Yes, after writing all that, I had the feeling that I really didn't answer your question about whether or not Private William Dixon may have served on duty during an execution, especially one of an officer.

I was working on a secondary mission to dispel the idea that Marion D. Erwin was an officer.

As I indicated, about the only condemned prisoner executed at Macon City throughout 1864 or 1865 who could in any way be construed as an officer was Marion D. Erwin, and his execution took place 17 March 1865, and not during autumn 1864. Erwin was actually a private in the 5th Missouri Cavalry, CSA. I question the old county history's account that Erwin was an officer, but I also played devil's advocate that there is a chance that Shelby empowered Erwin to go home and recruit, and if Erwin followed that path, perhaps he functioned as an officer, at least for while. I also maintain that most of the time Erwin functioned as a bushwhacker, and IF he actually rode for a while in the winter of 1864-1865 with Jim Jackson's notorious, small guerrilla band in northeast Missouri, then Erwin committed murder or helped to do it on a number of mostly unarmed men, as that seemed to be that band's specialty. You see, Jackson had no loyalty to Missouri and seemed only to come to Missouri and join the guerrillas as a thrill seeker, and he drew like-minded men to him. I'm glad to report that Jim Jackson hardly ever led more than about a dozen men. And, I cannot definitively prove that Erwin actually rode with Jackson. My little information that Erwin was a member of Jackson's band came from a Union military report that hinted that Erwin was one of Jackson's men. There really is no proof he really was.

Now, is it possible that Private William Dixon actually witnessed an execution while on duty at Macon City? Yes, it is, but I personally know of no executions performed there during Price's great Missouri raid--only weeks afterwards starting in January or February. Most of those executions performed during 1864 in St. Louis or Macon City or wherever were conducted without the public's knowledge or the presence of the press.

Don, do you have anything to assert that Private Dixon witnessed an execution? If you do, please tell me what facts you have and I wil research it more for you.

Anyway, I appreciate your holding my feet to the fire to answer that question for you. My answer is maybe Dixon witnessed an execution while he was stationed at Macon City, and maybe not. I really don't know for certain. It is possible.

Bruce