Don,

One of the Union Enrolled Missouri Militia units bears the reputation that "no chicken house or corn crib was safe when they were on patrol," but that was the 30th EMM, also known as the "Grundy County Militia." I'm not saying that the 45th EMM from nearby Putnam County were choirboys, but it seems that the "Grundy County Militia" had more of a reputation for that sort of thing. Sorry to disappoint you.

I did examine Private William Dixon's record, and he served 16 days total of active duty between August 4 and November 7 1864 between Unionville, Putnam County, and Macon City, Macon County. The overall Union commander of north MO, BG Clinton B. Fisk, for several weeks in late summer and autumn 1864 wondered how he would be able to hold his large district against hundreds of guerrillas and hundreds of Confederate recruiting teams. Whether the 45th EMM behaved themselves or not, I am sure General Fisk was glad to have them on duty. I don't know if you noticed or not, but service in the EMM regiments was mandatory for every able-bodied man of military age. Many EMM served against their will. I noticed that Second Lieutenant D. T. Dowling of your ancestor's Company E, 45th EMM was "vacated by Special Order Number 126" in about May 1864 for "being too rough on Rebels." I see that three or four other officers of the regiment were let go under S. O. 126, too.

Bruce Nichols