The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-12
Leadsall North Daiiesin NewsandC Circulation.

regiment and organization from NoFtn
Carolina which served in the Confederate
Army" to be edited by Judge Walter
Clark (Lieut. Colonel SEVENTEEN North
Carolina Troops) and printed at the ex-
peBse of the State.
Also the difficulties that were met with
in the preparation of the work are re-
counted, for already the editor in his re-
face goes on to say at that date
1S94), nearly thirty years had passed
since the close of hostilities and the
steady advance of the years had driven
gaps in our ranks wider than those made
by the leaden hail of battle. Suitable men
for the work were difficult to find for
many of the regiments, and when found
they often pleaded the press of business,
loss of memory and increasing infirmi-
ties. But by persistent effort competent
historians we're secured for each regiment,
except the Seventy-third and Seventy
fourth (which being Senior Reserves, over
fifty years of age during the war, had
scarcely survivor left), and some of
the battalions. AS to the Senior Re-
serves, the only resource was to utilize
some sketches heretofore written =
THE requirement that the history of
each command should be written by a
member thereof was to insure authenti-
city. But, as by reason of wounds or otEer
Temporary absence, few men were every
day of the four years present with their
commands and the lapse of time might
cause errors of memory, the several his
torians were requested to refresh their
memories by conversation and CORE
spondence with their surviving comrades,
and they also had access to the pu5lica-
tion by the Government of the invaluable
series of Official Records of the Union
and Confederate Armies" In addition,
the sketch of each regiment as sent in
was published in the newspaper of largest
circulation in the section in which the
regiment was principally raised, and sur
vivors were requested to note errors and
omissions and communicate them to the
writer of the regimental history.
This was a heavy tax upon the col
umns of the press, but with the patriotism
which has always characterized The eGi-
tors of North Carolina this service was
cheerfully rendered and without any
charge or compensation whatever. The
Confederate Veterans Of North CAROLINA
are greatly indebted for this great SCI
vice in rendering our histories more full
and accurate to the Raleigh News and
Observer and Morning Post, the Whining
ton Messenger and Star, the Charlotte
Observer, the Fayetteville Observer, the
Newborn Journal the Ashevilla Citizen,
the Waynesville Courier, and perhaps
others. - ~ rs
1.-THE work of the several historians
and of the editor has of course been one
of love and without peeuniary cempensa-
ton, We would that our labors could
have been worthier of the subject and of
our noble comrades living and dead, The
State assumed the cost OF publication and
| the work is it's property as the deeds it
commentaries, are the noblest inheritance
of it's, people and their sure gauge OF
fame. 80 - ~ as ars,.EAs aan
IL North Carolina has grandly known
how to make history. She has till now
always left it to others to write It.
Hence she has never had full Justice done
the memory of her sons. With these vol
umes the reproach is taken away. Here
in the historian will find authentic relia-
BILE material compiled by the gallant
men who saw the deeds they narrate.
From these volumes some yet unborn
Thucydides or Macauley Of the future
may draw some of his material for that
history which shall transmit to all time
the story of this most memorable strug-
gle, and the historians in these pages
shall have thus contributed their share
in perpetuating the fame of their State
and of their comrades to the most distant
times