The history of and the (presumed) mindset behind “Dixie” is multi layered and very complex. It’s a very easy song to misinterpret if that is one’s goal. For some of the listening pubic, they took it at face value, liked the performance and that was it. For others, it was a Ballad laden with symbols of pride, defiance and endurance.
The first verse of The Bonnie Blue Flag captures the Confederate ethos perfectly.