Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-05-13
To the Surviving Soldiers from Virginia in
the Confederate Armies.

The undersigned has been charged by an
act of the General Assembly with the duty
OF enrolling the names of all the soldiers
and sailors contributed by Virginia to the
armies of the Confederate States. 1t is re-
quired that this enrolment shall show, as
far as can now be ascertained, ''the name,
age, place of enrolment and residence at
time, company and regiment or battalion,
battery or squadron, to which each such
person belonged, or position held by same
as general or staff officer, or, if in the navy,
to what vessel attached or to what duty
assigned with statement also as to wound
or wounds, when and where received, char
acter of present disability, imprisonment,
death, and where buried, discharge or sur
render of such person at the end Of the
war, and any other particulars in regard to
any such persons which in his 1.-THE Adju-
jutant Generals] judgment should be re-
corded"
All the military rolls and records of the
State having been destroyed in the great
fire that attended the evacuation of Rich
mond by the Confederate forces, and those
of the Confederate government and ar
mics that were turned over to the United
States authorities at the surrender being
unavailable for lack of adequate means at
my command to meet the cost of the work
required for the purpose, there is nothing
left to me but to apply to the surviving SOL
diers and sailors of the State for the assist
ance needed, and which I cannot doubt
they will cheerfully give.
As the best method of proceeding, 1 re-
commend that steps at once be taken for
reunions of companies or larger commands,
at which those present shall enroll their
own names, with the particulars called for
| by the act, and those of their absent COM
rades, with like particulars as far as re-
membered. 1t is not probable that any
roll will be perfected at one meeting, and it
will be well when all is done that can be
done on such an occasion to appoint some
suitable person or committee to carry on
the work by correspondence or otherwise,
until each roll is made as complete as is
now possible. When this is done, if those
having the matter in charge will communi-
cate with me I will furnish properly pre-
pared blanks, ON which the names with the
accompanying details may be recorded in a
formal and orderly manner.
| do not think it is necessary or would be
becoming in me to urge compliance with
the request here made by argument or ap-
peal. The work which the State has di-
now do to show her appreciation of the
fidelity and devotion of her sons living and
dead, and to transmit to posterity the hon
ored names of the heroes Of cause that
was very dear to her. With the prompt,
active, and Jealous cooperation OF the
surviving participants in the struggle their
work may be done. Otherwise not. A
just pride in what they did, as well
as an honorable sense of what is due
to the memories of the comrades who
fell by their side while the conflict went
on, should inspire all to make de-
termined and systematic effort to make the
great record as complete as is now possible.
When finished, it will be Virginia's Roll OF
Battle Abbey, and the descendants of the
soldiers of the Confederacy for countless
generations to come will search it for the
name of ancestors, and will be disappointed
and mortified if they do not find them.
Respectfully,
JAMES MCDONALD,
Adjutant- General.