16-year-old Fulton resident James P. Snedicor (Snedecor, Snedicore, Snedecore) was arrested by his brother, Callaway County Provost Marshal Isaac P. Snedicor, in the immedate aftermath of the NEMO railroad bridge burnings in mid-December 1861. Affidavits indicate the kid was one of the leaders of the scores of men who participated. A fun little comment from Isaac, who arrested his brother for a firing squad offense, is found in James' PM file -- "My opinion in this case is that my opinion is not necessary." James finally died for real May 16, 1881 and appears to have been a veteran of of the Confederate-supporting 3rd Division Missouri State Guard (Clark's) prior to the bridge-burnings.

Anyway, James Snedicor was in fact convicted, and sentenced to be shot by firing squad, as were multiple other ringleaders. These executions were not carried out. Does anybody know when the sentences were commuted, and by what legal mechanism? Also, what was James up to the remainder of the war? I lose his trail in early 1862 and don't pick it back up again until 1866. (Sidenote: to John Russell: James 'J.P.' appears on the 1860 census you dug up when looking into his brother Isaac P. Snedicore.)