The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-07

4
The Adjutant Generals report, Greg
lister of Rhode Island Volunteers, 1851
1861" is completed, and two handsome
volumes containing II are on our desk.
This work is the "annual report OF the
Adjutant General OF the State OF Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations for the
year 1865, f" corrected, revised and repub-
| lished to furnish that report in as nearly
an absolutely correct form as possible,
making 1t exhaustive and practically with
out errors, as we'll as hsrmonizing the
matter to which Is devoted the rep ort
bearing date OF something like quarter
OF a century ago, we believe.
The work was performed in accord
ance with provisions OF public laws
COS and 767) OF the State, by Brigadier
General ELISHA DYER, Adjutant General
The purpose and scope OF the work are
the same that have prompted oimilar un-
dertakings in other states, but we take it
that in no State has the work been so
thoroughly and satisfactorily done as il
has been in Rhode Island. For the re-
suit. General DYER is to be chiefly cred
ited. II was seriously contemplated by
the Adjutant General dozen years ago
and the actual work has taken some six
or seven years OF continuous research
and record making. From the inception
TO the finished volumes the Report has
been directed by General DYER, and the
result Is a monument TO his enthusiasm,
discretion, faithfulness and tireless effort
to secure completeness and accuracy.
In the two fine volumes now off the
press the military records of Rhode
Island for the War OF the Rebellion may
be preserved forever in substantial and
easily available form for reference.
The work done has not been merely
labor OF copying from the old and inval-
liable records of Rhoue Island regiments.
Constant reference to these, which Is now
made unnecessary by reason OF the COM
pact volumes, had early demonstrated that
they were incomplete and defective. The
first step was to secure their revision, to
perfect and restore them, before the work
of copying could be begun. A special COM
mission, OF whom the Adjutant General
was one, was engaged for some time In
this work, and revision OF the former re-
port OF 1865 followed. The new volumes
contain the result of all this work, which
was begun by the appointment Of the COM
mission as far back as 1883. The Assembly
freely made appropriations for the impor-
tant work, the system in use In the War
Department at Washington was adopted,
and in revising the rolls they were
checked by the records at Washington
with mutual gain, the use of q common
system enabling the federal military re-
cords and the Rhode Island records to be-
readily compared. Colonel r. G. AIMS
WORTH, U. 8. A who is in charge of the
tremendous machinery Of the Government
war records department, gave his person
al attention to assisting the adjutant- gem
erals department in inaugurating his
work.
Volume l OF the Report comprises the
official register OF the Infantry. and traces
and records the services OF Rhode Island
soldiers aud sailors in the volunteer SER
vice and the regular army, with much
valuable and interesting information
about the respective commands, and
those who won especial distinction from
one cause and another. With the index
there are S67 pages in the volume. Vol
ume ii, completing the work, furnishes
roster and history OF the cavalry and ar
tillery arms, with much other informa-
ton that makes the record complete With
the index, it contains 1884 pages.
The indexes to the volumes, under the
system that we understand was used in
making them, evidently have all the value
that attaches to a complete and intelligent
ly designed index. The thoroughness
and exactness of the work done is testi.
fed to by the amazingly small list of COR
rections printed, these being far below
the percentage to be expected from
work OF TINS character, and in most cases
OF minor Importance. We should say that
the thanks OF the General Assembly
might, with reason, be formally extended
to General DYER, for the public service he
has rendered the State in this work. lie
has accomplished notable and invalua-