Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-20
REBEL ARCHIVES.
Vhdt Gen. Townsend has to sag about Them
Thirteen potames already in Type, and
StIty-seUe7s More Coming.

Iue confederate archives IN possession OF
the war department, are objects both of curl
osity and cupidity on the part of many peo-
pie, and occasionally something bearing re-
semblance to indignation breaks out in
different quarters that they are not open to
the inspection of every one, especially late
ly, since public attention has been attracted
to the subject by the spat in the House be-
tween Reagan and Willets. The papers are
all in charge of y. d. Townsend, adiutant
general of the army, and from this Office the
Post obtained the following information last
evening:
In reply to the question, "Why are those
archives kept from public inspection?'' the
general said: "For the same and similar rea-
sons that the Union war records are held as
official secrets. It is for the protection of
the government and the people,
GLOW are they protected by such a
course?"
Gin this way: If persons were allowed to
come in and inspect the muster-rolls, one so
disposed could draw off the exact history of
soldier, for instance, and personate him in
procuring pension. He would make his
application, state his services, ETC., and when
i'll the ordinary course of business the wal
department. received letter from the pen
sion Office asking for the mans record, of
course its reply would agree with his state
ment, and the government would be de-
frauded. The opening of the union records
to the public would at once destroy the safe
guards and checks designed for the protec-
ton of the government and the people,
SBut it is so with the confederate records p
eyes, to a very great extent. In one way
and another they have cost the government
large sum. Appropriations have beer
made for their compilation and printing
and whenever Congress wishes to publist
them, it can, of course. do SO. Up to this
time, some thirteen volumes of five and si1
hundred pages each, are ready. These in
clude the battle records up to about 1868
And when they are published, maps of the
battle-felds and positions of the troops have
been prepared to accompany them. The
matter is so arranged that the historian will
find the history of each battle complete by
ITSELF
s'Who will get these books?''
''Ihe purpose, as / understand it, is &c
print the usual number for members of Con.
gross, public libraries, and institutions OF
learning, and besides this, a number for the
people, perhaps sufficient, when sold. to re.
imburse the government for it's outlay in the
purchase and preparation and printing!
'.Not much concealment in that plan?''
"No, and concealment is not the purpose
Why, for two days the late confederate post
master general was engaged in an examina.
ton of the archives. A few days ago Col
Mosby requested copy of one of the papers
relating to a battle of j. E. B. Stuart's, ano
it was PROMPTLY furnished him. The Hon
Mr.. Scales and Mr.. Vance, of North Caro-
lima, asked for copies of papers and the,
were given, as we'll as to other members of
Congress-, and any respectable editor in the
country can get copy of any paper he asks
for, provided it is not one in which the gov
eminent and the people are interested for its
protection
"What sort of papers are those?''
'They belong to class having lega
Wallpapers containing evidence which
may be called for in the court of claims Of
by the Southern claims commission. There
are those who have claimed to be Union mer
during the war, and, when asking for pay
ment from the government for damages sus
tanned, the archives have revealed evidence
that they had once been compensated, OF
that they were not Union men at all. II
stands to reason that hundreds of claim
agents and spectators would be glad tc
| come in and copy off these documents; anc
| then again there are publishers who offe1
large sums for the privilege of ransackine
the archives and making selections. NJ
wonder that complaints are heard that access
to the archives is denied; but they come
from persons, as a rule, who have o direc
monetary interest in obtaining copies. Fo1
| all legitimate purposes, copies of papers car
| be obtained Of the class that will fnallv h.
printed
"And about what proportion is that?,
"Why, nearly all. In the end only fey
will be held back.''
"What is being done with our own
records?"
| ''The battle records are being compiled
and arranged for printing, side by side with
those of the Confederacy, but they are NOR
abridged than the latter. The two will make
when completed perhaps hundred volumes
embracing more perfect history of wa
than was ever written before, and furnish
ing for the historians of the republic un
bounded material. Infinite pains have bee
taken by the compilers to have all name
and dates correct, and the work will b
pushed just as fast as Congress furnishes til
MEANS"
Has much of the matter been printed?''
"The thirteen volumes referred to hay
been set up and printed in the department
so that the government printers can hav
perfect copy. The archives, for the mos
I part have been stored in the Winder build
ing, which is as near fre-proof as we cal
have. This matter I take pleasure in 81
planning to persons honestly inquiring, an
when 1t is understood the course in regar
to the care and protection of the archiye
adopted BY the department., is approved.