The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29

In regard 10 the time fred for the review Of q
division. ~ vas dated two days before the
poned By order Of Cen. Grant until the next
one Gen. PTentiss's division had been captured,
and before tho time hxed for the review had
T miiss distant sSS as p,G pPison Sa eGfI war;. THIS rSSSn Toutine
note has now been inserted In one OF the supple
Only those who are 80 situated in Washing
ton as 70, receive information OF the steady
stream Of Inquiries which pour in from oyory
section for about campaigns,
battles, battlefield maps, and military parks,
can fully appreciate the growing interest in this
p svesiss OF war al t hteT ws5 ss'o WsiI s" q, IN Tc, Sysry
nro most prominent in this quest, the mature
generation Which has succeeded. the war period
or the III volumes Ave are supplementary.
lacy contain the material which has been dis
succeeding volume OF the series was printed,
and such original papers as have since been 30
our'd FROM pr! vute parties. These are among
there IS 3 scarcely eily' a disp pl Cd question Sesio WGIoh has
arisen during the discussions Of way matters
which docs not receive new and interesting light,
through the publication OF this matter.
ord publication disposes Of tho records relating
TO az operations Of tho armies In the He'd, IN
Guiding tho operations on the Pacific coast
uion which Congress has since based It's appro:
Var, and Series 'i iii. and ddeiII'Sf W., Which arc prec.
uoaily one the first relating 70 Union and me
S esoSna 70 Gon ana TS"lr t saa,s SuiGar 9G.%e0h tho
The Prisoners Of War series has been the OK
olusirs assignment nu Of M EE,i Perry, the 9ot tA tSa
past eight years. Two volumes are in. type,
six more are contemplated, though the Appro-
p~riations~ Committee OF the last Congress was
strongly inclined sharply to restrict this series,
In view Of the large amount Of material relating
To the n,a subject ALREADY s, dgo pv WIl : ;riI BY S CD5 re ,b In
yoluminous and exhaustive Shank investisa-
ton made under authority OF the House OF Hep
Series III. and ", which arc practically ono,
as already explained. II is estimated viii make
four for the Confederate, the material Of the lat
ter In this branch In possession OF the Govern
terest, and, Historically, most important to a full
knowledge of the war. II sets forth the unremit.
ting laoors of President Lincoln, of Secretary
Stanton and his assistants, and their dealings
with tho Governors OF the States; II Includes
the call for troops and the full action Of each
State thereunder; the manufacture of war ma
terfal and the procurement OF supplies or all
kinds; the movements, of men and material, by
Of our military resources; the entire CORE
spondonce Of the Government relating to the
2,77s,00o men; the annual reports, showing the
marvellous operations Of the various staff corps
ordnance, medical, engineer, quartermaster,
subjects kindred to these. The Confederate pa.
per- covering similar ground are equally inter
All the matter for the third and fourth series
Is selected and copied, and nothing, remains to
the compilation. IT is expected that ali the voi:
unes of these series will be ready for printing
b., the close Of tie present fiscal year.
government than that performed In collecting
and compiling the war records. There has
have not examined the various features Of the
gigantic work TO %criticise 1t as too costly. III
are sre I f"m,i SSs! Witb os %ba tT bes e BEEN s1V aaco ohHss Iei
would still regard the expenditure as an excel
lent investment for the nation.
tons OF the country have become so numerous
and persistent as 10 insure a republication Of
ing for this have received the attention Of com.
mittees Of tho last three Congresses. But for
the condition, of the Treasury they would have
edition dit Of Il. S6o 6"S Copies Is d fstrf"s II by lists
made up during the Forty-eeventh Congress,
unable to obtain anything more than the very
few volumes which, from various causes re-
to the extent expected, additional copies are
Likely to be ordered at the next session.
There Is a kindr red work in .p:ogreso in the
War Department of great historical Importance.
1t is the collection and arrangement for publ
luton and that OF 1912 which are in the posses
sion Of the Government. The work Is in charge
and Pension Divlsion-a division containing
more than half the entire working force OF the
department, Col: Ainsworth, who is one Of tho
most capable. efficient. and energetic officers
ton Of these records with great vigor. Con.
gress has directed that all military material
pertaining to these wars be turned over 70 the
War Department for the purpose indicated.
There has been general compliance with this
law, except In the Slate Department, where,
under the last Administration private traffic in
historical material had become a tiourishing In.
dustry. Secretary Gresham, however, had
nearly broken 1t up at the time of his death,
and under the present regime II Is not supposed
that business can DO revived at the old stand
namely, the Bureau OF Rolls and Library. These
records Of l776 and 1912 will each make a short
series, compared with the records Of the rebel.
lion, but their publication 10 regarded as O fit
Ting work to follow that. II. V. BoYNToN,