Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-05
THE MUSTER ROLLS.
Interesting Letter From Judge d. A.
GrimsIey, Of CuIpeper.


CULPEPER, VA, July o, lS9f-Edi-
tor Blue Ridge Guide: / am glad 10 see
In your last issue a suggestion that at
some early day there should be held In
the county a reunion of all OF Kappa
hannocks surviving Confederate soldiers.
/ hope this suggestion OF yours Will meet
with the hearty approval and co-opera-
ton Of all the good people In your county.
This ought to be done, II for no other
purpose than to secure accurate, 1uli,
and complete rolls OF all the companies
that went out from your county. You
have doubtless observed that the impor-
lance of obtaining now while 1t may De
done these company rolls Is attracting
universal attention throughout the state,
and much has recently been said In the
papers of the State on the subject 1t
Is an important matter In an historical
point of view, and it is a curious fact
that those people who make history seem
SO Indifferent TO its preservation.
Doubtless, the next Legislature will be
asked to make some appropriation TO-
wards securing and publishing an accu-
rate roster OF all OF Virginia's soldiers IN
the late war, and I think It will be done
for unquestionably that page OF Virginias
history written by her sons In the late
war ia the brightest and best or ALL
luminous with deeds Of daring and vir-
tue and patriotism and sacrificing deVo-
ton to principle that rivals the ages OF
romance, and / do not believe 1t Will
ever be allowed to become dim or Cd
scured from neglect There Is no place
in this wide world where. to-day, any one
IS ashamed to acknowledge he was a Con-
federate soldier There never will come
.irna In tho hfeforv ~ thiq country
when our children or our chidrens chill
dren, to the remotest generation. will not
be proud to know that their ancestors
were the followers Of Robert +. Lee or
Stonewall Jackson.
POSTPONE this matter OF muster-rols for
few years longer and 1t will be almost
impossible to get them up with accuracy:
even at present the memory OF the sur
vivors must be relied on In a great mea-
sure.
In the War Office at Washington. among
the records Of the rebellion may be
found one or more muster-rolls or al
most every regiment and company OF the
State. but II will be remembered that
these rolls were made ont every two
months and only present the condition OF
the company for two months preceding.
but COPY OF such a roll. which can be
readily obtained, will furnish a nucleus
for complete and accurate roll TO be
obtained from the memory or Survivors
at such a reunion az you propose. IN
this way we have obtained an accurate
roll OF the company to which / had the
honor TO belong, from the beginning or
the war TO It's close.
hope you will press the matter upon
the attention OF the people OF your county,
and philosophical men and women Will
b.. n
good old county OF Rappahannock. will
see 70 II that when the history or the
late unpleasantness is finally written. as
it will be. Rappahannock shall receive
that need of praise to which she Is hon
esty entitled.
Yours, etc, d. A. GRIMSLEY.
CtILPEPER, VA, July %. lS9i-Editor
Guide: Since I wrote you I have seen
copy OF the Richmond Dispatch Of yester-
day (Which you perhaps, have also seem.
and find that one page OF that large and
influential paper is taken up almost
wholly with communications and edito-
rial comments upon the subject or the
muster-rolls OF Virginia troops.
l wish in some way this important mat
ter could be brought 10 the attention OF
all the old soldiers Of your county The
only way 1t can be accurately done Is by
getting as many or each company TO-
gether as possible, and. with their atten-
ton specially drawn TO this subject, aided
by such partial rolls as may be In the
possession of any. or found In the war
records at Washington. their memory
Of their comrades will be so refreshed az
to be able to supply any omissions con-
tanned in these rolls.
II will be remembered that the war
lasted four years. and the condition OF the
companies was constantly changing; men
were killed. died OF disease. transferred.
promoted, and as these changes occurred
their names were dropped from the rolls,
whilst others recruited We're added. Now,
to get a complete roll Of each company.
nothing short OF all the rolls made out
during the war. which happened every
two months, will be sufficient, and these
are not In existence, so that in their
absence the memory of the survivors Is
the only source OF information left.
wonder If there could be found
in Rappahannock county roll OF
the several companies that went into
the service from that county made for
any period during the war; IL so, they
would be a great help. Call for any such
rolls and, perhaps, you would find them.
Yours, &C., ID. a. GRlMSLEf.