The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-26

Major Neathery gave me the original
document"
Now If Major Neathery's figures are
correct. then what? He gives $4,000
troops only, save one. II that be cor
rect then there has been a vast deal
of ignorance and Dragging. and the
grand old state did no better than other
states in proportion to population.
But are Mr.. Neathery's figures correct?
Did North Carolina fall $1,000 behind
the supposed correct number OF troops
We respectfully submit this.
Governor Vance caused to be prepar-
ed a Roster of the North Carolina
troops while the war was progressing
Major James. H. Foote. still living, mad
much to do with the work. as we have
long understood. What will he say to
that $4,000 limit?
Their Governor Vance. the greatest
OF var governors by odds. in a speech
delivered at the White Sulphur Springs
before the Confederate Veterans,
many years after the war, stat
ed that North Carolina furnished 1885,
600 soldiers in the war Such is u
recollection. If he was so very ignor-
ant as to claim $4,000 more soldiers
than were really furnished. then it was
the duty of Major Neathery TO have
informed him of the facts and supplied
him with the precise figures. Governor
Vance was a most honorable and truth
full man and would not lie for glory
or to play the part of braggart. Was
he in error?
We have never examined the Roster,
have eve seen a copy even. We heard
long ago that it contained over $4,000
names. We heard farther that many
names were repeated twice and some
supposed that 5000 or 5000 errors had
occurred, and we have generally placed
the number of troops at 126, 900, max
ing allowance for errors. How many
does the Roster show?
Does the history of the regiments re-
Gently written under the highly patri-
otto editorship of Mr.. Justice Walter
Clark Che not charging a cent for it
n his great undertaking in complet-
ing the editing of the colossal Colonial
Record), authorize the statement that
North Carolina did not furnish the
troops claimed heretofore but only S0,-
COO? We shall not believe it until far
Their evidence is forthcoming than Mr..
Neathery's figures.
In 1860. according to THE Confed-
crate Handbook prepared by the late
Colonel Robert c.. Wood. of the cavalry
c. S. A, and published last year in
New Orleans. the military popula-
ton of North Carolina was lis, 1863. 1t
never voted, we think. more than 112,-
500, in the Governors election in 1860.
North Carolina furnished. 1t gives the
following losses for this state:
Killed in battle. ca officers; 3,S45
men-total 1852.
Died of wounds. officers 33G; men f.
061-total, 90 02. Total loss 40, 1865.
Died of disease, officers Sal, men 90,
O61-total, 2O,6O2. Total loss 1885.
The War Records" published by the
United States Government gives, the
total loss at a little over Al, 900.
Now would it not be the most re,
markable event in the wars of a thou
sand years if North Carolina lost over
Al, 1000 men out of a total of SOL 600. Thu
great loss sustained proves conclusive.
ly that she must have, had 12O, 900 OIL
more. If that numbe she lost over
one-third-a far greater loss than AM
other state sustained. Virginia's tota
is 1874. a the War Records" Of
the Federal Government as we'll as
the statement of the Confederate Hand.
Book be so far out of the way. If with
but 10000 men in service during the
four years, 1000 persisted in war, ther
her record for fighting and mortality
is the most marvellous among the ma.
tons. North Carolina has not desired
anything but justice and truth.