I'm pleased to hear that these records arrived quickly.

Processes such as enlistment and posting bond mentioned in these records work much the same today as then. For instance, when anyone joins a military service, a term of enlistment is involved. The same was true then. On April 16, 1862, Congress required able-bodied white men between the ages of 18 to 35 to enlist. The required term of enlistment was three years or the war. If a soldier had already served during 1861, the term was shortened to two years or the war.

I don't know about the man named who lived in Missouri, but posting bond works the same today as it did then. James Parker petitioned for release from Camp Morton, naming the other man as a citizen in good standing who would be willing to post bond for his good behavior after release. If you wanted to be released from prison, you'd contact someone who might be willing to post bond for you. We may expect it be someone who knew you personally and had a good opinion of you, so it could be a relative.

If an oath of allegiance existed, it should be in this file. Otherwise, the census should state James Parker's state of birth. In no case will either the census or an oath of allegiance state the name of his father.