Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-17
RECORDS OF THE WAR
GEN. WIGHT TELLS HOW coNfEDs-
RATE PAPERS ARE COLLECTED.


General Marcus J. Wright, agent OF the
War Department for the Collection, OF
Confederate War Records st Washington,
has been in this city for several days at
tending TO matters connected with his
work. The main object of his VISIT was to
confer with Mrs. Jefferson Davis concern
ing certain papers and documents which
she has in her possession and which VIII
be Of great Importance in the publication
of the volumes now being printed by the
Government. Mrs. DAVIS expressed her
willingness to allow these records, wnicn
are for the most part now deposited with
the Louisiana Historical Society. IN New
Orleans. 10 be copied OF utilized by the
War Department.
General Wright was seen yesterday at
Murphy's Hotel by q representative OF the
DISPATCH and asked to explain the WORK
ines Of his department and the manner IN
which the information is being collected.
ORIGIN OF TIE BUREAU.
1.-THE original suggestion which ulti-
mately led to the collection and pubiica-
tion "a the records of the war between the
States.n said General Wright was made
by General E. d. Townsend. adlutant-
general, United States army. On his
recommendation the Secretary OF War dl-
rectod the collection of all Official records
relating TO the war, both Union and Con-
federate, with q view to their publication.
It was also on General Townsends recon-
mendation that / was appointed an agent
Of the War Department to collect the Con-
federate records.
az aid not know. General Townsend
personally at that time but when saw In
the newspapers that he had made tins
recommendation TO the Secretary OF war
entered into correspondence with him,
heartily concurring in his views. This
doubtless led to his recommendation OF
me. 80. -, ,r
Crary, then Secretary OF War" continued
the General, " for the purpose OF collecting
official records Of the Confederate army
for the works low being printed. Its Or
fetal title is Records Of the War OF the
Rebelllon-Union and Confederate
SIN commencing my work visited 2
great many persons who had records, and
have corresponded with all coulo near ot
to get any information from them. The re-
suit has been the collection OF very large
number of papers. All OF the largest sets
of records have already been collected, put
there are still many papers of great value
scattered over tho country which am
now getting in. Where persons who own
these papers are unwilling to donate them
TO the Government we borrow them Tor
copies" man
aged,n queried the newspaper man.
Well, in the beginning of the work u
was under the supervision of Colonel
Robert N. Scott, of the Fourth artillery,
very accomplished and popular officer,
who completed great deal OF the work
before his death. He was succeeded by
Colonel II. NJ. Lazelle, who was relieved
from duty and IL now in his regiment.
THE PUBLICATION BOARD.
Congress passed an act erecting Board
of Publication, of which two members
were TO be civilian experts. Under TINS
| act Major George Il. Davis. of the Judge
Advocate Generals Office was placed in
| charge. He is O very accomplished and
popular officer, aud devotes his whole en-
ergies 10 the work Major Davis is the au-
| thor OF a valuable work on Inter
national Law, which is used as text
| book at the military academy at West
Point. He Is giving great satisfaction
IN his management OF the WORK. Inc
| civilian experts associated with MAJOR
| Davis are Captain Leslie j. Perry, OK Kan
sas' and Mr. Joseph w. Kirkley, of Mary
| land, both of whom are well htted for
| their respective positions. Captain Perry
| has been assigned TO the compilation OF
| that part Of the records relating TO prlson-
| era of war. At his request General Cad
mus M, Wilcox, O major-general IN tine
| Confederate army, was assigned TO duty
with him. He had only been In the once
with him once when he lost his life by an
| accident, Captain Perry then asked TO
| have General Charles w. Field with him,
winch request was granted and General
| Field is there now. MIR. kirkley. the other
| civilian expert, has been connected with
| the work from its very beginning and Is
thoroughly familiar with 1t in oil its de-
tails. The board altogether Is O very salts
factory one.
ABOUT FIFTY BOOKS.
"How many volumes have been pub
lished so far and how many will be re-
CURED to complete the work." asked the
reporter: -. uo,ruo, have been nub
lished, but they make about fifty books.
These run up TO tho early part OF 1864. 1t
| has been estimated that it will take nearly
leo volumes TO complete the WORK.
Nothing is printed except official docu-
ments written during the period OF the
war"
rize TO be printed each year ;" interro-
| gated the newspaper-ma
| the reply, 100 volumes were ordered
to be printed TO be distributed among
Senators, Representatives, and delegates
in Congress, executive department OF the
| Government and O certain number placed
| with the Secretary of War TO be distributed
among the contributors to the work. I'M
der this act five volumes were published. q"
AN INCREASED EDITION.
"a great many members of Congress in
stead of sending the consecutive volumes
TO one library would scatter them. The
next act of Congress increased the publica-
| ton 70 II 600 copies and the Forty-ninth
Congress passed an act requiring each OF
its members TO furnish the Secretary OF
! War with a list of the names Of such per-
sons libraries, or colleges as they desired
the work sent TO, and the act further pro-
yided that these parties thus named should
! continue 20 receive the work until 1t was
finished, In view Of the large demand for
The volumes and the fact that very limit
ed number of the members OF the next
CONGRESS are entitled TO any copies It Il
probable that law Will be passed IN
creasipg the number TO be published here
after.
all stereotyped, SO that republication
would only cost for paper, press-worK, ano
"a limited number of the books, begin.
ming with Volume s, are held in the war.
| Record Otf1ce for sale al cost pIlce' 30 eua'
any person wanting one OF them can pro
cure il by sending the money to Major
Davis-n
BUT ONE OTHER LIKE 1T.
HAS any other Government ever made
uuoh q publication 2" was the next ques'
ton asked,
mo European Government has ever
made such publication. have been IN.
formed, however, that the Chinese made
snch publications concerning Its great
/ civil war, which brought the present dy'
nasty into power.
Among the first persons 70 respond y
my applications for records concluded
General Wright, was Mr.. JEFF. Davis
Although he was writing several books him.
self at that time, he offeredlme what assist
ance he could, and / went down to see
him. accompanied by several clerks"
General Wright says that the reports
published by the department viii neeessa
riIy be perfectly impartial, as they EN-