Robert P. Goodman's Book

              Robert P. Goodman
Book bought in California, Missouri
Monitean County, October 8th, 1861
7T7 : :	
Robert P. Goodman's Book
Robert P. Goodman enlisted in the service of the United States on the
29th of August, 1861.  Sworn into the 7th Missouri Regiment, Co. G,
Captain John to". Watts at Rolla, September 5th, 1861.  Left Rolla on
the 29th of.September, 1861 and arrived at Jefferson City on the
30th.  Remained in camp until Friday the 4-th of October, when the
regiment marched for California, Missouri and arrived there the following day and camped outside of the town.
Monday, Oct. 7th
Regiment reviewed by General Totten and received a great commendation.
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Tuesday, October 8th, 1861
Was detailed among a squad of men to carry water for the cooks.  In
the afternoon of the same day an excitement was raised in the camp
by the capture of two Secessionist officers — a captain and lieutenant — by Captain Roland and a squad of men belonging to Company
I.  In the evening, battalion drill after dress parade, Major Curley
commanding.  Also two regiments of troops arrived from Jefferson City
with Major General John C. Fremont.  Candle light nine.  Banks of
..poker and dice in full blast.
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Wednesday the 9th, 1861'
The tents were struck and our things packed up and we got on board
the cars and started for Syracuse.  Stopped at Tipton a short time
where there is a large fairground, the country around is very beautiful and a very nice place for an encampment.  General Hunter's
division is emcamped here and numbers ten or twelve thousand men.
The bell rang and we started for Syracuse where we arrived at seven
o'clock in the evening.  As it was raining very hard, we got off and
marched to our camp and pitched our tents as quickly as possible, for
we knew what it was to be without them as we had tried laying out in
the rain all night in ouA march from Jefferson City to California.
So we concluded not to try the experiment again.  Our -Supplies of cold
bacon and hard crackers was dispatched as soon as hungry men could do
it and then we lay.ed down to rest and to forget all about the rain and
mud.  Slept as sweetly as if we had layed on a feather bed.  Oh, how
sweet is the state of forgetting where trouble and anxiety is unknown
and we can rest our weary limbs and our minds, free from care.  This
is one of our Creator's greatest blessings and ungrateful we beings,
we too often forget His kindness.
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This place is situated on a fine prairie and is an important station
on the Pacific Railroad, and was once a thriving place and considerable business was done there at one time, but now it is nearly deserted as it only contains two hundred inhabitants in .place /of/