George E. Dixon
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George E. Dixon (? - February 17, 1864) was a lieutenant in the Confederate Army in the American Civil War. He is best known as the commander of the H.L. Hunley during its mission to sink the USS Housatonic, but also is also known to have served in the Battle of Shiloh.
Lt. Dixon's remains were excavated from the Hunley in 2001, as well as those of the other seven crew members. All eight men received a final burial on April 17, 2004 in Magnolia Cemetery in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.
[edit] The Gold Coin
The romantic legend of Lt. George Dixon and his gold coin has existed for many years. According to the story, Lt. Dixon was given a gold coin by his sweetheart, Queenie Bennett. She asked that he take the coin for good luck, and as a token of her love. Lt. Dixon always kept the coin with him, as promised, and at the Battle of Shiloh it was in his pants pocket. As the battle waged on, Lt. Dixon was shot in the leg. As he examined the wound he discovered that the bullet struck the coin directly in the center, bending the coin but saving his leg, and possibly even his life.
During the excavation of the H.L. Hunley, this legend has been verified by the discovery of the coin with the remains of Lt. Dixon. But in 2004 Nick Herrmann examined the recovered skull of Dixon. He discovered that the man in a photo Queenie Bennett claimed to be the Lieutenant was probably not Dixon at all. Additionally, the coin gives no mention of Bennett, further disputing the authenticity of the story. The $20 gold coin was minted in 1860 and is indented by the impact of a bullet. Both the coin itself and a wound on the femur of Lt. Dixon were found to have traces of lead. The back of the coin is inscribed with the following four lines:
Shiloh
April 6, 1862
My life Preserver
G. E. D.
The coin can currently be seen on display with many other artifacts and the Hunley itself at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.
