Events commemorating the most famous hanging in Arkansas Civil War history will be among January observances of the war’s 150th anniversary, the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission has announced.
A David O. Dodd Sesquicentennial Commemoration will be Jan. 11 at Little Rock’s Mount Holly Cemetery, while a one-day seminar on Dodd’s life and death also will be Jan. 11 at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., in Little Rock.
Dodd was 17 when he was hanged by Union troops Jan. 8, 1864, after being found guilty of espionage. In late December 1863, Dodd had obtained a pass to cross Union lines into Confederate territory. He was arrested at a Union checkpoint when a search uncovered a notebook Dodd carried that included a page written in Morse code detailing Union positions in Little Rock.
Dodd was arrested on suspicion of espionage. Despite being offered amnesty in exchange for the name of his informant, Dodd refused. He was found guilty at a trial on Jan. 2, 1864. Dodd was hanged at a spot just east of what is now MacArthur Park.
Other events in January will include: The dedication Jan. 19 of the Skirmish at Branchville Historical Marker at Hickory Grove Cemetery near Star City; and Drew Hodges of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will be featured guest at the Civil War Round Table of Arkansas at its Jan. 28 meeting at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock.
The commission’s website provides a complete list of sanctioned sesquicentennial activities, event contacts and other information at arkansascivilwar150.com/events.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 12/31/2013