Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-17
A Z HISTORY.
Records that viii Shade Some Of the
"HerOes +" Of the War.


Baltimore SUM-
The arrangement made by General
Wright for a free exchange of records
between the Southern Historical So
ciety and the war department was en-
iRently satisfactory to General Maury,
as he felt hat by this the object OF
his struggle had been accomplished.
There are now in print, for preserva-
ton only, ifty-one volumes, as fol-
lows: United States-RepOrts Of op-
eratiOns, IA vols; military correspon-
dence, 3 vols. war department letters
received, | VOL; war department let
tiers sent, l vol. war department tele-
grams received, 6 vols. war depart
ment kilograms sent, 4vOls.; Halleck's
kilograms received, 5 vols. Halleck's
kilograms sent, 4 vols. summary of
military operations, / vol.-total, 30
volumes. Confederate States-Re-
ports Of operations, 4 vols. war
department letters received, | vol. /;
war department letters sent, | vol.
wal department kilograms received, l
vol; war department kilograms sent,
l vol. adjutant and inspector gene
rails kilograms sent, | vol. miscella-
neous, general and special orders l
vol. military correspondence and
general and special orders, 1861, l
VOL; troops rendered Confederate wal
department, | yol.-total Confederate,
II volumes.
Gel. Robert n. Scott, of the Second
artillery, is in charge of the compila-
ton Of the war records. He is an Off
Ger of high standing in the army, of
thorough culture, and is admirably
fitted to the work. He is the author
of a valuable work on military law.
Mr.. A. p. Tasker, of the adjutant
generals department, has charge of
the Confederate archives. Both of.
these gentlemen are thoroughly famil-
lar with the records, and are admira-
bly, suited for the responsible places
they fill.
The present work is confined only
to preparing for a permanent publica-
tion, although the secretary of war has
urged upon congress the necessity of
an additional appropriation to begin
the permanent publication (for the
year 1861. No action has yet been
taken.
1t is sincerely to be hoped hal this
congress will not fail to make the nee
essaTy appropriation for the publiea-
ton for public distribution Of this
immense collection of valuable mat
ter. The idea of Secretary McCrary
is that provision should be made for
the printing Of so many copies for the
President, the war department, and so
many copies for each senator and rep
resentative, and that the public prin-
ter should be authorized to dispose of
copies to all who may desire them at
the cost price Of publication. 1t can
be readily understood what a valuable
acquisition to public and private
libraries would be the immense mass
Of papers and documents as is set
forth above BY reason Of the oppor-
tuuity TO form correct opinions and
judgments Of the yaryingphases Of the
greatest civil war of all times.
Briefly it may be summed up THAT
this publication will give to the coun-
try and the world all of the conf
dental correspondence of the war on
either side, will disclose the strength
of the Union and the Confederate
armies in all of the great battles, with
the field orders given and acted on at
the time, which explain movements,
defeats and victories much better than
formal accounts written at leisure
the real causes, with all the cores
pOndence which led to the removal Of
Mcclellan, Hooker and Burnside. and
on the other hand the reasons of the
removal of Bragg and Joseph L.
Johnston will fully appear. The pub
lie has only as yet seen that portion of
the records Of the wal on both sides
which it was not deemed improper to
publish.
This publication will leave out moth
ing Official which is important to a
true understanding of all the move
ments of both armies. Many of the
articles published from time to time
in the newspapers by both Union and
Confederate officers will be read with
a new relish and with greatly increased
interest when this official publication
is placed before the people, and many
Of the heroes Of the war on both sides
will be somewhat shaded when all of
their private correspondence and
orders shall be read.