The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-09-18
Administrations

pea 1TOlll tIldIlco IL pIlltlI, 1oiiS tli-
denred to q multitude of readers as
Bill Arp, for legislation by Georgia $
lawmakers designed to properly pre-
serve and perpetuate the States Con-
federate records. 1t is a melancholy
reflection that the great State OF
Georgia has done little or nothing
toward collecting and depositing in
a safe place the archives which will
show to pOsterity who answered
their country's call in the dark days
Of the sixties, and where and how
we'll they fought to vindicate prin-
ciples put to the arbitrament of the
sword
Mr.. Smith cites the praiseworthy
course of North Carolina in present
ing to the world the written record
OF her deathless honor, a work ac-
cOmplished through the patriotic in
strumentality OF one of her distin-
guished sons-Chief Justice Walter
Clark, of that State Supreme Court.
We have had the pleasure OF examin-
ING this work in the form of a COM
plete historical record in five superb
volumes of the brilliant part taken
by Tar Heel troops in the Civil War.
4 more noteworthy and disinterested
work of love in behalf of the great
cause that is now q revered memory
has never been performed, and not
North Carolina alone, but the whole
South should delight to honor Judge
Clark for it. We can well believe after
turning those vOluminOuspa that
the task was seven years in its per
Torrance, and yet the volumes are
singularly bright and interesting for
Il work OF this character. The work
should be in the hands OF every Con-
iederatc veteran and iii every public
library in the South.
We heartily endorse the noble rur-
pose which calls this letter from this
hOnored Georgian, and his su2ges-
tions rs to Il plan OF accomplish
ment. Now. let all Gcor9iHns, whether
of the generations that experienced
I'll" shock OF war, or of the genera
ton that has since arisen. take up
the matter and press ii with the en-
thusiasm of which they are capable
Though much too long deferred. it
can be carried to a successful con
summation, and must be- There is
no time to lose. The heroes who
wore the gray are passing, and with
their heeting lives must perish many
traditions of the war that should be
given Il place i'll history. The work
involves infinite pains and labor. but
the end iustities any personal sacri-
fee and any expense. The State
Of Georgia should promptly and
determinedly set about this task, ,.
officially organizing the work
at the next session OF General
Assembly, Mai. Smith says:
Il am not well and may not write
many more letters for your readers,
and therefore write this one to YOU
to enlist your interest and your
hearty cooperation in matter that
is very near my heart and | am sure
would be as near to yours If you
were twentyyear older and had more
time.
II have received the five volumes Of
history compiled and edited by Judge
Walter Clark, now the Chief Justice
of the State of North Carolina. This
is no ordinary work. 1t is on a higher
plane than any have ever seen and
is to the land what Service Afloat'
is on the sea. For seven years of un-
reniitting toll Judge Clark has work
ed on this labor of love without pay
or reward save that which comes
from the accomplishment of sacred
duty neutrality-suspicious.. OF course
|he has had capable and willing CO.
operators who out OF the 254
sketches wrote 10 of them. Judge
Clark wrote all of the Others besides
Il full half volume (tifth) OF graphic
events and comments that concern
all the Southern States as much as
North Carolina and which includes
the first published history of North
Carolina navy-the Albemarle and
Shenandoah and Florida and some
other smaller cruisers and blockade
runners 1t is worthy OF mention
just here that Commander Waddell.
of the Shenandoah, was the last man
to keep the Confederate flag at the
masthead, for his vessel was in the
mid-Pacitic Ocean and he did not
know OF the fall OF the COnfederacv
until the 18th of August, 1865. and
had sea fight with the enemy on
June 18th. The volumes are beauti-
fully bound in gray and gold. The
paper and the printing is of the best
quality and their pages embellished
with over 900 portraits and battle
scenes. These portraits are. ofcOurse,
reproduction, eight to page, OF
the old time photographs that the
mothers of the dead and living boys
furnished to the engravers. These
engravings were reproduced by that
patriotic Southerner. Major Patton,
president of the University Publish
ing Company. New York, without
cost. The volumes are quite large.
containing 800 pages each. Judge
Clark selected the best men to
write the sketches of their reci
mentS.
What Il guaranty of truth and
culture when We see in this list of
contributors such eminent and patri-
Otto names as Gen. d. H. Hill. Gen.
Clingman, Governor Vance and his
brother Robert. Gen. Toon, Col. De
Rossett. Major Graham. Major
Moore, (who compiled the roster
twenty years a@ol. DR.. Moses Hoge.
OF Richmond; and captains and lieu
tenants by the score. And there are
ministers and privates mingled in
whose work is we'll and ably done