Teaching in New Jersey, then Enlistment
April, 1861
1 Quite cool and cloudy. Snowed quite hard in the afternoon and evening. Was at David Parks all day.
2 A little more pleasant today. After dinner went to Rockport to see about the school. Staid all night at Mr. Ciphers.
3 A very pleasant day. Took dinner at William Whites. Got back to David Parks about dark.
4 Another very pleasant day. In the afternoon went down town. Air a little cool.
5 Another pleasant day. Went down town in the forenoon. A little cool.
6 Another lovely day. Went down town in the forenoon. Towards night went over to Obidiah Allen's. There was a stone frolic there. Did not go out in the field. Help eat the supper. Felt unwell all day.
7 Quite pleasant today. Heart Garret Vanhorn preach, text Phillipians chap 2, ver 12 & 13. In the afternoon attended general class. Staid at home in the eve.
8 Quite cold today. Went to Morris Weis. Then downtown. Was John Titus'. James Price's adjourned the suit that D. Parks commenced against him.
9 A little pleasanter today. Went downtown toward night. Did not do much today. Did not feel very well.
10 I am 28 years old this day. Very pleasant today. Went down to Rockport in the forenoon. Took dinner at William Stewart's. In the afternoon went around to make up a school and took the enumeration. Staid all night at Rusling White's. He was ready to start a school in Rockport, New Jersey. He "took the enumeration" to establish a census of eligible school children in the district.
11 Another very pleasant day. Finished taking the enumeration. Took a dose of calomel. Calomel was used as a cathartic.
12 Another pleasant day. Calomel made me sick. Laid abed most all day. Went down town toward night. Got a letter from my sister Hannah.
13 Rained about all last night and this forenoon and evening. Went down town toward night. The report is that fort Sumter has been fired into and surrendered. A heavy thunder shower this evening. Fort Sumter, South Carolina surrendered to the Confederates on April 13 after a heavy bombardment. Most historians would classify this as the beginning of the Civil War.
14 Quite pleasant day. Hear Bro. J. C. Crane preach at Hackettstown. Text Rev. chap 2, last clause ver 10, "Be thou faithful, etc." Attended class meeting at Mrs. Titus. In the eve heard Bro R Vanhorn. Text 1st John, chap 2nd ver 1. A good sermon.
15 Rather cool today. Commenced school at Rockport. 19 scholars present. Taken board at A. F. Gregor's. A telegram was re'd yesterday that a body of secessionists of Delaware and Southern part of Pennsylvania had arisen and were marching to take Fort Delaware. The President has issued orders to have it defended. It can't be taken if the officers are not treacherous.
16 It began to rain last evening. Very rainy, cold, and windy all the forenoon. Didn't rain much in the afternoon. Only five scholars out. Heard today that the President had issued a call for 75,000 volunteers. An extra session of congress on the 4th of July.
17 Quite cold. Snowed all the forenoon. Only two scholars out. No school in the afternoon. Went to town- -staid all night at D. Parks. Major Anderson of Fort Sumter had two men killed. The wood work of the fort inside got on fire, and as he had but 100 men he could not man the guns and keep the fire down. He killed 30 men at fort Moultere and probably more. Silenced some of their batteries. He made a noble fight. Major Robert Anderson was the Commander at Fort Sumter.
18 Quite a pleasant day. 29 scholars present.
19 It froze a little last night. Quite pleasant today. 31 scholars present. Virginia seceded this day. The Union men of the convention those from Western Va. went home to arm their section to maintain the union.
20 It froze a little last night. Very pleasant today. 31 scholars. As the Massachusetts troops were going through Baltimore to Washington, they had to march through the city, as the secessionists had torn up the rails. They were stopped by a mob. The troops said that they must go through. Were obliged to fire on them and killed ten. The sixth or 7th regiment of Philadelphia lost 2 men, 8 wounded, but went through.
21 Staid at D. Parks last night. A lovely day. Saw swallows for the first time this season. Heard Bro. R. Vanhorn, Text 2nd Peter, chap 1 verses 5, 6, 7, 8. Attended S. School and class. In the eve heard Bro V again, Text Exodus chap 17, verses 8 to 16. The 7th regiment of N. Y. got into Washington this eve: in three days or four it will be safe.
22 Another lovely day: very warm. Had no school. Attended a trial between D. Parks plntff & J. Price Deft. I was a witness. A. L. Fleming counsel for Parks. Pownall for Price. Justice took a week to decide. Got to Rockport about 7 o'clock.
23 A very warm day. Nothing unusual going on. Work in the garden morning and nights.
24 Another lovely and warm day. A splendid warm shower toward night.
25 Another lovely day. A little cool.
26 A very pleasant day; little cool. Two hickory poles and two flags were raised at Hackettstown yesterday. They had a union demonstration, Speeches, band music, songs, etc. I did not attend. A good deal of enthusiasm was manifested. About 25 volunteers enlisted under the state.
27 A very warm and pleasant day. Had school. After school went to Hackettstown. Attended a union meeting at union hall. The hall was full; 8 volunteers enlisted, making 23 in all. C. H. Valentine made a short union stirring speech. I was called on and made a few remarks but I could not think of all that I wanted to say.
28 Quite rainy all day. It rained hard by spells all day. Staid at D. Parks last night. Attended church in the forenoon. Bro Vanhorn Text 2nd Tim 4- -7: " I have kept the faith". I came very near volunteering last night. As it was I said that I would when the company lacked but one.
29 Another lovely day. A little cool this morn. But quite warm the rest of the day. Saw John Whitesell. He told me that Mary E. Hoagland, now Mrs. Craig, gave birth to a daughter last Tuesday. How happy I could have been and now be if I was only her husband. I believe that she would have been happier too. I have suffered a great deal for not being a little more determined. I think it is also the same with her. If she had been a little more independent it might have been all well with us.
30 Quite warm and pleasant till 2 o'clock then it rained awhile and cleared off a little cooler.
May, 1861
1 Quite cool today. It rained a little this morning and a little in the afternoon. A little hail this afternoon. The clouds looked like snow.
2 Very cold this morning. The ground froze nearly an inch thick. A little more moderate today, yet it is quite cool. A good fire feels comfortable. Went to town this eve. Got some muslin to make a flag.
3 Quite cold this morning. The ground froze a little. Went to town again this morning to get more stuff for a flag. Had no school on account of the funeral of John Osmun's wife. In the afternoon went to church to the funeral. Mr Lane preached. Psalm 90 ver 12.
4 Quite pleasant and moderate. It snowed yesterday afternoon. This forenoon dug a hole for the flag pole. And with M. White's team and hand got a pole 75 ft. long to the school house. In the afternoon got a few men (15) and raised it. The ladies had got the flag done. 9 X 4½. After the pole was raised, a meeting was organized. Mr. Skinner, chairman, E. A. Goodwin, Sec'ty. Dr. L. Cook and myself made a few remarks by request.
5 A lovely day. Went north Rusling White to Townsbury. Took dinner at W. T. Henry. Heard Bro. DeCamp preach. Text St. John chap 3 ver 14. Took tea at John Whitesells and got back to Rockport.
6 It rained quite hard all day. In the evening a heavy thunder shower.
7 Very lovely and pleasant this morning. Had 4 short and heavy thunder showers this afternoon. It blowed hard from P. M. Went to town after school and back.
8 Another lovely day. A little hail toward night.
9 Another fine day. A little cool. About 20 volunteers left Hackettstown this morning.
10 A very fine day. About four o'clock it began to rain. An attempt was made to burn Washington city. It was fired in four different places, but was soon put out. It rained quite hard in the evening.
11 Cloudy this forenoon: a little foggy. In the afternoon quite fair and pleasant. People planted corn. Went to town after school. _____ volunteers have come back for some reason or another.
12 Very warm and pleasant today. Went to town to meeting. Got there in time to attend the S. School rehearsal. Bro. Lippincott preached. Text Titus 2- -14: 28 years ago he formed the first class in Hackettstown and made the first regular appointment. When he traveled Warren Co. 1400 joined the church.
13 Quite cloudy today. No rain. Corn planting going on busily. Yesterday attended S. School and class meeting in town. In the eve attended and led a prayer-meeting in my school house. Had a thunder shower late in the evening.
14 Cloudy and a little foggy in the morning. About noon it cleared off quite warm. Went to town after school and back again.
15 A very lovely day. Clear and quite warm. Nothing unusual occurred.
16 Another very pleasant day. A very little cool. Got a ride to Hackettstown and back. No news of much account. Rec'd a letter from my sister, L.L. Goodwin. A little cool in the eve.
17 A very pleasant day but rather cool. My back feels very badly and has ever since I got back from Ohio.
18 Quite a pleasant day: a little windy and cool. After working a while in the garden, cut across lots to Townsbury. Took dinner at Wm. Henry's. Then went to Vienna. To a Union demonstration and flag raising. Feeling quite well I volunteered to go in the Warren Brigade. This would be a Brigade composed of men from Warren County, New Jersey.
19 Last night staid at David Parks. Another lovely day. (Sunday) Heard Bro. Vanhorn Text, Isaiah 28- -7. A first rate temperance sermon. It was much needed. In the afternoon went to the Sunday School and class meeting. In the evening attended church.
20 Quite rainy today. Had school. Gave notice that I should quit. This movement of mine is a matter of conscience with me. If I am not accepted or the company does not go, I shall feel satisfied.
21 A very lovely day. My employers are loth to have me go, but under the circumstances they feel like making a little sacrifice. Went to Harrsville and was examined. Collect my money without any trouble.
22 Another warm and lovely day. Finished collecting my money; got every cent. Sold my watch for $7.00. It was less than its worth, but I thought that I could use the money to greater advantage than the watch.
23 Expected to leave for Trenton but the Brigade was not full. So wait another day. Went to Vienna. Very warm today. Staid at Parks.
24 Took the train for New York. I shall try to get on a Man of War. The Warren Company is so uncertain about being filled. Arrived in N.Y. at 10½ A. M. Put up at L. H. Crooks, 84 Chatham St. Went to West 47th St. and saw my brother Charles and his wife.
25 Had considerable rain with thunder and lightning. Enlisted as a volunteer in the Naval Brigade. Sent letters to my sister, H. L. Stinson, and other friends. Sent three dollars to G. Widener, Belvidere, one dollar to Wm. Henry. Went to the barracks at old Quarantine station, Staten Island. Slept in the officers quarters. Did not sleep much for the men had had liberty and a great many were drunk. On the 24th he indicates that he " shall try to get on a Man of War." On the 25 he enlists in the Naval Brigade. After a disorganized beginning, the unit eventually became the 99th New York Infantry Regiment with a specific mission for shore guard. Goodwin, raised in a sea going family, probably had been to sea himself and would have been comfortable with this type of duty.
26 A very fine day. A part of our company were kept on guard. But I and another man got out before it was set and took a walk on the Island. Had good fare today. The chaplain preached today. Text Psalm 137, verses 5 & 6. Slept in the quarters.
27 Another pleasant day. Went with a man to the hospital Seaman's Retreat. On Saturday night some of the Irishmen stole a barrel of whiskey and were very drunk and noisy.