The Palmyra massacre took place in Palmyra, Missouri, on October 18, 1862, during the American Civil War. Ten Confederate prisoners of war were executed by a Union firing squad in reprisal for the abduction and disappearance of Andrew Alsman, a local Union supporter. The execution was ordered by Colonel John McNeil, who was afterward known by opponents as the "Butcher of Palmyra." McNeil later left the army in 1865 after receiving a brevet promotion to Major General of Volunteers in recognition of his service to the Union.
Andrew Alsman was a sixty-year-old carpenter and a Union patriot in a predominantly pro-Confederate area, described by a Union source as a respected man who assisted Union forces in identifying local Confederate sympathizers. He was taken prisoner by Confederate Colonel Joseph C. Porter's forces during a raid on Palmyra on September 12, 1862. After Porter's forces decided Alsman was a liability, he was released and allowed to choose an escort back toward Palmyra or Union lines. He was never seen again, and speculation held that he was taken into nearby woods and killed, though most writers have concluded he was likely the victim of personal enemies among Porter's men rather than of an organized Confederate action.
On October 8, 1862, Provost Marshal William R. Strachan, acting on behalf of Colonel McNeil, published a notice threatening that unless Alsman was returned within ten days, ten of Porter's men held prisoner in Palmyra and Hannibal would be executed. Porter may never have seen the notice and, in any case, had no ability to produce Alsman. On the evening of October 17, ten prisoners were selected — five from the jail in Hannibal and five from the jail in Palmyra — none of whom had any connection with Alsman's disappearance. One selected prisoner, Willis Baker, was held because his sons were reported to be riding with Porter and because he was reported to have killed a Union neighbor the previous year. All ten men were executed on October 18, 1862, by a firing squad of thirty soldiers from the Second Missouri State Militia.
In the aftermath, it was alleged that Strachan spared one intended victim, William Thomas Humphrey of Lewis County, in exchange for $500 paid by Humphrey's wife, and that Strachan also violated Mrs. Humphrey's chastity. In 1864, Strachan was tried for the rape of Mrs. Humphrey and other offenses, including misuse of funds; he was found not guilty of rape but guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to prison, before being released by General William Starke Rosecrans on grounds of persecution and an unfair trial.
A skull believed by some to be Alsman's surfaced along Troublesome Creek in 1877 and passed through several private owners before reportedly being returned to one of Alsman's daughters for burial. A granite monument listing the ten executed men was erected in Palmyra in 1907 and stands outside the Palmyra courthouse. The Marion County Jail and Jailor's House associated with the case was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Key facts
- Victims
- Eleazer Lake, Willis T. Baker, Thomas Humston, Francis M. Lear, Morgan Bixler, John M. Wade, Andrew Alsman, Hiram T. Smith, Herbert Hudson, Thomas A. Siednor, John Y. McPheeters
- Date
- 1862
- Location
- Palmyra, Missouri, United States
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
1862-09-12
Confederate Colonel Joseph C. Porter's forces raid Palmyra and take Andrew Alsman prisoner.
1862-09-16
Alsman reportedly observed alive near Troublesome Creek in the company of two Confederate guerrillas, per a later 1994 newspaper column.
1862-10-08
Provost Marshal William R. Strachan publishes a notice threatening execution of ten Confederate prisoners unless Alsman is returned within ten days.
1862-10-17
Ten Confederate prisoners are selected from jails in Hannibal and Palmyra for execution.
1862-10-18
Ten Confederate prisoners of war are executed by a Union firing squad in Palmyra, Missouri.
1864
William R. Strachan is tried for the rape of Mrs. Humphrey and other offenses including embezzlement; found not guilty of rape but guilty of embezzlement.
1865
Colonel John McNeil leaves the army after receiving a brevet promotion to Major General of Volunteers.
1877
A farmer finds a skull near Troublesome Creek believed by some to be that of Andrew Alsman.
1907-02-25
The Palmyra Confederate Monument Association erects a granite monument in Palmyra listing the names of the ten executed men.
2002
The Marion County Jail and Jailor's House is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Best coverage
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People
Eleazer Lake
VICTIMPrisoner executed October 18, 1862, in reprisal for Alsman's disappearance.
John McNeil
LAW ENFORCEMENTUnion colonel who ordered the execution of the ten prisoners; later known as the "Butcher of Palmyra"; not shown to have been criminally charged.
Willis T. Baker
VICTIMConfederate-associated prisoner executed October 18, 1862; held in the Palmyra jail reportedly because his sons rode with Colonel Porter.
Thomas Humston
VICTIMPrisoner executed October 18, 1862, in reprisal for Alsman's disappearance.
Francis M. Lear
VICTIMPrisoner executed October 18, 1862, in reprisal for Alsman's disappearance.
Morgan Bixler
VICTIMPrisoner executed October 18, 1862, in reprisal for Alsman's disappearance.
Joseph C. Porter
LAW ENFORCEMENTConfederate colonel whose forces took Alsman prisoner and later released him; not shown to have been criminally charged in connection with the massacre.
John M. Wade
VICTIMPrisoner executed October 18, 1862, in reprisal for Alsman's disappearance.
Andrew Alsman
VICTIMUnion supporter who disappeared after being released by Confederate forces; his disappearance was cited as the pretext for the execution of ten Confederate prisoners.
Hiram T. Smith
VICTIMPrisoner executed October 18, 1862, chosen as a substitute for William Thomas Humphrey.
Herbert Hudson
VICTIMPrisoner executed October 18, 1862, in reprisal for Alsman's disappearance.
Thomas A. Siednor
VICTIMConfederate prisoner of war executed October 18, 1862, in reprisal for Alsman's disappearance.
William R. Strachan
CONVICTEDProvost Marshal who issued the execution ultimatum; in 1864 tried for rape and other offenses, found not guilty of rape but guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to prison, later released.
John Y. McPheeters
VICTIMPrisoner executed October 18, 1862, in reprisal for Alsman's disappearance.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- On October 18, 1862, ten Confederate prisoners of war held in Palmyra and Hannibal, Missouri, were executed by a Union firing squad in reprisal for the disappearance of Union supporter Andrew Alsman, none of whom had any connection to his disappearance.
- Where did the massacre happen?
- Palmyra, Missouri, United States.
- Who was convicted?
- William R. Strachan (Provost Marshal who issued the execution ultimatum; in 1864 tried for rape and other offenses, found not guilty of rape but guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to prison, later released.).
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved.
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Sources
- OFFICIAL / AGENCYMissouri Bicentennial AdversityMissouri Secretary of State · 2026-07-11
- ENCYCLOPEDICPalmyra massacreWikipedia · 2026-07-10
- OFFICIAL / AGENCYContemporaneous coverage — npgallery.nps.govnpgallery.nps.gov · 2026-07-10