Centralia Massacre (Missouri)

Centralia Massacre
LocationCentralia, Missouri
DateSeptember 27, 1864 (1864-09-27)
9:00 a.m.
TargetUnion army soldiers
Attack type
Summary executions
Deaths24
PerpetratorsBushwhackers led by William T. Anderson
No. of participants
~80

The Centralia Massacre was the summary execution of 24 captured Union army soldiers in Centralia, Missouri on September 27, 1864, during the American Civil War by Confederate bushwhackers under William T. Anderson. Future outlaw Jesse James was among the killers. In the ensuing Battle of Centralia a large detachment of Union mounted infantry attempted to intercept Anderson, but nearly all of them were killed in combat.