q public occasion,
coon after the surrender of some of the
confederate troops President Lincoln
ordered q Northern band to play Dixie"
Upon hearing An expression of surprise at
the selection of an AYR so intimately asso-
ciated with the Southern cause, the Presi-
dent replied: Have we not captured the
cong with the rebel troopsp Captured it
may have been. bnt whenever sung il still
proclaimed the patriotism of Southern
heroes-hcroes whose hearts glowed with
the resolve Ito live or die for Dixie"