The Confederacy’s unofficial anthem was written by Dan Emmett and was originally titled "I Wish I Was In Dixie’s Land." Emmett composed Dixie in 1859, prior to the War Between the States, as a “walk around” for his band, Bryant’s Minstrels. The song premiered on April 4th 1859, at Mechanic’s Hall, 472 Broadway, in New York City. The sheet music was published by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York in 1860.