| Palmyra massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the American Civil War | |
| Location | Palmyra, Missouri |
| Date | October 18, 1862 |
Attack type | POW massacre, mass murder, state terrorism |
| Weapons | Firearms |
| Deaths | 10 |
| Victims | Confederate prisoners of war |
| Perpetrators |  Missouri State Militia |
No. of participants | 30 |
| Motive | Confederate capture of Union sympathizer |
The Palmyra massacre is an incident that took place in Palmyra, Missouri on October 18, 1862, during the American Civil War, when ten Confederate prisoners of war were executed in reprisal for the abduction of a local Union supporter, Andrew Alsman. The officer who ordered the execution, Colonel John McNeil, was later known as the "Butcher of Palmyra". He left the army in 1865, after receiving the customary promotion to brevet rank of Major General of Volunteers in recognition of his faithful service to the Union.