Private Robinson's family has preserved the following stories of his adventures while in the service of the Union.
James Osborne Robinson was in the Union Army from 2 September 1861 until 17 November 1864, serving in Company K of the 8th Regiment, according to the autobiography and family history written by Lois Robinson Daugherty, his granddaughter.
Great-aunt Lois describes Osborne's Civil War experience: "...Pap Robinson founght on the Union side - was gone from home nearly four years - he was in thirteen major battles besides a great number of skirmishes." Among the battles in which Osborne participated are:
---Mill Springs, KY (about 10 miles from Burnside, KY) on 19 January 1862
---Murfreesboro, TN (about 30 miles from Nashville, TN) on 1- 2 January 1863
---Stone River, TN (about 30 miles from Nashville, TN) on 3 January 1863
---Chickamauga, GA (about 12 miles from Chattanooga, TN) on 19 September 1863
---Snodgrass Hill, GA (about 9 miles from Chattanooga, TN) on 20 September 1863
---Rossville, GA (about 7 miles from Chattanooga, TN) on 21 September
1863(Chattanooga, TN was occupied by Union troops in late September, 1863.)
---Orchard Knob, TN (around Chattanooga, TN) on 23 November 1863
---Lookout Mountain, TN (around Chattanooga, TN) on 24 November 1863
---Missionary Ridge, TN (around Chattanooga, TN) on 25 November 1863
---Tunnel Hill, TN (around Chattanooga, TN) on 26 November 1863
---Ringgold, GA (about 12 miles from Chattanooga, TN) on 27 November 1863
Lois tells that at Lookout Mt., Osborne was "among the soldiers that
climbed the grapevine to reach the summit - the Confederates were surprised at
breakfast and the battle was won, and is considered a great turning point in the
union victory. They took the mountain and raised the Flag on the summit."
Lois continues, "A history my brother was reading in the Library at Dayton, Ohio stated that 'James O. Robinson was the best horseman in his regiment or any other regiment.' I don't know all the major battles he fought in, but I heard him say Mill Springs was the bloodiest. He would tell about capture of Lookout Mountain, and I've heard him. The 8th Ky. was held in high regard. His company was 'K'."
Later she adds, "I think Pap was in 61 Infantry of Civil War. Neither
Pap nor his grandson, James S., were wounded (Lois states that James S. Robinson
was in Co. K, 61 Infantry, 5th Div. during World War I)." Lois quoted her
father, Charles B. Robinson, son of James Osborne, as he told
about two of the war experiences of her "Grandpa Osborne - always called
Pap by grandchildren":
"At Murpheysborough (sic), Tenn. was where he got his cartridge belt shot off him. He (Grandpa) ran to get behind a big rock and he no more than got there till at least a thousand bullets hit the rock. Guess the Rebels would have got him if that rock hadn't been there."
"At Stone River, Tenn., was another awful hard battle. They sent the 8th Ky. out in a big corn field to draw the Rebels out where they were in a Cedar thicket. They, the 8th Ky., went out and down in the River bed so the canon (sic) could shoot over them. The Rebels fell for the scheme and came out and the canon (sic) cut down the Rebels. The canons (sic) were loaded with bullets and pieces of chain. The river ran with blood for two hours, and with bodies of dead Union and Rebel soldiers, Pap said. The dead were thick floating down the river. The 8th Ky. men waded the river three time to draw the Rebels out. Water was up under their arms... it liked to clean out the 8th Ky., this battle did, and had to call for reinforcements."
>From Eddie Robinson of Lexington, KY, another descendant of James Osborne Robinson:
"The story of this Family is that 'As' (Eddie's branch of the family
remembers him as 'Asborn') went hunting one morning and met people
who
were going to join the U.S. Army and fight in the War Between the States. He
went with them right then but sent word back to his wife Margaret what he had
done. This happened in September 1861. He returned home in November 1864 after
the above battles in the Civil War. That day Margaret was preparing a meal for
the family and they heard someone singing and Margaret said, 'That sounds like
'As' so I guess he made it back'."
My mother, Betty Robinson Grant, tells a similar story about how her grandfather Osborne went off and joined the Union Army without telling his wife beforehand. She also tells that the family was very hard up while Osborne was away at war, perhaps nearly starving.