Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-05
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3, 1899.
VIRGINIA CoNFEDERATEs.

The efforts OF Congressman Hay anu
Lamb 10 obtain permission for Virginia
70 CODY those OF her rolls which are ho"
Among the Confederate archives in Wash-
,ngton have not been fruitless.
II Is true the desired leave has not been
secured. but we have the promise OF the
war Records Office that all OF the roiis
~ the southern army shall be copied we
sunpose il is purposod to make them
mart OF the rebellion Record of when
scores OF volumes have been puDlsheu'
Moreover. we have heard that 1t is the
intention of Colonel Ainsworth, the CHIEF
Of that bureau, 10 begin the copying OF
the Virginia rolls at an early day.
That the work will be done well we
have no doubt. Colonel Ainsworth mas
had tho ssgacity TO enroll among ms
corps Of assistants General Marcus j.
Wright General Lomax, and other trusty
Confederates.
4 compilation of the rolls Of the seve-
,al States that formed the Confederacy
would settle the contention as to the
number Of soldiers furnished by each
provided the rolls are something Ike com
plete whether the Virginia rolls are
complete or not we have no means OF
knowing. They were captured with other
archives Of the Confederacy, and are very
numerous, yet some may be missing.
We remember TO have read at one time
that there were there 100 rolls of Virginia
batteries This fact, however, would not
indicate that We had that number OF bat
teries In the field for the batteries were
usually called after the names Of the cap
tains. Thus Smiths Battery might, by
shange of the captain. become known as
Browns Battery, and later as Jones's
Battery. and later still as Whites Bat
terry and later yet as Blacks Battery
sc. We think. however, 1t will be found,
when the general summing up is made,
that virginia furnished an extraordinary
share of artillery commands. Here in
Richmond. alone. some fourteen or fifteen
light batteries were recruited and sent
forth, 20 say nothing Of heavy artillery
companies.
We think, too. Virglnia's proportion OF
cavalry was very large.
The Dispatch has no means Of knowing
what plan OF publication will be adopted
that is we are uniformed whether the
rolls will be copied and printed just as
they are. or will be codihed first. so Il
speak. In the latter case much printing
would be saved, but great deal Of care
ful clerical work would be necessary
For instance, the government may nav
twenty rolls OF the First Virginia Req
ment OF Infantry-muster, inspection, ant
pay-rons representing different dates
codifled. all of these rolls would be pu
into one roll, with the date of service O
each officer and man, &c. Many STATE
have already had their rosters maze VI
using therefor the information that Is |
be had at Washington and additional in
formation derived from records the
possess. Unluckily. Virginia has few
her rolls left Nearly all she had dis
appeared when our city was surrendere
10 the Federal army. Possibly some
these are In the War Records ONCE
Washington. Certainly, many Of our rol
OF the Confederate War Department al
In Washington.
1t is to be hoped that the best possb
use Of the rolls in existence will be mad
Furthermore, we trust that the work
copying and publication will not be d
layed too long. II would be gratifying
old Confeds to see their names of recoi
along with those of comrades, many
whom have long since answered the la
roll-call.
We believe II was through the insis
ence Of Colonel Ainsworih that the go
eminent resolved TO include In the 'R
bellion Record" the official correspon
ence between the Federals and Confede
ates IN regard TO the exchange Of priso
ers. Now We trust he may succeed in 4
Guiding In that Record copies, or codi
cations. OF ali existing rolls OF Confede
ate troops. so far as the general pub
is concerned. there IS vastly more int
est felt 10 the rolls than In any class
matter that has been published I'm q
Rebellion Record"
yEsTIBuLED sTREET-CARs.