Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-11

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md toll worn HEROES of that truly great army to per-
petuat4 it's deeds Of vAlor, endurance and suffering In
soms becoming manner. Toe day of Abbeys, Aonas-
tsres and Monks s past forever but the srts Of mod
srn civilization enable to record the history of he
colo actions in manner far superior to the written
annals Of ancient days. The printing press and the
photograph, by much they excel in rapidity and
accuracy the pen Of the monk and the limners pencil
place it within power to preserve the AuSter-Ro
Of the Army Of Northern Virginia and to erect In
aonor OF its deeds "monument more enduring and
Eorthier than Castles or Abbeys."
WHY should not each State have its Auster-Roll oil
the Second War for independence, aud why should
aOt ell the States unite 10 psrpetuatDg the Bate-Ro
Of the Army Of Northern Virginia. The suggestion
70 have to make is this:
I The formation Of society to be called "rhe His
,orcsl Art Association Of the Confederate States,
which shall be permanent oaganiEaiOn, chartered reg
ularly and composed Of leading men from every State
The President of the Confederate States other suit
sole person. to be the President Of the Association
Che Vice Presidents TO consist Of one more distin
guished gentlemen from each of the Southern States
rae Executive Committee to be composed Of influential
nd enc: atic citizens of Richmond, where the Asso
cation will meet at least month for the transac-
ton of business The Chairman Of this Committee to
be man who will give his heart and soul to the work.
in which he will be seconded faithfully BY all the men,
Oers Of the Committee-the aim being the formation of
living, working, growing Association. In add
ton TO these officers, there should be Recording Sec
tetary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Historic
grapher, Photographer and Artist.
IL. Regular, Honorary and Corresponding Members,
70 be eligible on terms prescribed by the Constitution Of
he Association.
III. One or more Travelling Agents.
". The primary object Of the Association shall be
the collection in one magnificent volume, handsomely
smbsshed and bound in the most durable manner Of
series of engravirgs (execued in steel in the highest
style of the art by the hset artists aud from photo
graphs taken on the spO of all the great battle fields
IN which the Army of Northern Virginia, or any con-
siderable detachment of it. has been or may hereafter
De engaged.
v. Brief scription Of each battle field; contempo-
rary description of the battle itself W Of any value
nav be ha6); Official Report of Commanding General,
With extracts from minor Reports lis: Of troops en-
gagged of casui lies aud captures and names Of those
who speciSiy distinguished Themselves.
VI Brief { Iacts from comments Of the press OF
the South and NSrth and Of Europe, on each battle
VII Plan Of each battle, taken from official records
VIII Likeuesses Of Generals, Partian Chiefs and
1her officers of distinction, with short biography and
I s. of battles in which they were engaged.
". The Historiographer should accompany the Pao-
tographsr for the purpose Of furnishing written de-
,,iptou of the battle field, it appeared when the
photograph was taken and to obtain other data which
might be of use to him in compiling the volume.
X The secondary object Of the Association should
be the collection and preservation Of historical relics
records etc. Ii the Association prospared and accu-
mulIted money its aim in the future would be to have
executed By the foremost painters Of the day series
Of historical paintings large tcs, Of the great
battles fought by the Army Of Northern Vrginia-the
paintings to be based upon the official Reports and
Pians-the scenery as depicted by the Photographer,
ald the descriptions OF the Hstoriogapher Of the As
ISOLATION.
Thus prepared, "Ths Battle Roll Of the Army Of
Northern Virginia" would be eagerly sought by every
family in the Ooniederscy Every considerable library,
public or private, in the civilized WoIll would want
copy and pay SlnOst any price for it. Its cost would
os great-so great indeed to place it beyond the
reach ,of many who would ardenty desire it, and to
whom it would rghtfully belong To Obviate this fl
Guilty, the following plan has suggested itself to US:
l. Let certain number of copies be printed with an
appropriate and beautiful presentation page. II. Each
sty town and county 10 subscribe for as many copies
As chooses to be presented to the officers, noneom-
nissicred officers and prVAtes Tor to their Widows
Ohsns, or nearest surviving relatively from said Cities
cd IN
some very s'gual manner.
What treasure suoh present would be-yhat an
heir-loom-how proudly aud tOndly cherished-ahd
shat an incentive to deeds OF VaOr to the children Of
each fortunate owner. The presentation page would
contain the owners name, and the special act acts
of 7alantry which induced his countrymen TO present
him with the volume, which would be deemed aud,
indeed, be a patent of nobility forever, for book
stlbcund and well-kept outlAsts MARBLE granite OF
orAss.
As an Appendix to the "Battle.Ro Of the Army Of
Northern Virginia" its Muster Roll containing full
and complete list of every who belonged to that
army and for wha. length of time he served might be
added But this Roll of its II would make separate
and huge volume. If printed, it would form an
admirable companion volume to the Battle-Book, and
be an invaluable historical Record.
We have thus given, at much greater length than we
intended the views which have occurred to rs in re-
gard 10 proper Record Of Virginia and the Achieve
ments of its great Army. We have shown that the
Legislature of Virginia and the Confederate Congress
have made ample provision for the execution of the
Record in question. The Legislature has voted all the
money that may be necessary, and the Congress has
authorized the Secretary Of War to place the Record
Agent on the came footing officer of the regular
service Supplies OF all sorts at government cost AID
free transportation furnished him. 10 return, the
Agent is required only to procure from company officers
final statements of deceased soldiers to be l,d in the
Second Auditors ofhce." By allowing each Recording
Agent the rations etc. of the regular service IL Is ev
dant that on1res contaminated the appointment of