Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-01-13
Records Of the Late War.
Especial to tho Atlanta Constitution.

Especial to tho Atlanta constitutional
New York, January 2.-On the train
yesterday met sodicrly looking, quiet
gentleman, who is doug more important
work for tho South than any man enlisted
in her service. 1t was General Marcus j.
Wright, who has had charge for tho past
year or TWO of the collection, compilation
and publication Of the Confederate archives,
General Wright was called to this work by
unanimous consent aud has proved 80 ad.
mirably fit for the task he has undertaken
that his selection seems 10 be little less than
OIL inspiration. Scholarly, able, dscrimi-
mating aud courageous--uf such unblcm-
ished character as to command eutire con-
tidence e-hc has made superb collection
and has edited it with consummate discrc-
tion aud skill. lie gavc me the history of
this vast enterprise 10 q frank aud vet
modest way that entities it to transcription
here.
''l suppose" ho said, "that shortly after
the close of the war had the largest COL
lection of Confederate records to be found
anywhere. felt tho Importance to tho
South of an early collection of this perish
able material, and its publication in logical
and durable shape. l knew that the re-
o'rds themselves would speak with more
authority to posterity than any mere parti.
san or personal hist"ry could hope to do,
and therefore spcut time and money in
collecting all that | could get. I had al
ready nade an arrangement to publish what
l had, Mr.. Davis having advised this course
after expressing surprise at the complete
ness of my collection.
Before this publication was commenced,
however, the government established bu-
reau for the object of collecting and pub
fishing the records on both sides. This
obviatcd the cssity of my work and [
wrote TO General Townsend, turning over
my collection to him for publication in the
government books. Shortly afterwards |
went to Washington on other business, and
found tho Southern Congressman dissatis-
lied tecuuse there was no Confederate rep
resentative in the bureau. There were few
Confederate records in possession of the
government except those captured ut Rich
mond and those sent on by me. Contcdc--
rate officers os rule were disincIned to
send their records to a burcuu in which
they had no representative, and there was
great danger that the publication would
be made, with our side of it weak and in
complete. Casey Young, of Tennessee,
complained to the Secretary of Var, who
promptly saw the rcasonabIcncss of the
complaint and agreed that Confederate
should be appointed. General Townsend
to whom the matter was referred suggested
my name, aud | agreed to accept under
certain conditions that wero at once com
plied with. entered upon the work, and
have been engaged at it ever since"
BRINGING UP ALL TIE RECORDS.
"With what success have you worked?,
"With more than could have hoped for
| have succeeded in getting four times as
many records as the government hat " heu
! went there, and | may say that the chain
is now nearIy complete. The Confederate
records will DO almost, if not quite, as full
as the Federal records, and tois is more
than any one could havo hoped for.
went personally to tho Indian Territory aud
succeeded in getting the records of that
department. without the loss Of paper.
have gone everywhere thut saw q chance
of supplying link Of evidence. I sue.
cecded in getting copies of all tho records
Of the Southern historical! society-of
itself most important collection. The
officers of tho Confcderacy hnvo felt no
hesitation in cntrusting their records to us,
and have helped in every possible way.
an now having copies made of all Mr..
D"yls's papers, aad his attest put upon
each copy"