Samuel L. Roberts' Civil War Discharged Record, July 24, 1865
The Civil War discharge records reveal a treasure of personal information about age, birthplace, appearance, and conduct of the soldier. Samuel L. Roberts was discharged twice, first in 1964 in Vicksburg, Mississippi to reenlist into the 15th Iowa Infantry Veteran Regiment, and then fully discharged in July 1865. Born in Ohio, but living in Indianola, Iowa in 1861, Roberts was only 18 when he enlisted. The 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment where he served was mustered in 1862, and was engaged in the Battle of Shiloh, and the Second Battle of Corinth, where the Confederate army captured Roberts and later exchanged him in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Despite the pledge upon parole "not to take arms again" he probably never quit the service and in 1864 participated in the Atlanta Campaign with the 15th Iowa. The document now belongs to Roberts' granddaughters Grace Emmett and Mary Ann Hessenflow. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
Grace Emmett and Mary Ann Hessenflow, Nebraska City History Harvest, 2010
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Samuel L. Roberts or his wife kept this spare Oath of Identity blank form with other documents attesting to Roberts's record in the Civil War to have it on hand in the process for applying for pension. When filled the document would testify that the person appearing before the notary is the same person whose war record would be provided. The form belongs to the collection of Roberts' granddaughters Grace Emmett and Mary Ann Hessenflow. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
Samuel L. Roberts' Proof of Service Record
Obtained from a state adjutant-general's office, proof of service record was a major document that gave a soldier a right to claim pension. If preserved, the document gives information about the soldiers name, age, place of birth, and his history in the army. Born in Ohio, but living in Indianola, Iowa in 1861, Roberts was only 18 when he enlisted. The 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment where he served was mustered in 1862, and was engaged in the Battle of Shiloh, and the Second Battle of Corinth, where the Confederate army captured Roberts and later exchanged him in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Despite the pledge upon parole "not to take arms again" he probably never quit the service and in 1864 participated in the Atlanta Campaign with the 15th Iowa. Samuel L. Robert's proof of service helps us find out he was wounded twice, first in the Second Battle of Corinth, in October 1862, and than in the Battle of Atlanta, on July 28, 1864. The document now belongs to Roberts' granddaughters Grace Emmett and Mary Ann Hessenflow. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
Major General William T. Sherman's Farewell Address to His Army
Printed on May 30, 1865 in Washington D. C. General Sherman gave out Special Field Orders, No 76 to all the men in his army as a commemoration of their wartime record. The document bears the badges of the Union Army Corps XII, XIV, XV, XVII, and XX. Sherman recalled all the great battles of the war, the courage of his army and urged the men not to yield to the temptation to "seek new adventures abroad … for it will lead only to death and disappointments." Samuel L. Roberts from 15th Iowa Infantry kept this address, as a memory of the five years in the army. Born in Ohio, but living in Indianola, Iowa in 1861, Roberts was only 18 when he enlisted. The 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment where he served was mustered in 1862, and was engaged in the Battle of Shiloh, and the Second Battle of Corinth, where the Confederate army captured Roberts and later exchanged him in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Despite the pledge upon parole "not to take arms again" he probably never quit the service and in 1864 participated in the Atlanta Campaign with the 15th Iowa. The document now belongs to Roberts' granddaughters Grace Emmett and Mary Ann Hessenflow. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
Samuel L. Roberts' Civil War Discharged Record, January 31, 1864