Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-28
Preserve That Roll of Honor.
Roclxbrldge County News.)


Tina announcement in another column
that the Lee-Jackson Camp Of Contede-
rate veterans of Lexington has under
tolon 10 prepare a roster Of all the men
who enlisted from the county OF Rock
bridge as soldiers in the Confederate
army during the late war should attract
attention and interest and call forth aid
to the work.
Few. r. any, counties in this Common
wealth. or in the South population
conslderedj sent so many men to the
front during that four years OF fire and
blood. TO follow Lee and Jackson as
ala Rockbrldge county, Va; although on
the question Of secession, by an over
widening majority, that county elected
Union men to what proved 10 be
under changing conditions known IN
history as the Secession Convention. Il
was q few months after that date that
the Governor OF the Commonwealth, HIM
self q Rockbridge man, and one ever IN
thorough sympathy with his people
sounded the call 10 arms, and the sons
OF the old county in mass stood 10 their
guns. Her stalwart young men went
first TO the battle, and boys ana gray
heads followed later. When the blasts
az war were hottest, the women, the Old
men. and children and slaves, ana hero
either q cripple or an Invalid sent back
from the field TO his people, were the
occupants of tho homes and travellers
over the thoroughfaTes OF this ouce busy
county. Her sons participated IN
an Tie hardships and perils and
glories " the Army OF Northern
VIRGINIA with yalOr never Ques-
toned. a heroisn and manhood
that viii ever be worthy OF the emulation
Of freemen. and the pride OF those de-
seconded from them 10 the most remote
generation. Many OF them, before the
conflict had closed, slept In soldiers
graves With their martial cloaks around
them. a Rockordge boy. from Hays
Creek. was one OF the first, II not the
first. 10 give up his life in battle IN that
struggle I'm defence OF his State; and IN
the laet charge the bugle sounded, be-
fore the surrender at Appomattox, an
other. from a home not many miles dis
taut. feT from his horse slain by the
enemv's bullet. Name the battles IN
which the army under Lee and Jackson
fought and you can tell the tlIne ana
the place where some son OF hockDrldSe
gave up his life for the Lost Cause.
il Is n roll OF honor that these men
made I'D. And Il Is a dong roll. But
IL Is preserved only in broken fragments
now. ia the lapse Of time that has
! passed the duties TO the living have pre-
vented the survivors carrying out the
duty they owe the dead and putting this
roll In an enduring form. The names
and memories OF many Of the departed
have been preserved. Their deeds are
often recalled by their comrades. and in
the inmost recesses OF many home
circle they yet receive tender thought
But soon all who know them VIII have
gone, too.
The least that should be done is 10
preserve the name and command OK
each soldier that enlisted. y COMMITTEES
cannot do this work alone. TO do IT,,
and do II well. they must have the
sympathetic cooperation Of every vete-
ran in the county. 1t should be done
now. Time has rendered II difficult.
Yet ii can be done. But II done at all.
II must be done without delay. Soon
II will be too late. Justice to himself
and his old comrades, demands that
every veteran should be inspired with a
determination to complete that roll
With this spirit aroused II will be done.
Preserve that roll OF honor.