General John A Dix CS 2 1/2" x 1”. Gen. Dix began his career as an elected Democrat US Senator from New York. After serving in politics he became the president of the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad. Later, he was appointed postmaster of the city of New York. Dix was eventually appointed US Secretary of the Treasurer by President Buchanan before being appointed to the rank of major general in the New York Militia. He was commissioned a major general of volunteers when President Lincoln took office and outranked all other volunteer officers until the end of the war.