I know as a kid we they took me to Marvel Cavarn ( I think) that the guide said was " one" one of Jesse's " hide outs". As I read and learned more about Jesse as a Partisan as an Outlaw and about the Gang in General I came to realize that Southwest Missouri wasn't exactly the stomping grounds of the James -Younger gang. I think it is all connected to the " Folk Hero "States.
I always found the Mark Twain cave claim curious, certainly don't think Jesse was in Hannibal during the war.
I remember reading about the pistol caps being bought early in the war and I personally think that the two were former members of One Armed Alvin Cobb's band out of Montgomery County who had added themselves to WCQ's band sometime during Porter's retreat from Northeast Missouri or maybe Holtzclaws band out of Warren and Lincoln Counties.
And that's absolutely true.
There doesn't seem to be any cave in Missouri that wasn't a James -Younger Gang hide out and only a very few that were not a cache for Jesse to hide the KGC / CS Treasury gold when Albert Pike put an 18 or 19 year old Jesse in charge of securing said gold. 
I remember those when I was a kid back in the 1960s.
You're absolutely correct, knew I got the wrong but then that was 50- 51 in years in age. Thanks for that
LOL. Growing up just east of St. Joe in rural northwestern Missouri, I heard similar stories. Every old shed and barn was reputed to be a James gang hideout or place where they kept spare horses.And that's absolutely true.
There´s a natural fissure in the creek wall at Garretson SD called ¨Devil´s Gulch.¨ The legend is that Jesse jumped his horse across the 20 foot wall there while eluding pursuit after the Northfield robbery. It´s a lovely park. James Horan seems sceptical, noting that Jesse and Frank were double-mounted on a stolen one-eyed horse. But the legend lives on...
Northfield.........where the Youngers say James's weren't there
My absolute favorite myth though is that Jesse " Dingus* James an 18 year old Partisan not well thought of by his fellow Partisans and not a leader or Stalwart was chosen by the head of the KGC Albert Pike to secure and secrete the KGC gold and possibly some CS Treasury gold. History Channel or some similar channel even repeated this myth in a program about 14 years ago. I mean really you put a kid in charge of hiding and securing gold.
Well they had to as there's little evidence of any KGC gold.......if eliminate the gold they stole, even less........My absolute favorite myth though is that Jesse " Dingus* James an 18 year old Partisan not well thought of by his fellow Partisans and not a leader or Stalwart was chosen by the head of the KGC Albert Pike to secure and secrete the KGC gold and possibly some CS Treasury gold. History Channel or some similar channel even repeated this myth in a program about 14 years ago. I mean really you put a kid in charge of hiding and securing gold.
Even though there's never been any evidence of KGC gold that I have seen or heard ofWell they had to as there's little evidence of any KGC gold.......if eliminate the gold they stole, even less........
Let's be real , Jeff Davis took the remainder of the Treasury out of Richmond and that story goes txt was divided among the escort at the end. There's no evidence that the KGC gold existed in great amounts and IMHO if it did it was divided between Pike and his cohorts, but Dingus James? Come on sell your myth to the JJA members.
That's where the legend is even more curious, as there's nothing ever been provided I've seen which would tie the escort to the KGC.Even though there's never been any evidence of KGC gold that I have seen or heard of
What I find most curious is that having lived in West central Missouri during both the Border War ( as a child) , the Civil War and being a Partisan during the Civil War. Why oh why would Dingus James decide to secrete KGC gold in Kansas? As best as I recall that's where the " investigators" of the program concerning KGC gold focused their " investigation". IIRC they did " find" a site that contained a few coins dated within the range of the Civil War, but no bullion, gold ingots or bars or even coins. Like " Free Stater Floyd" buried what little money he had to keep " Evil Slaveocrats Border Ruffinns, from ah gettin'it."
Well, given the ranchers and ranch hands in the Tombstone area were Texans who filtered into Arizona Territory during and after the Davis Reconstruction Texas and that the Earps were verified Unionists , at least 2 of the brothers being Union Veterans that's not all that surprising.
The impression I got most the KGC stuff came from a couple prisoners who told interrogators what they wanted to hear......so some Union officials became convinced their was this huge copperhead movement/conspiracy waiting for Prices return........What I find most curious is that having lived in West central Missouri during both the Border War ( as a child) , the Civil War and being a Partisan during the Civil War. Why oh why would Dingus James decide to secrete KGC gold in Kansas? As best as I recall that's where the " investigators" of the program concerning KGC gold focused their " investigation". IIRC they did " find" a site that contained a few coins dated within the range of the Civil War, but no bullion, gold ingots or bars or even coins. Like " Free Stater Floyd" buried what little money he had to keep " Evil Slaveocrats Border Ruffinns, from ah gettin'it."
Really I think the whole thing is beyond curious. I think it's a bad fairy tale.
Makes sense there were Missourians in the mix. A lot of Missourians started really decamping from Missouri to Texas especially when GO number 11 went in effect in Burnt District and even more " lit a shuck " after the war " ended". Given how the Davis Texas was they some of them anyway would leave Texas too. Carpetbagging was a popular past time after the war.
Bringing the