Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-30
Collecting Names of Confederate Il
diers


TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The General Assembly OF Virginia, at
its session of lsH-'9S, passed an act, chap
ter 20. entitled "An act having for its
OBJECT the collection, preservation, and
/ lelpetuation OF the names of the soldiers
or virginia who fought in her defence In
the war between the States" The act
was introduced by DR.. Joe Southall, SEN
/ ator from Amelia. in the Senate and
! passed through that body with indomi-
table energy and then taken up in the
/ House by our delegate, Mr.. Mason, and
J passed there. both assisted by the zeal
and energy of Robert G.. Southall, our
| Communicating Attorney.
! This law provides that upon the petition
of three reputable Confederate soldiers
10 any county court In the State that the
muster-roll Of any troop or company
raised In whole or in part in said county
| a copy Of which shall accompany the pc
tition. the said court, after due notice by
publication or otherwise. and the posting
Of copy Of the muster-roll on the court
house door. shall hear the petition and
testimony adduced in support or correc-
ton Of IL, shall correct the roll in accord
ance with the facts shown and order the
corrected roll 20 be recorded among the
records OF said county or city, the costs
TO be paid by the county. The proof must
show that the troop or company was
raised for the defence Of Virginia, and
that such troop or company did actually
serve in one Of the armies Of the Con-
federate States.
At the hearing any citizen has the right
10 be heard pro or con the prayer Of the
petition. and show cause why such roll
shall not be recorded or why any name
on IT shall be stricken Off
The clerk shah prepare a book to be
called and marked Muster Rolls Of ----
County or City"
Acting under this law, Edward Coleman,
Esq, the County Clerk, has prepared a
record book. A very complete muster-roll
Of the Amelia Troop, Captain Charles r.
Irving, has been made and ordered to be
recorded, and the roll of the gainesville
Rifles, Company a, Fourteenth Virginia,
and Of three other infantry companies
Scotts Shop Company, Jetersville Com
pany, and the Minute Men-are being col
lected with infinite pains and industry.
The rural Virginian is always slow but
he never tires in doing right, and the old
soldier has those qualities in an eminent
degree. But we have nearly a perfect
muster-roll Of the Amelia Troop, and will
in time get those of the infantry company.
1t is estimated that Amelia furnished
first and last 1900 men to defend Virginia,
and we will preserve their names, at
least TO the last syllable Of recorded time.
The object Of this long story is to direct
the attention of the camps and Daughters
Of the COnfederacy in the Commonwealth
to this law and show how it will operate.
II they will take charge of il in their re-
spective localities, in a few years we will
get a perfect record of Virginia soldiers
in our county courts. They will be SAFE
and will be there to stay. This much ac-
complshed, there will be 10 difficulty in
having them all Transcribed and printed
by the state. North Carolina has long
had full record Of her troops, and South !
Carolina, think, has also.
Such a record is more important 20
posterity than partisan histories. which |
belle our motives and misrepresent our |
acts, BRADLEY T. JOHNSON.
The Woodlands, Amelia Courthouse,
Va, october %, 1898.