The E-Sylum:  Volume 6, Number 21, May 25, 2003, Article 15

WHISTLIN' DIXIE

  Chick Ambrass writes: "While visiting my daughter in Richmond,
  VA, we visited the Tredegar Iron Works on the banks of the
  James River. This facility was in existence pre-Civil War, and
  at it's biggest during WWII.  They made machinery and various
  parts, ordinance, and their Civil War specialty was cannon. It
  is now a Civil War Museum. At the gift shop, I purchased a
  book entitled: THE CIVIL WAR - STRANGE AND
  FASCINATING FACTS, written by Burke Davis, author of
  GRAY FOX . It makes for light and easy reading.  It has a lot
  of short (1-2 pages) chapters, not going into depth on much
  of anything.

  One fun chapter told the story of how the south got the nickname
  "DIXIE".  I had heard the story before but was pleasantly
  reminded.  A Louisiana bank had printed $10 notes, and because
  of the French influence they had the french word for "10", "dix"
  on the reverse. Hence these became known as "dixie notes". The
  reference to south came in 1859, when song writer Daniel
  Emmett wrote the song: "I wish I was in Dixie's Land". In 1861
  it was played at a procession for the just inducted President
  Jefferson Davis. On April 8, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln
  was on a paddle boat, the River Queen in harbor. An Army
  band boarded and began to serenade.  After a couple of
  numbers, Lincoln turned to another guest, and asked: "have you
  heard the Rebel song, Dixie?"  The guest shook his head.
  Lincoln replied; "The tune is now Federal Property, and it's good
  to show the Rebels that with us in power, they will be free to
  hear it again. It has always been a favorite of mine, and since
  we've captured it, we have a perfect right to enjoy it."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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