In the "History of Randolph & Macon (MO) Counties" a section on Civil War activity mentions a public execution by hanging of a Confederate officer in Macon City in the Fall of 1864. (no exact date - just Fall). The book cites the local newspaper "the true democrat" for the account. While the name of the officer was not recalled - it described the location in town the event occured, mentioned the large crowd that was encouraged to witness it, described how the provost marshal (Major McKay) read the order of execution after the military court trial, and someone even recorded word-for-word the last statement of the condemned man.
Yet, the courthouse has no record of the event, I can't find any official Union document describing it, the MO State Archives does not have any of the newspapers, and the Macon County Historical Society cannot verify that the event actually happened.
My personal connection for this - I'm trying to trace the Civil War activity of my great-great grandfather (William Dixon).
When Sterling Price was making his push northward toward St. Louis in September and then along the Missouri river westward, by the time he was in the Jefferson City/Boonville area there was some concern he might send a force further north to Macon (since Macon was Union headquarters for north Missouri and controlled a large section of the Hannibal-St.Joseph railroad). The call was sent out to several surrounding counties for troops from civilian enlisted county militias. My g-g-grand was from Putnam County and he & 2 units from Putnam County was posted in Macon from the first of October until mid-November. If I can determine the execution/hanging did occur and it was from Oct. 1 - Nov. 14, I can be pretty sure that he and his unit witnessed it.
If anyone has some information that helps, it would be much appreciated.
thanks, Don Dixon