The two asterisked locations on this map indicate a proposed path different from that of the recorded notes from the 9th Michigan Cavalry Regiment. 

 

Horton’s Naked Genius also includes a poem entitled “Execution of Private Henry Anderson, Co. D., 9th Mich. Cav. Vols., at Lexington, North Carolina, May 13th, 1865.” This poem details the execution of a member of the regiment and includes a specific date and location. However, both these facts are contradicted by Turner in Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War (1861-1865) which fails to note the 9th Michigan Cavalry Regiment being in Lexington and also lists Anderson’s execution as May 3, 1865 (Turner). However, again, this does not mean Horton is incorrect as records during the period were not always recorded correctly. Another fact helping confirm Horton’s record is the fact the regiment arrived in Concord on May 14, 1865, meaning they most likely would have had to pass through Lexington the previous day (Turner).

 

If Horton’s poem is correct and an eyewitness interpretation of Anderson’s execution then it is an extremely rare piece of literature featuring the first-person account of a Union execution.