Jim Riley’s diary ended abruptly, for on Monday, June 19th, 1865, troop boat started up the Mississippi River, supposedly to Chicago, Ill., to muster the soldiers out of the army, but the boys found out that they were really being sent west to fight the Indians in an uprising against the government at this time.

Jim waited for a chance to jump off the boat and head for land. He was shot at by the guard and the shots fell short of him.

As Jim swam for his life, he heard somebody swimming behind him. He heard someone yell, “Swim like hell Jim, swim like hell Jim.” It was a neighbor boy by the name of Lew James in the First Michigan Cavalry, which was also on board the Indians.

They made it to the shore and eventually made it back to Volimia.

Lew James of Dowagiac, who I knew, had his grandfather’s discharge. Lew James did go back, but Jim didn’t. There were so many men who had left without being mustered out, that Congress had to do something, as these boys served long and honorably and were given discharges and pensions.

Jim Riley married a neighbor girl, Martha Nichols, and nine children were born to the Rileys. Pauline Riley Goodenough of Marcellus was his granddaughter.

Many old people of the community have wondered if this is the same Jim Riley who was the famous spiritualist medium. He was.

James Riley died in 1920 at age 78.

James Riley’s most memorable battle form the Civil War was his unit’s action telling of the Battle of Atlanta. Jim couldn’t tell us of the horrors of Pucket’s Charge, or the struggle to hold Little Round House. His Michigan unit was not there, though many were. This columnist is sure if he had been there, he would have left us an insightful and moving commentary of Gettysburg.

I’ve sure had fun reading the 72 letters of Jim’s diary and had a lot of enjoyable hours in doing so.

“Cardinal Charlie” Gill writes a nostalgic weekly column about growing up in the Grand Old City. Email him at cardinalcharlie@hotmail.com.