My thoughts on the Chicago Tribune article:

My only comment is that "Wild Missouri" is called a marching song. That suggests it probably was sung by the cavalry in 4/4.

If so, that could be used to argue that the cavalry adapted the song from the sailor form. The argument would be: The sailor form doesn't appear to be 4/4, but the cavalry could borrow it and. in so doing, would be compelled to change it to 4/4 for marching. If the cavalry first had it in 4/4 and sailors borrowed it, there would be no compulsion on the sailors' part to make it other than 4/4.