I've been at a loss regarding what to call this affair--I haven't culled through Dyer's yet to see what he called it. Lacking a proper name I had to put something on my folder that I would remember when looking for it, and conversely would know what was inside the folder when I wasn't looking for it but thumbed across it. Widow Turner Farm Fight has a memorable ring to it, and so it is. But I'll defer to Dyers if he has a cogent name for it.

Anyway--on to contemporaneous Federal reports pinpointing its date as being September 23, 1864.

Very Specific
September 24, 1864--Major Leonard with detachment of the Ninth Missouri State Militia met seven of Anderson's men yesterday, killed 6 of them, captured 7 horses and 30 revolvers.....Gen. J.B. Douglass to Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, September 24, 1864 O.R. Ser. 1, Vol. 41, Pt. 1, p. 432

Pretty Specific
September 24, 1864--Components of 9th MSM Cavalry, 17th Illinois Cavalry, 2nd Missouri Artillery left Macon on September 20 under command of Gen. Fisk, second in command Lt. Col. Draper; Made Huntsville first days march; Started for Fayette second day when split command, half 160 went to Glasgow under Fisk, other half to Fayette under Draper; Third day joined by Major Leonard at Fayette who had another 132 men, proceeded to Rocheport under two columns; "The column under Major Leonard came across seven rebels killing six of them and getting the seven horses; "I regret to have to say that one of our men was cowardly and brutal enough to scalp one of the dead rebels...." September 24, 1864 Letter from 1st Lt. William McIlwrath, Company D, 9th MSM Cavalry, writing under pseudonym "Callaway" to Editor John B. Williams of the Fulton Telegraph, who published it Sept. 30, 1864

Ballpark
September 24, 1864--Twelve of the Third Cavalry Missouri State Militia were surprised and killed near Rocheport yesterday. Major Leonard killed 6 of Anderson's gang, taking from their dead bodies 30 revolvers and capturing 7 horses.... Gen. Clinton Fisk to A.A.G. Lt. Clarke in St. Joseph O.R. Ser. 1, Vol. 41, Pt. 3, p. 348.

General
Major Leonard of 9th MSM Cavalry was moving from Fayette to Rocheport, came upon guerrillas and killed 6, "among the dead bushwhackers was a Captain Bissett, recently a terror in Platte and Clay Counties." Report of Gen. Fisk to Gen. Rosecrans Dated Sept. 27, 1864, O.R. Ser. 1, Vol. 41, Pt. 1, p. 416

We are killing entire squads of the rascals daily. Have killed the notorious Capt. Bessell, of Platte County, and another guerrilla Captain, whose name we have not yet obtained. September 28, 1864 Gen. Fisk Telegram to A.A.G. Capt. Holloway in Glasgow--O.R. Ser. 1, Vol 41, Pt. 3, p. 455; Holloway provided a courtesy copy of the communication to the St. Joseph Weekly Herald and Tribune which published it Oct. 6, 1864