Hand Book by James Robertson bought in (?) August 26th 1861 price 20 cts. (?) this you see Remember me (?) Entered State Service Thursday August 15th 1861 and the United States Service August 31st 1861 James Robertson 1/2 month 1/2 in my (?) Due to (?) for Uniform Bought August 28th 1861 one Day Book 20 cts one Ring 20 one (?) (?) 10 15 stamps post 30 (?) Sept 7th 1861 ten cts (?) paper one shoe brush 15 cts one Blanket (?) James Robertson trip home from Davenport (?) my Wages amount $4.80 as changes are occurring constantly I Shall give on account to some of them with pleasure others with grief our Trip on the river was tolerably pleasant we was Quartered in an open barge but the weather was so warm that I slept on the (?) we arrived at St. Louis on Thursday A.M. & was treated to the apples after dinner we went to Benton Barr- acks our Reg was not organized having no (?) (?) (?) (?) we left davenport having nothing but a (?) (?) (?) Major (?) not properly reported by him or else not to this business after making his report we did not get enough to (?) (?) we did get it it was (?) regular I got up out of bed in the night to go & Hunt up something to eat at about 9 o'clock at night but would get none. I came back& laid down to sleep & our Division came (?) & this brings me to state somethings that I sincerely regret which is this that some of our company men of good reputation (?) seemed to (?) (?) (?) (?) that which did we belong to (?) (?)(?) (?) (?) (?) own if our company becomes so much demoralized at (?) So feel greatly alarmed for its standing in the future Lying has become fearfuly prevalent this when done to me or in my presence (?) me greatly for may you know that I concider profane swearing a gent- elmanly trait in a mans character compared to lying either in fun or in earnest is a (?) niggardly practice in any person I was out to breathe (?) (?) it was (?) (?) we started on the (?) (?) (?) since that time we have been living on coffe beef & (?) up to this time Oct 29 started from the mill Nov 1st & came to Springfield Nov 4th & 5th Monday cam- ped in orchard west of town on Battle gro- und till Friday 9th started by sun up for John Boyd John Boyd commenced cooling Nov 19th for the (?) at 50 cts apiece December 7, 1861 Paid Bill for uniform $8.55 Do Thomas paid " Rankin $8.10 same date " " Fine weather here Camp Sedalia since Dec 1st up to 18 Bored by Rankin & Co in getting our uniform for which we was to pay out of the first months wages what the cloth lining cuttings & trimi- ngs cost as the making was to cost nothing for which uniform we was to receive pay from government at the rate of $3.00 per month untill such time as we receive government unifor- ms Bored again by leaving home to come to Mo to protect Secession- ist property so that it will not be taken by Secessionist November also to live on 1/2 rations of brand chop & more 3 days on 4 crackers & beef whilst at Spring living 3 days on 1/2 rations and 3 more on nothing but beef except as one bought corn meal & baked it in the brand then starting back & coming the trip on 1/2 ra- tions forced march at that Bored by being taken there without orders from Gen Freemont on McKinstry's own & responsibility Bored by not getting no pay for the term of three months Bored by being placed under officers that care nothing for the good of the country so they can Tyranize over men hold a fat office & be Honered by some that can wear side boards & blacked boots the fact is we are bored on every hand for we are not doing what we came for to do at all I think that I for one am completely bored for the simples Enterd the Hospital Nov 29 complaint fever affection of the liver debility of sto- mach continued derangem- ent of the liver & stomach up to December 18th with the same treatment with the addition of stimulating bitters treatment in the first place consisting of oil followed by blue mast & calomel next heavy portio- ns of blue mast worked off by oil then quinine & (?) (?) next brandy & (?) last pasage Tuesday night treatment up to Dec 20, 1861 Discharged from Hospital December 20 Medic Brondy wrote Home same date Still here December 21st Snowing today expecting the Rebel prisoners in here today moderate weather up to the 24th Still in Hospital 25 Christmas but better 24th very pleasant snow melting fast nothing else of interest transpiring vacinated Saturday Dec 21st being exposed to the Small Pox about the 17th (?) in Hospital the 31st Dec 1861 J Robertson From January 1st 1862 first cloudy & cold 1862 second cloudy heavy rain night 3 drizzle cloudy 4th 5 snow & still snowing 6th clear & pleasant left the Hospital the 6th of January 1862 From August 15th to October 31st by Cash One Day Book .20 One Ring .20 Post Stamps .30 Peaches & Apples .10 Pears .10 Shoe Brush .15 Post Stamps 1.80 Envelopes & Paper .50 Apples & Candys 1.00 Whole Amount Spent being 5.00 Borrowed of Saml Robertson the Amount of $5.00 August 15th 1861 James Robertson Columbus City, Iowa Sedalia Captain Wm. Bell I Sir I feel it to be my duty in my present circumstances not only of poor health but constitutional disab- ility such as in my opinion will disable me for Regimental service this winter to ask from you a reco- mendation for an Honorab- le discharge from service as a duty I owe to my self camp Family and the cause in my opinion I cannot serve Transubstantial (?) Consequential (?) camped on the Tennessee River at Pittsburgh camp ground March 1862 James Robertson Mary E Robertson Sedalia Missouri Pettis County Borrowed of George C Carringer the amount of ten dollars 10.00 Dec 28, 1861 James Robertson Settled January 29th, 1862 Paid George Carringer the above amount January 29th 1862 James Robertson Mary & Elizabeth J.R. girls I am very much pleased to hear from you as well as to see you writing thus showing respect for those that are absent from you & also affording them the grat- ification of hearing frequen- tly of the wellfare of the friends at home in whose welfare all feel an interst that have natural affe- ction for one another but it also shows an ambition which I am glad to see (?) in girls of your age Especially in Elizabeth as she is young of making such fine progression in the art of letter writing as you allready excell some of the Boys here Girls do not abate but increase your efforts. Study to arange your sentences accurately spell your words correctly & connecting the letters in each word together for this is the beauty of writing and finally girls strive to excell also see how soon you can beat me this may be a matter of great comfort to you yet in your journy through life so improve the time while young & studying everything to make your selves amiable & useful beloved by all J.R. tell monther I shall take her advice so far and can tell her I am still in good spirit tell them all How do you Do for old Jim well Jane if I was at home you would not have to (?) the (?) off me for I could get along without B Mary you would have to (?) up some of those abominable big spits for I spit as bad as ever tell Ralph that I think I could throw him down yet tell Pa to send me a paper and I will (?) Billy for him tell Sam to keep the girls straight till the War is over if he can tell mother we have been vacinated but I fear mine will not work as it was (?) yet and it has been near 2 weeks since well I hope this may find you all in the enjoyment of good health I should have answerd you sooner but had older claims I have to keep up with you all I received yours of the 17th Dec 27th Uniform cost John I have been a waiting a reply to my last up to this time & may as there has change taken place in my circum- stances making it necessary for me to write to you that you may know the circumstances in now stand that you may know what to depend on as it regards my affairs there I sit down to give you the partic- ulars as soon as possible that you may know what to depnd upon James Robertson 5th snow still snowing Hospital Book one James Robertson no 29 Jan 3+6 (?) no 6 days 6 James Robertson Hospital yet January 4th 1862 Christmas gift hym book New year gift new testament first by adjectant (?) second by Chaplain Vandover all of the eight Regement Iowa infantry US militia belonging to company C under care of Capt Wm Bell Clifton Louisa County Iowa & belonging to Iowa volunteers entering the state service August 15th 1861 and the US service Sept 1st 1861 A.D. From January 1st 1862 1st cloudy & cold 2 cloudy heavy rain at night 3 drizily & cloudy all day 4 the same at Hospital up to this date snow & still snowing 5th 1862 6th clear & plesant 1862 still at Hospital this morn 6 7 8th soft & cloudy 9 10th having white frost 12 & 13 very cold coldest night 14th snowing & cold 1862 15 & 16 cold cloudy with snow 17 warm 18 cloudy & raining cloudy & disagreeable up to the 22 sun shining 23 24th pleasant hard freeze at night 25th warm & pleasant appearance of a thaw I am of some 3 months experience in the service of his beloved country wining immortal honors under Gen Lyons at Willsons Creek Spring July last the great service he has rendered his country combined with his rare personal accomplishments conspire to make him a per- son of no ordinary standing surely he must rank higher than the common laity but for fear you dispute my word I will give you his own words "he says well I must tell you something abo- ut my good luck I am going with Ann to the partys she makes a good hug sure" but he commences by expre- sing a wish for James's health wishing him to excuse him for not writing sooner as new relations should but the best of all is that "He thought he would be Brother in law to James Bulls for Him Long Life to ye both & plenty of good luck confort prosperity & success attend you ever but Jms says you lied to him about it you told him (?) was going to see (?) Edmondson & by the way he does not seem to be very highly pleased with the new relative 2 is 1 too many in one family Sedalia Mo. Jan 14th 1862 Mr I would ask why there is no forward movement on the part of our Generals ? Why do they not strike down slavery at once ? Again why is it that Gens Fremont & McKinstry has pass- ed so far nearly unn- oticed & many other instances of a similar kind? Could it not be answerd simply because of Free(?) ary I think this may be the whole secret thus the very ties that hold society together utterly corrupted & destroyed by the Prince of Darkness Himself truly it looks as though Satan had been loosed for a little season (?) I should think might be called very appropriately the Black Seal Perhaps this is the last fibre the only remaining link now connecting the two great factions I think it possible I think it high time that they was (?) the abominable thing from their midst (?) with the (?) as for Jm Lane there is general rejoicing here among the union troops that he has been made Brigadier no choice they say could suit (?) is the man we need just how this is the idea entertained by all loyal men whilst I hear the remarks made everywhere if it had been so 3 months ago on the other hand the other hand the disunionist tremble tremble in their shoes at the very mention of his name they know that the time for the protection of them in their persons and effects by the so called union troops is about played out that old Jm has already inagurated A system of warfare not so palatable to them as that of his predecessors We will soon see if they will get to live so big fat & saucy after old Jim begins to shear them of their strength as Delilah did Sampson of old I think after he gets through shearing there will not be enough strength left to en- able them to shake themselves even but you say you cannot help but think Fremont was the right man I think he was on the right principle as it regards slavery as connected with this war but I believe it is the general impression that Gen Fremont was to blame for our defeats at Wilson Creek & Lexington Now the next question is why is this & why is he not censured more in the public prints as well as that other Black Hearted miscreant McKinstry ? Why is it that our congress- men are so timorous about taking the final action on slavery so that they may preserve the union as they say? Why is there no forward movement on the part of our Generals? Why do they not stike down slavery at once Congress adjourns the Fourth of March 1862 James Robertson went to clerking in the Provost Marshal Office Feb 5th 1862 left it March 10, 1862 Arrived at Pittsburgh March 18th 1862 Left Sedalia Mo. March 11th 1862 Arrived at St. Louis March 12th 1862 at Pittsburgh Mo. 18th 1862 James Robertson first Saddle 20+1 good 23 refuse 24 (?) (?) Blind good 3 (?) 1 Hatters 2 First Class Saddles 23 2 do do 24 Riding Bridles 1st 8 2d do 10 Blind do 1st 3 2 do 1 Hatters 2 Cartridge Boxes 11 Cap Boxes 6 8 yards calico 8 yards of muslin 35 c. 1 yard of bleached muslin 10 cents 1 yard of colered drilling 65 cents 1 spool of thread 5 cents paid 5 cents the whole amount $1 & 78 cents June the 21, 1862 May we be striving to excell in Christian at- tainments Seeking to know the whom to know savingly is life eternal Seek for the more than Gold & search for the m- ore than hid treasure may we feel & know that our life is hid with Christ in God May we live lives of faith on the Son of God who loved & gave himself for us that by believing we may have life in His name so that when he who is our life shall appear we shall also in May we have our affections washed off of earth and the things of time & placed on thee upon things heavenly & divine May the past time of our lives suffice us to have wrought the will of the flesh May our great aim be to lay up treasure in heaven that where it is our heart may be also Enable to live soberly righteously & Godly before the not as fools but as wise reclaiming the time February first pleasent Sedalia Pettis County Missouri by James Robertson Bought letter paper 00.20 (?) envelopes 00.25 one pair suspenders 00.50 one pair combs 00.15 Sent Molly Home 5.00 Paid G Carringer 10.00 Paid Duke 00.40 Piad T Robertson 00.50 Paid S Randall 00.25 Paid H Bails 00.05 to be deducted from the whole amount 23.00 18.25 $6.75 left me 1.00 for pamphlet 5.75 January 31 5.75 the remainder kept from 21st to 24 tolerably cold 24th pleasent snow melting fast merry Chirstmas 25th very pleasant snow leaving rapidly I enjoy it in the Hospital under medical treatment under care of the 7th physician since taken sick inside of 4 weeks 1861 treatment one pill every 12 hours blue mast & morphene heet treatment souders every 6 hours for 2 days paper 20 cts envelopes 15 cts stamps 90 cts pens in all 5 cts Ink $1.40 10 stamps & Ink 1.00 one table spoon 5 cts candyes .25 breads 1.15 washing .20 butter.15 pocket knife .75 over shoes 2.50 ink stand .25 paper & envelopes .20 uniforms 8.55 bottle ink .10 apples .15 borrowed .30 cooks wages .00 bread .10 bread & candy .20 washing .10 Christmas 14.75 whole amount posted from page 40 including dates Dec 1st & 20th amount sent home 11.00 amount used 14.75 amount of clothing first suit amount 27.61 one blouse 2.15 January 15th $29.76 whole amount 29.76 received in lieu of services renderd the US the amt of 23.00 this January 28th 1862 owed & spent of this up to January 31st 7.75 amount kept $5.25 February first 1862 James Robertson Dec 15th the expedition agai- nst Price supposed to be on the Osceola moved forward from Sedalia the different commands under Hunter Pope, Steele's, expecting the 8 Reg. Iowa also Sigel & Lane's & Sturgis's moving together fine weather from Dec 1st up to this date busness lively heavay frost 15 & 16 wrote to (?) also to (?) 14, 1861 nothing of importance has transpired up to this date December 18th 1861 fine weather still Dec. 19 fine weather but cloudy nothing of interest 20 severely cold 21st cold with snow lonesome to be deducted from my wages up to Nov 1st wages of cook pocket knife .75 tea spoon Dec 7 .05 5 cts borrowed 25 bottle ink .10 bread .15 over shoes $2.50 candy & washing .20 bread .15 candy .15 bread .30 paper & envelopes .20 ink stand .25 uniform Dec.7 $8.55 bread & candy .35 butter .05 bread .20 received Dec 1st in lieu of service done the U.S. $26.00 uniform deducted 8.55 over shoes 2.50 knife & ink stand 1.00 rations 1.60 bread up to Dec 16th amt 1.00 butter indluded sent to Mary Dec $1.00 out of which I expect to get twenty post stamps or sixty cents worth .60 to Columbus City 15.65 added sent home 11.00 received the same 26.65 Dec 27th 1861 Syracuse Sedalia Dec 5, 1861 bought one pocket knife .75 one pair gloves 1.75 one bottle ink .10 loaf bread .15 to cook .00 one table spoon .05 one pair over shoes 1861 December 6 $2.50 washing .15 candy .05 candy .15 bread .15 writing paper .10 envelopes .10 bread .35 ink stand .25 uniform $8.55 by cash Springfield Sedalia Nov 1st to Dec bough of Suttler one bottle of bitters .75 1/2 pound of butter .15 crackers .05 one pair of gloves 1.75 cheese .25 the amount of money due the Stler January 1st from me being $2.00 making the amount due me in lieu of U.S. service up to January 1st 1862 to be $24.00 James received in full Robertson January 28th 23.00 the amount due me of from government up to January first 1862 Items of Importance Congress sits to or through February 1863 Sectary's appropriation to war purposes to last only to the 15 of January proclamation Phelps commander at Ship(?) abolition sentiment Cameron Secretary of State in favor of confi- scation of slaves of Rebel owners Gen Halleck's order General order no 32 Dec 22 that men engaged in the destruction of public property when convicted they shall be shot this being the highest crime known to the code of war January 1st 1862 persons investigating the particulars of the forced march to Springfield & the privations attending it in connection with the sickness attending it occasioned by the bad treatment & exposure have been startled by the recital of the facts of which however no person person could form anything like an adequate Idea only those that have experienced it in their own persons and even they cannot tell it as it should be because it is impossible to give it amongst the person making these investigations was a missionary from Iowa residence Iowa City & A lady from Davenport orders from Brig Gen McKinstry given to Reg on their march back from Springfield, Mo. Oreder first day all found in rear of brigade shall be arrested by the Rear Guards & punished Second day no person will be allowed in front of the brigade 3 day all persons that come into camp in rear of Division shall be arrested & held prisoners till duly punished orders fourth day any person absenting thems- elves without leave from commanding officer shall be punished and file closers permitting the same shall have their certificates of standing taken from them and they reduced to ranks local more local most local whilst one of the boys of the 8th was busily engaged in skining a sheep Steele spied him and riding up to him said you d-d thief I will shoot perhaps you may said Geddis who at this time rode up but the next shot is mine sir more especial man was created at first just & holy in the image of God in righteousness & tru holiness but he has sinned and by his sin ruined both himself & his posterity All have sinned & come short of the glory of God there is none that doeth good no not one there is none righteous but thanks that in the fullness of time thou has sent forth thine only son who has suffered & died he has satisfied the law in our stead & bourne our sins in his own body on the tree O enable us to embrace him as our savior as our all in all & may his righteousness be imparted to us may we have new hearts given to us to love from us our hard & strong hearts give us hearts of flesh O enable us to glorify God in our spirits (?) and may we (?) our love to thee by helping thy holy command may we be constantly walking in newness of life not after the flesh but after the spirit may we constantly walking after the for to know the saveingly is life eternal may we search for the more than gold & seek for the more than hid treasure may we feel and know that our life is hid with Christ in God & that (?) who is our life shall appear we shall also appear with him in glory knowing that so many of us as are baptized into Christ are baptized into his death therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that (?) as Christ was raised from the glory of (?) the father to He should be created in newness of life & may the past time of our lives suffice us to have wrought the guilt of the flesh May (?) to lay up our (?) with thee in Heaven that where our treasure is that our hearts may be also know- ing that then (?) (?) (?) (?) Joy in the Holy (?) increase of grace persever- ance there in to the end knowing that neither life or death (?) (?) things present nor things to come shall be able to seperate us from the (?) (?) in Christ Jesus our Lord my Father who gave th(?) (?) greater than all and nothing is able to (?) them out of (?) (?) Christ (?) (?) (?) (?) (?) (?) is the substance of things(?) (?)of things not (?) the spirit of (?) May we have an (?) (?) (?) thy Holy Word by (?) A scouting party of 3 camp left for Warrensburg January 24 very pleasant weather 24 hard freeze at nigh warm 25 arrived at camp 26th cloudy & rain 27th rain sleet with heavy thunder all day 28th the eighth Reb is being paid off to day January 28th 1862 Tuesday morning received January 28 the sum of $23.00 being the amount due me up to January for the ser- vice rendered the U.S. by me James Robertson Sedalia Missouri January 28th 1862 29th cold & snowing 30th fine weather up to the first of January 1862 I think it high time the accursed thing was put away from amongst us like (?) with his wedge of gold that God in mercy may remove his chastening hand from us as a nation the only way to heaven is throug J. C. the only safe way the only sure being well guarded at every point the only pleasant way for wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness & all her paths are paths of peace sure because he will never let any perish that trust in him the eleventh Reb is at Jefferson City the fifth is at Syracuse well (?) have been unfortunate about getting our Reb officers permanently we have but 2 Regimental officers in our Reg worth any thing and the is none of them placed permanently in their office yet being only appointed to their places there has been two officers removed from the Division Fremont & McKinstry & some 5 or 6 from our Reg this rather a depl- orable state of affairs truly especially when we see that some of them (?) rank traitors at heart there is one matter I have omited to mention heretofore that is I find that there is a society in in Wash- called the Vol For Relief Society which is authorized to furnish aid in grocers etc to those that are not very able to provide themselves with these things Mr Orr of Crawfordsville gave sixteen dollars to this besides upwards of 20 bus wheat now if you feel inclined to draw your groceries in this was & has opportunity you have a right to do so december 5 bought one pen knife = =$ .75 Do bread .15 Do ink Do one spoon 1.45 Do candy .20 1.60 Do bread .45 2.50 $5.55 James Robertson 10.00 Copenhagen 24.10-26.00= $1.90 to S Randall to 3 Postage stamps = D to J Robertson = 3 I understand that the small pox is raging at Syracuse at this time I should not wonder if it would be here soon this is a bad time for them order 4 comanding officer shall be punished and file closers permitting the same shall have their certificate of standing taken from them & reduc- ed to ranks orders 5th day not known arrived at Sedalia 2 o'clock P.M. Jm Robertson the wages due me up to Nov 1st 2 monthes $26.00 $10.00-26.00=$16.00 8.00 for uniform $1.00 for Cap Suttlers acount 1.00 leaving $16.00 James Robertson orders first day all found in rear of Brigade shall be arrested by the rear guards & punished orders 2d day no person will be allowed to move in front of Brigade orders 3d day all persons that come in in rear of Division shall be arrested and help prisoners till duly punished orders 4th any person absenting themselves from ranks without leave from from Springfield to Bolivar 40 miles Bolivar to Quincy 28 Quincy to Warsaw 20 now if you stand in need of groceries of any kind and you wish to and can apply to the relief society in Washington which is in session on the second & 4th Mondays of each month and draw all you want coffee tea rice sugar molasses or any thing else you wish for you have as good right to do so as any one belonging to the Company (?) relief society for the help of fam of vol (?) (?) (?) (?) names of places Springfield Bolivar Quincy to Warsaw by way of Franklin or Chop Town or (?) camp 20 miles from Warsaw to Sedalia 35 ms 26-14.10= $11.90 11.90-10.00= $1.90 first suit 27.61 one blouse 2.15 arrived at Springfie- ld sabbath (?) by way of Bolivar having been on a forced march since Thursday m- orning marching about to me the (?) starting by daylight of (?) (?) about 9 o'clok at night I never was tireder in my life I felt as though if some one shall stricken me on the legs with their hand I should have gone all to pieces like a October 20, 1861 in the same leter that came as it is a good letter we have been fired up twice to leave but have not gone yet we are all anxious to get started we want to see the elephant as soon as possible giant snake Springfield green county county seat from Warsaw to Springfield 80 ms to Syracuse 45 ms from Warsaw to Sedalia 35 miles your father stated that their prayers would follow us this is the kind of encoura gment for me this we need at all times and especially in war that if we do fall the cause will you say you did not go up to Davenport to see the boys because you thought I would think hard of you I glory in your spunk for I tell you honestly I would have thought hard of (?) you but notice not those that you know are of a quarrelsome nature for if you meddle with them it will be like tak- ing a dog by the ears (?) J. & S. avoid them or they will bite you --- Syracuse a place (?) (?) by the troops (?) the country round about looks as if every thing was (?) (?) (?) (?) (?) in the county (?) about (?) 5th upon you when lonesom (?) look upon they boys (?) (?) the principles I (?) dearly love (?) will (?) the bible from (?) (?) Batalion at Syracuse (?) 16 (?) (?) (?) that (?) (?) (?) this is a take on the for certain bread .15 ink .10 spoon .05 (?) time to go home to put my affairs in Captain H. Bell James Robertson paid for thrashing 84 bus of wheat at 9 cts per bus $2.50 reserved for use 26 bus 84-26=58 bus & sold at 40 cts per September 1861 whole amount of wheat 53 bus 53 x .40 = 21.20 $21.20 circumnavigation circumlocation circumstancial Sir James Clarkes celebrated (?) (?) great English remedy James Robertson Columbus City Iowa Metropolis (?) 1861 guard (?) if a man (?) to pass the guards (?) (?) (?) for the officer of the guard & have them (?) count(?) bunker