Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-06-20

schools to mislead and debauch the
minds of the young. saw that these
Misrepresentation and slanders, pro-
pagated over a wide field and without
correction, were being accepted as
facts.
In view of this, I saw with great
satisfaction and watched with eager
interest the growth Of a movement in
the South to insure the truth of histo-
ry by means of truthful record of
the great conflict, and an explanation
Of the causes that led to it. l thought
that all who wore the gray would work
harmoniously to this end, and in ad-
dition do all in their power to preserve
the memory of their fallen comrades
and to leave to posterity enduring
proofs of their loyalty, courage and
devotion to duty.
When the first Southern Historical
Society was organized, having in view
the objects above recited, hoped and
believed step had been taken that
would secure all the results desired
that from this nucleus would grow an
institution embracing all the matter
and material necessary to the future
historian in making up truthful rec
ord; that would contain as valuable
object lessons the relies and mementoes
of the great struggle for our rights;
that would preserve the features ofour
great leaders; that would be sacred
shrine for our veterans and Mecca
for their descendants for long ages to
come.
When | saw that our noble women
and good and true men were working
zealously and untiringly to secure these
results, and that memorial organiza-
tions had been established in Rich
mond, New Orleans and elsewhere, |
was hopeful of success. 1t was only
after the lapse of many years that l
commenced to entertain doubts of the
perpetuity of the work that had been
accomplished saw with concern
that a multiplicity of efforts to accom-
plish the objects Of general desire was
endangering success. That, notwith-
standing the evident design to make
these memorial Institutions national in
character, they were regarded by the
veterans as limited and local, and that
they were never so generally and lib
orally supported as to obyiate the ne
cessity of recurring appeals for assis-
tance. saw that the old soldiers
were reluctant to have relics and rec
ords removed from their respective
States without an assurance of being
made part Of national collection to
which every Confederate State would
contribute. Isaw that a great amount
of valuable memorial matter, scattered
broadcast over the country, was in dan
ger of being lost or destroyed, and
many relies that should form an I'M
portant part of the illustrated history
of the war were being disposed of to
Northern purchasers for purposes Of
exhibition and gain.
Although much valuable time had
been wasted and many of the veterans
had "crossed to the other shore, | be-
lieyed that 1t was not too late to rectity
the mistakes caused by patriotic zeal
and that whatever had been lost by
not having concentrated our efforts
and means might be regained. l was
satisfied that the desire to perPetuate
the memories of our great struggle for
constitutionalri rights was so strong and
universal in the hearts Of our veterans
that their united and harmonious ac-
tion could be relied upon in any effort
to that end. Though convinced of
this, I did not feel warranted in aP-
pealing to any of our prominent Con-
federate leaders to inaugurate the
work, inasmuch as it would involve
labor and necessitate expense. pre-
ferred to take the burden upon my
self.
In Novemberoflast year | addressed
a circular to the commanders Of the
Veteran camps and to other Confeder-
ates whose address l was able to OBJ
tain.
The responses to this circular were
more numerous than those to the first,
and equally, if not more, satisfactory.
From Veteran camps, from command
ing generals to privates, from those
who have succeeded in life's struggles,
and from those upon whom fortune
has frowned assurances of cooperation
and substantial support have been re-
ceived. 1t is for the veterans to mold
this universal sentiment into substan-
Z. ] l - 80 -