Daily Times [Leavenworth, Ks], September 10, 1861
Camp Lyon, near Rolla, Mo.,}
September 1, 1860.}
Editor Times: — A few days ago, while on picket guard, I was informed by a reliable farmer’s wife, that the Secession women residing in the vicinity of camp, have put their heads together, and devised a plan to assist Ben. McCulloch & Co., in driving the abolition invaders from the “sacred soil” of Missouri, by putting poison into the pies they bring into camp for sale, of which a large number are daily consumed. Some one, a hidden listener, spread the news of the diabolical design thro’ the neighborhood, and thereby put us on the alert, and preventied them from putting their fiendish object into execution; as nothing unusual has yet occurred in camp, as regards the health of the troops.
The same day I was informed by a farmer residing three miles from where the picket was posted, that his house had been visited during the night by a party of about forty Secessionists, and plundered of nearly all its contents. While the Secesh were plundering the house, the farmer went to his stable, took his horse and hid him in the woods, and kept aloof until they departed. Not being satisfied with plundering the house and stable, they returned in two hours after, thinking to catch the farmer at home; but he was absent; they departed again, swearing that “we will have the d —— d Dutchman before to-morrow evening.”
The rebels here, are collecting in small squads, and going South to join McCulloch, who, it is rumored, is concentrating his forces 60,000 strong, at Lebanon, Mo., about sixty miles distant, preparatory to an attack upon Rolla.
The weather for the past few days has been very hot.
More anon,
Rover.