Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-14
ORR MISTER ROLLS,

An act passed at the last session OF our
General Assembly requires the commits
sjoners of the revenue, upon receipt of the
proper blanks from the Auditor, to ascer-
tain and take down the names Of TIE
soldiers and sailors which Virginia lur-
nished the Confederate army and navy
These lists, when thus completed, are TO
be filed in the clerks offices OF the
county and corporation courts Tor pre-
servation and inspection. Another
statute. with the same commendable op-
1ect in view. was also passed. This pro-
vides that upon the petition of three repu-
table Confederate soldiers the muster
rolls of any troop of cavalry or company
of artillery or infantry organized or en-
listed in whole or part in any county OF
city during the civil war may be recorded
in the Clerks office of that city or county
Careful provision is made for the revision
and correction of these lists.
This legislation originated, we believe
with General Bradley r. Johnson Al
any rate. we know that he has taken
great interest in. and has been mstru-
mental in. directing public attention to II.
In default of securing a copy Of such
Of the official rolls as are in existence.
this was the best thing that could be
done. But, unaVoidably, thousands OF
names will be left off by the Commission
ers of the Revenue, nor will the other law
eliminate inaccuracies Many families
have died out, or moved from the state
and there is no one to give the commits
sioners the names of those of their MEM
bers who fought under the Stars and
Bars. And where persons endeayor TO
detail the army services of others, they
are exceedingly liable TO make mistakes.
Indeed, so very treacherous is human
memory. that officers of high rank, who
held temporary rank of higher grade
have been known 10 claim the latter rank
as their own; that, too, despite the fac'
that the paroles they signed afford evil
dence of the true rank they held.
Our remarks are cautionary merely
and are not intended to discourage the
good work now going on. So far from
that. the Dispatch has time and again
called attention TO the laws in question
and urged that they be carried out faith
fully. Next TO securing the official rolls,
Il IS the best thing that can be done 10
preserve TO posterity the names of .hose
gallant men who, in the bloom OF their
youth. offered up their lives a willing
sacrifice for Virginia and the South. Bet
ter by far that we should have an imper'
feet roster of Virginia troops than none
at all; but Il is a shame Virginia mas
not gotten copies of the hundreds OF
original muster rolls now on file in the
War Records office at Washngton-rolls
captured with the papers OF the Contede-
rate War Department. Once we could
have gotten copies OF these rolls at a
cost of about s. 900; now such copies would
cost us about $4,000.
The truth is that the present rule OF
the War Department is prohibitiye. II
may be that at this juncture, when oui
northern friends are well pleased with
the conduct Of the South in the war with
Spain. Congress would remove the de-
partments monstrous restriction. That
restriction prevents Virginia from sending
her own clerks TO Washington to copy
rolls that are rotting in the cellars anc
garrets Of the War Department.
We would not be understood as saying
that the rule in question was made &c
shut out" Virginia. No; It was not
II was designed 70 checkmate pension at
torreys. who. having gained access &c
United States rolls. sometimes altered OF
defeced them But there was lack OF
forethought in applying the rule 10 Con
federate rolls. No pension agent wished
2 20 see theml But now whatever copies
OF rolls are made. must be made by thu
high-priced employees OF the War Depart
ment.
II is estimated that their charge woult
-A>s's t@sISa. sshiis wa bsvs good rea