I can't lay my hand on my copy of the book at the moment, but in an account of the Civil War in St. Louis (which includes many incidents and good information, including the prisons, Fremont's stay there, & most other major incidents involving the city and its people), it was stated that Sherman and his small son were present as observers, at the shooting when the soldiers were marching the prisoners from Camp Jackson.

General Sherman is buried in St. Louis.

It seemed to me that most who wrote in the replies were hostile to the German soldiers marching the prisoners along. Put yourself in the soldier's position, can you imagine marching St. L. citizens through other St. L. Citizens, perhaps some of their acquaintances/family, who were already irritated with the "foreign" or German soldiers, who were having bricks thrown at them, then having a gun go off? I'm afraid most of us would be a little trigger happy under those circumstances.

The account I read, indicated that no one knew who fired the first shot. Probably over-reaction on the part of the soldiers and the crowd.

Another of the horrible mistakes that occur when mobs are present and feelings are running high, then add a little genuine fear and you have a very dangerous situation. Hind sight is often better than thoughts of the moment. I'm sure the leaders could have come up with a safer transfer, but perhaps they didn't realize the inherent danger present on the streets.