Jacob Dixon was True Blue

Jacob Dixon was born near Snow Camp (now Alamance County) December 15, 1842. The son of Quakers Caleb and Mary Snotherly Dixon, he was opposed to the war, as were all members of the Society of Friends. The family story passed down from generation to generation was that Caleb Dixon sent his son to Indiana to prevent him from being conscripted into the Confederate service. Surely Caleb expected Jacob to stick with his Quaker principles once he arrived. But once Jacob got to Indiana, he joined the Union Army. Jacob Dixon’s pension application tells basically the same tale. Here it is in Jacob’s own words and spelling: “Causey, N.C. March 21st 1903, Hon. Commissioner, “Sir: I was born in North Carolina as stated in circular. After the war of the rebellion came on and General Burnside taken New Berne down on our coast and the so-called Confederate government was pressing all men and boys in the service I concluded to seek employment elsewhere. After walking 14 nights hiding in the woods in the day I reached New Berne took the oath of allegiance to the federal government and made my way to Indiana. After reaching there I went into the service of the U.S. in the construction corpse. Hired not enlisted. Served three months building bridges for the army to keep up their supplies. After this service I enlisted in the Army. After discharged, I remained in Indiana until the fall of 1870 then came to North Carolina. Been married twice, once in Indiana. Have two boys by first marriage both served in the Spanish American War…I write this to try to show that I am true blue and not a fraud although I live in the south. “Respectfully, Jacob Dixon” Jacob’s Civil War pension file shows that he joined Co. A, 29th Indiana Infantry on 6 October 1864 and was discharged 21 October 1865, He died near Bonlee, N.C. in Chatham County in 1923.