On this day, April 4, 1859, Bryant's Minstrels premiered the minstrel song "Dixie" in New York City'

[Journeyman]

1. "Dixie" is a Northern, Union song . . .

When Lee's surrender was announced in Washington, President Lincoln told the assembled crowd at the White House:

I thought "Dixie" one of the best tunes I ever heard ... I had heard that our adversaries over the way had attempted to appropriate it. I insisted yesterday that we had fairly captured it ... I presented the question to the Attorney-General, and he gave his opinion that it is our lawful prize

So despite what some lunkheads may protest, "Dixie" remains a song of the North, fairly captured and lawfully claimed.