The kitchen of the Fremont Dragoons at Tipton, Missouri. Tipton, which is 38 miles from Jefferson City, 26 from Sedalia and 13 from California City, is situated on the Pacific Railway, which passes through Jefferson City, and has its terminus in Sedalia. At all these cities large bodies of troops were places by General Fremont, so as to enable him to concentrate, at a very short time, an overwhelming force to bear upon the Confederates. This is the kitchen when the army of cooks was in full preparation for the daily dinner.

Cooking in Camp

The kitchen of the Fremont Dragoons at Tipton, Missouri. Tipton, which is 38 miles from Jefferson City,…

An illustration of a group of male cooks dancing in a line.

Male Cooks Dancing in a Line

An illustration of a group of male cooks dancing in a line.

An illustration of a group of kitchen staff carrying large quantities of food.

Kitchen Staff Carrying Food

An illustration of a group of kitchen staff carrying large quantities of food.

"We see here a number of cooks busily engaged in making some broth which they wish to have better than common. For once, they unite their skill. One thinks that everything out to be well salted in order to be palatable, another puts in a good deal of pepper, while another prefers to have a variety of savory herbs. Each of these cooks are careful to put in enough of their favorite ingredients, and thus the broth is cooked. When put on the table it is found to be too salt for some of the company, too high seasoned for others, etc. In short, the broth is spoiled for their eating."—Barber, 1857

Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth

"We see here a number of cooks busily engaged in making some broth which they wish to have better than…