“MILITARY EXECUTIONS AT SPRINGFIELD
During the Civil War, Springfield was the scene of several military executions. In 1863 two soldiers were shot near the Fulbright Spring for deserting to the enemy. In 1864 a soldier of the Regular Army killed a demented man for his money, on the Fayetteville road. He was tried, sentenced to be shot and the execution took place south of town, near the Owens farm. He was more indifferent to the occasion than were many of the spectators. On being taken from jail he assisted in lifting his own coffin into the wagon, and rode upon it. When in position facing the firing squad, he deliberately took the most exact attitude of a soldier at 'attention,' and just before the officer in command gave the word 'fire,' he raised his hand and pointed to his heart, and died without a struggle. On the site of North Springfield a soldier of the Fourth Missouri State Militia Regiment was shot for deserting to the enemy and engaging in bushwhacking. No names are preserved in connection with these events. In 1863, at Boonville, Charles Brownlee was convicted by military commission of murder, robbery and treason. He was a resident of Moniteau County, in which, and Cooper County, the crimes were committed. He was sentenced to be shot, but escaped from the Boonville jail. Early in 1865 he was captured in Polk County, and brought to Springfield, where he was identified. General Dodge, at St. Louis, was advised of the circumstances, and asked what disposition should be made of the prisoner, to which he replied, "Carry out the sentence of the commission, and shoot him." Answer was made, setting forth that Brownlee claimed to be a lieutenant in the Confederate service, to which General Dodge replied, 'Shoot him at once; he is not a regular Confederate soldier.' Brownlee appealed to General Sanborn, who was without authority in the case, but refused to intercede, saying, 'I shoot my own murderers and robbers and house-burners, and can't show any favors to the enemy's rascals that I won't to my own.' Brownlee was shot, south of town, May 11th, the day after General Dodge's last telegram was received.”