Volume 8 of the "Official Records" gives much information concerning the union efforts to cleanse the Missouri countryside of rebel troops and supporters. The union cavalry was, chiefly the type of units used to conduct these operations. The area of operations was large extending from Rolla, MO in the center of the state. down to the Arkansas border on the south and the western edge of the state. The action at Spring River, MO is described on pages 336-9. Commanded by Lt Col Samuel Wood of the 6. Missouri Cavalry and reinforced by Major Drake with troops of the 3. Iowa Cavalry. It is clear that this operatiuon was conducted over a wide area in forested and swampy country, an area of at least 130 miles. During this operation, a reference was made to the "pest-hole of creation", which were an Arkansas swamp where part of the fighting occurred. Colonel Wood greatly overestimated the rebel strength and casualties. This was a common practise by commanders of both sides during the war. During the fight at Spring River, a cannon was used. It is believed that this gun was a mountain howitzer as described on poage 65, belonged Company A of Wood's Cavalry Battalion of the 6th Missouri Cavalry. This company was commanded by Captain Sidney A Breeze and was probably one of those moments when a gun was attached to a unit as a organic part. The statement "taking along their mountain howitzer" implies the gun was organic to the company and the type of gun. I believe the gun was a 12 pounder mountain howitzer. This reference is to the Shirmish at West Plains, MO on February 19th 1862 and describes cavalry operations with a better clarity, again on page 65.
Ron