The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-07-18
how many SOLDIERS HAD THE ConPBDDRACY?
Impossible to Tell How Many Soldiers the
South Iad--Moderate Estimate 65OOOO
M Y. Moore il, Ney Orleans Times Democrat

How many men were there in the
Confederate armies? This appears to
be one Of the problems of history
which will never have an entirely sat-
isfactory solution. There are widely
diverse opinions touching the facts.
And it is matter Of lament that all
the official material necessary to re-
move the obstacles of doubt has long
since passed into the abyss of obliv-
ion. In the final collapse of the Con-
federacy, the essential data-the cor
rect rosters revealing its true military
power from beginning to end-were
either purposely or accidentally de-
s,roycd. In the Confederate archives
falling into the hands of the victors,
we have only the fragmentary remains
Of the army rolls--the imperfect ma
terials now ir the bureaus at Wash
ington.
These fragmentary records are Sc
s. .ely tantalizing and Disappointing.
Tie eye Of an expert at once detects
in them great gaps, which 30-odd
years Of effort have failed to fill in
properly. The Federal authorities, in
attempting to recover the missing
data, placed the vast mass Of matter
in it's possession in the hands Of
distinguished Confederate officer,
Gen. Marcus J. Wright, in the hope
that in his sympathy with the work
the tangled slein Of the history there
could be eventually thoroughly
straightened out, and the clear facts
given to the world.
But the missing records have never
been discovered; and the labors of
Gen. Wright. though long and hope
full, have never resulted in ultimate
success.
1t has been observed that in all
their utterances in connection with
the military strength Of the Confed-
eracy the members 4f its immediate
civil government have given expression
to simply vague generalities. Not a
word or line has come from any of
the survivors that savors from positive
knowledge, with possibly single ex-
ceptiou. In my personal correspon-
dencc with Mr.. Davis, the ex-presi-
dent, | endeavored to obtain from
him an expression as to definite facts.
In one Of the very last letters ho aver
wrote with his own hand he informed
me that he could not speak from mere
memory, and that all Of the official
papers he had bearing on the subject
had been flched from him. It will
be remembered that Mr.. Stephens, the
ex-vice. president, in his history. says
that the Confederacy raised for its
defense "only about 100000 men,"
This statement Of Mr.. Stephens has
long been ignored even by Georgians
and other Southern writer's who have
essayed the task of writing the naked
truth about the Confederacy. And
yet [ have never been able to under
stand why the vice presidents utter
ances should not have been credited
with their fullest value. Mr.. Ste
phens was man careful in all his
statements; and he seldom uttered an
expression pertaining to any history
until after he had taken time and
trouble to inform himself as to the
truth Of his remarks. In recent
letter to me, the Hon. John Fl. Rea-
gin, the sole survivor Of the Confed-
crate cabinet, writes that in accord
ance with his recollection the strength
Of the Confederate armies was ssabout
100000" alltold. Only few months
ago | made another inquiry Of. Gen.
Wright, in charge Of the Confederate
archives in Washington, in hope Of
obtaining the latest revised reports
from that source. He writes inreply
that the records are still incomplete,
but that from the evidence obtains-
Ole it does not appear that the total
enlistments in the Confederate armies,
from beginning to end, will exceed
100000 all told.
There remained to me one more
hope. In the efforts 20 secure the
very full ,st facts from nnquestionable
sources, 1 addressed typewritten cir
calar letters to the governors Of oil
the different Southern States that had
contributed to the military forces Of
the Confederaoy. I asked that 1 be
furnished, through the Official bureaus
Of the respective States, With the in
formation at hand respecting the
.n&SSSI u troops contributed BY The
States to the Confederate armies. RI
not single instance have the replie,
received been definite aud satisfac@