Indiginat woman and barking dogs

It appears that during the Civil War in Missouri "Union" patrols or scouts often encountered a number of "Indignant Women" and Barking Dogs that became a volatile, but not violent combination. Such was the case of the "Union" patrol that is described in the following report that is located on Pages 93-95, Vol. 34, Part III Correspondence in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

"Snibar Station, Mo., April 8, 1864.

Capt. Thomas Moses, Jr.

2nd Colorado Cavalry, Commanding Battalion:

Capt.: I have the honor to report that in obedience to your instructions I left Snibar Station with one sergeant, one corporal and 16 privates on April 5, 1864, at 7 a.m., and proceeded to a point 3 miles northeast of Lone Jack and on the farm of one (named) Scott, deployed the men in squads of three and scouted the brush thoroughly from that point to the house of Jemima Johnson, which is situated at the junction of the county lines of Jackson, LaFayette and Johnson counties, finding nothing of importance. From Johnson I scouted again in the same order through very heavy brush toward Round Prairie; found many tracks of unshod horses and one or two old (Bushwhacker) camps and at a point about 1 mile east of Round Prairie, in a deep hollow, I found a camp evidently left but in a short time; found canteens, plates, knives, butternut clothing and halters together with some U.S. Cavalry clothing.

The parties who had occupied the camp had a number of animals and had taken forage (hay and corn) from Smith's farm, near there. A house within 200 yards of the camp was occupied by an old widow woman named Plunkett and two other women whose names were Martin and (illegible name). The outhouses (storage buildings, not privies) were full of meat and every evidence was seen of its being a place where the bushwhackers were harbored, for which purpose it is conveniently situated.

I was totally unable to glean any information from the women (now that's not surprising is it?); the younger women were very indignant at the house being searched.

This house should be well watched.

From this point scouted through the brush to Round Prairie, when the command came together, meeting a scouting party of Captain Burris' company of Missouri State Militia. Being near night, marched to the farm of Robert Moore, in Clay Township, LaFayette County, and there went into camp at sunset.

April 6: Broke camp at sunrise and scouted through the brush to the house of Judge Grey. Surrounded and searched the house; every trace that men had been secreted in the hay-loft the night before, was informed that Grey was at Lexington, under arrest, Elicited nothing further.

Proceeded thence to Napoleon, Mo., in search of one Potts; searched every house in town; finally heard of his whereabouts and found him on a farm near Harris' place, on the Lexington road, about 3 miles from Napoleon. He has a pass to reside in LaFayette and Jackson counties. This man is strongly suspected of harboring bushwhackers. He expresses disloyal sentiments and in my opinion should not be allowed to live in Jackson County, as his antecedents all point to the fact of his being a disloyal man.

From there scouted though the brush at and near Bone Hill, toward evening sending Sergeant Leslie with seven men through the brush to the northward of Pink Hill; found three camps, evidently lately occupied; went into camp near seminary at sunset. Plenty of forage in this section of the country. The men scouted this day part of the time on foot.

April 7: Broke camp at sunrise; took to the brush at Pink Hill and scouted southeast. The men deployed over a space of 1 1/2 miles, a part of the time on foot; found many traces and tracks of guerrillas; there is evidently a traveled track for them across the frontier of the county; found also their old camps, clothing, etc.

Party rendezvoused at Lick Skillet, scouted thence through the brush to round Prairie, coming in on the opposite side from where we entered it the day before; visited the Plunkett house near the large camp; dogs gave the alarm before we were within 1,000 yards of the house; surrounded and entered the house and outbuildings; found a third of the meat before reported had been taken away; ordered the dogs to be shot! This house is a very suspicious place and should be well watched.

Scouted the brush for a circle of a mile, then started for a point of timber near and to the eastward of Lone Jack.

Scouted through it thoroughly and went into camp at dark. Many people without permits are living about this point on the edge of the two counties.

April 8: broke camp at daylight, scouted through the brush and at 11 o'clock came out on the prairie 4 miles from Pleasant Hill. Being out of rations, went into Pleasant Hill to get breakfast for the men and forage for the horses; left at 12 noon and came by the most direct course through the prairie and brush to this station, arriving at 1 p.m., the command has traveled in all on this scout about 90 miles and the brush has been thoroughly searched on the course of the march. The country in and about Round Prairie, Grey's and Bone Hill is full of signs of the guerrillas and they evidently have a crossing place on the Missouri river near Napoleon.

I am Captain, with great respect, your obedient servant,

Albert L. Gooding, 2nd Lieut. Co. H, 2nd Colo. Cav., Comdg. Detachment."

Now then, 2nd Lieut. Gooding and his scouting party did not discover and kill any Bushwhackers. However, they "showed the flag," discovered numerous enemy camps, encountered a couple of very indignant woman and did silence by shooting and killing some very loud "barking watch dogs" and of course the war went on!