Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-23
FID. AND C0NFED.

The Truth OF History ana How n,
IN Ds .oia--The War Records OF
Washington Post.l
80 you are engaged in collecting
Confederate war records" said the Posi-
to General Marcus j. Wright, of Tennes.
see, yesterday.
Yes" was the reply; u have been
appointed an agent by the secretary Of
war for that purpose"
What is the object Of the work, gen.
eral2" s
The object is to preserve the records
OF the late war in complete form for the
benefit Of history. History cannot be
made complete aud just unless the story
Of both sides is told, and the war depart.
ment recognizes that fact"
why, didn't the government get nos.
session of the Confederate archives p
Yes, a part of them; Colonel Pickett
also turned over q portion of the records
to the United States. Bat there are
thousands of valuable documents vet in
the hands of private individuals You
see, In the Federal army, all the reports
of battles, orders issued, plans. etc
we're sent right up to headquarters. and
then forwarded to the war department:
but on the Confederate side, where com.
m%unicstioa with headquarters and the
war department was often cut off. and
where armies and commands we're sena-
rated, many Of these reports, and orders.
and records were retained by the mill.
tary officers. The Objects to collect all
these papers now in possession of Con.
tederate officers and their families.
Many of these documents are held az
sacred relics by the families of our
Southern military leaders"
How do you propose to get them2'
Il have begun my work by a very ex.
correspondence. / have written
x-Coniederate officers all through The
requesting them to collect such
documents or information about them.
You would be surprised to see how many
have already been received to
those letters. Well, before a great while
intend to travel through the South and
collect these records. The idea is to get
every paper besring upon the war and
lis conduct, We want the field orders
sent by subordinate com.
manders to their chiefs during engage.
nents. Where persons wish to preserve
The originals, the department binds itself
return Them as soon as copies can be
Now, general, what are you going
o do with these papers when you get
There will be issued o series of re.
ports, both Federal and Confederate. in
volumes"
DO you priHt them Immediately"
Yes; in pamphlet form for b~reserva.
ion. As soon as WI get possession of
documents they are printed in this form.
md stored away until the work shall be
complete and in shape to publish. We
tore these prints in nineteen different
louses in order to insure their preserva.
ion, In case Of fire, ten or q dozen, or
ven eighteen houses being DESTROYED
re would still have some copies. The
iouses are scattered about, of course, in
%ifferent localities"
How long will it take to complete the
Really, l can't form any idea. It is
matter of a great deal Of labor, which
as to be performed with care, aud
hould think it would require several
ears yet"
And after the work shall have been
ompleted will these volumes be shut up
D the war Department.
| suppose not. The records are TO
e published for the use of the govern
lent, and no doubt congress will make
revision for the printing Of the com.
lete work for public libraries and for
Vie among the people, About eight
ago Mr.. Maynard, of Tennessee,
ltroduoed In congress a resolution pro.
ding for collecting Confederate re.
)rds. The resolution was adopted. as /
was apparent that these records must
} had in order to afford a true history (
the war. The war department has {
'lleoted the documents 90 rapidly as {
but recently the secretary and I
10 adjutant general agreed that thew 1
'uld be obtained much mere rapidly by
Confederate officer, and / was ap. |
General Wright was q major general J
the Confederate army, aud made
excellent record. He never made
,plioatiou for this appointment. hut
it was decided that an ex.Confede. /
tie could facilitate the work, he was /
reed upon as the very man for the
ace. de was then in Philadelphia,
upon being notified Of the appoint. (