James Robertson, Champaign County

James Robertson was born in New York in 1845 and was brought to Illinois on the Orphan Train when he was 14. He was indentured on 15 Sept 1859 to Justice A. M. Fenley who reared him. He appeared in Mr. Fenley's home in the census of 1860. Early in the war of the rebellion he enlisted while underage (16) with the name James Johnson. His regiment, the Illinois 72nd became active August 23, 1862 and continued in action until August 7, 1865. This regiment took part in several significant engagements, such as: Battle of Champion's Hill; Siege of Vicksburg; Battle of Franklin; and Battle of Nashville. James later had to admit to this false name to claim his war pension. Returning to Urbana after the war, he became a farmer and followed that occupation. James married Matilda W. Wills and with her had six children: Ida Alice, Lottie L., Nellie, Walter, Mollie, and Jessie. James owned his own farm. Urbana Daily Courier Aug 25, 1910 Minister who Baptized James Robertson to Conduct Funeral Services Thursday Afternoon James Robertson was born in New York in 1855. His parents died when he was quite young and when thirteen years of age he came to Champaign county and entered the home of Justice A.M. Fauley, who reared him as a son. When the Civil war broke out young Robertson, although but sixteen years old, enlisted in Co. G, 72nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served with valor, participating in five important battles and numerous skirmishes.

The 1864 annual report claimed that 350 "boys" who had been sent to the West were enlisted in the Army to fight the war. Since all these boys were sent to Illinois, they would have been in Illinois regiments, unless their new families had moved further west. No full names of the men were given in the 1864 report, but the dramatic story of the effort to keep the regimental colors flying was told there.

Keeping the regimental colors flying was not simply a matter of pride, but a matter of survival of the unit. By keeping the colors flying the men knew where they should be in the fight and if an order to retreat or go forward had been given. I was recently in a home in Adams County with an old Civil War rifle, and I was surprised to see what a delicate and diminutive firearm it was. Unfortunately, some part of this report is incorrect, for no young man with the initials "T S" could be found in the list of men in Company D of the 41st could be found in the rolls of the New York Juvenile Asylum.