The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1898-10-28

procure corrected rolls, together With
the casualties, etc., among the troops
during the war.
When the matter was first agitated
at the meeting Of the State division
Of the U. G. veterans, in Columbia,
in November, 1895, it was supposed
that when the types were set up that
as many as one. hundred copies OF
each company ro1l Cor at least enough
to supply ell demsnds would be
printed and distributed here and
there among the survivors and the
families Of the dead, with request
that any and all corrections and
casualties be noted therein in the
places left plank for that purpose.
1 now understand that only ten copies
Of each roll were printed, and those
sent out in many instances to those
who felt but little If any interest, and
as consequence never reached the
men who would have seen to it that
they were corrected and sent back.
For my part l have never yet seen u
copy Of my own company roll, al
though have frequently written for
it. The reply was always, "None on
Eand, all sent out" Scores Of survi-
vors have applied to me for rolls OF
their respective companies, and when
referred to headquarters they in
variably received the same reply that
l had. So the whole matter has been
strangled to death and will no doubt
prove a failure so far as the account
ing for many OF the men is concerned.
We don't know whose fault this is;
and are placing it at the door Of no
| one in particular, only those whom
the shoe fits may put it on, and wear
it. When we consider the fact that
when the types were set up to print
ten rolls, ninety additional rolls could
have been printed at nominal cost,
and been Of such inestimable value to
the work. Thus we consider that the
whole thing has been badly managed.
Col. j. p. Thomas, our efficient
State historian, is calling for the cor
rccted rolls of some Of the missing
companies. These he may or may
never get, and thus the men who
made up these commands will never
be heard of in the history. In the
meeting in Charleston in November,
1895, the writer offered the resolution
that led to the publication of these
rolls, and it specially provided that
when the said rolls were printed the
distribution Of them would be left to
the various U. G. Veteran camps
throughout the State. II this part
Of the resolution was ever carried out
we haven't heard Of it.
Col. Thomas is doing all he can to
carry out his work, but he is hand
icapped with a train Of unfavorable
circumstances that he can never SUI
mount, fear. If the work, WI el
finished, fails to account for and do
justice to the private soldiers who
loved the brunt of the battle just as
fully as it does the officers who COM
manded them, then it is a failure.
We started out with that view, and
are working to the accomplishment
OF that end. The work has been de-
layed for years from different causes,
and great losses are yearly being sus-
tained by the old veterans dropping
out Of ranks or being incapacitated
from contributing to the work.
Should the legislature see proper to
publish an incomplete history it will
fail to discharge solemn duty TO
the State unless it further provides
for continuance of the work until
every one fits sexconfedcrate soldiers
is accounted for. There are hundreds
and thousands Of pages Of manuscript
resting in the libraries Of our State
waiting to be put into book form.
But, first Of all, we say let the men
who did the fighting get the honors.
That we had many men in the ranks
who were superior to their officers in
soldierly merit, none will attempt to
deny. Any history or other pubica-
tion that doesn't point out these first
fails in its calling and usefulness.
never relax its efforts until 1T has