The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-24
The Official Con fed derate'R Rolls.
Greenville Mountaineer.

The instructions issued from the war de-
partment In regard ~ the completion OF the
Confederate rolls Is quite Disappointing. 1t
was hoped that the act OF Congress would ell.
aple the department 10 compile from the
records obtainable complete roster OF the
officers and men who served In the Confed.
crate armies, but the restrictions paced
around the proposed work will greatly les
sen the interest felt 10 the matter when the
act was passed by Congress. Gen. q. Q. Aims
worth Is In charge OF the details Of the work,
and in u letter TO Col. r. NJ. TribbIe. OF An
derson, he uses the following language:
THE legislation authorizing the cOmpila
ton OF the roster is construed by the depart
Inent to restrict II, In making the compila'
lion, to the use OF original records made dur.
ing the war period, and to preclude the use OF
printed or manuscript copies or compilations
made subsequently,. For this reason, and IN
order that there shall be no ground Tor doubt
as 10 the accuracy OF the proposed roster the
department will be unable to use In the com.
pialion any OF the rosters that have hereto.
lore been published. but must In all cases
seek the original records upon which those
rosters were based.
This construction OF the law Will virtually
defeat the object in view. The Confederate
records were taken to Washington after the
surrendered Richmond. and IL was thought
that these contained The comp ete rosters Of
the Confederate troops, or at least that they
might Ue perfected by comparison With
printed or manuscript rolls maue subsequent
to the war between the States TO exclude
the mirlIary history OF every man In given
command will most assuredly ignore the
very highest evidence that can now be pro.
duced. During long series of years In South
Carollna etturts were made TO gather this III
formation, and much valuable work was
done first and last which Is refused recogni.
ton by the war department In this compilA-
tiOn.
For instance, we happen to know that Co
Z. Palmetto Sharp Shooters, has complete
printed roll on file In Columbia that could
unl be improved upon II all the original rolls
were accessible. Three Off cersand other mem
bers worked diligently during the year 1855 tO
perfect the military history OF every man who
belonged To The company from April IA, 1861,
to April Q, 1865, and with the aid o. pay rolls
and ORDERLY Sergeants records the name and
service of every man Is correctly given. Only
one oi these officers Is now alive, but the
facts were put IN proper shape by him, aud
he Is prepared t. testify that the roll OF the
company Is absolutely correct, as not a singl
errCr has been pointed out since It's compila-
ton. Every survivor and the family OF every
deceased rnember Was furnished with this
printed roster OF the company, and II there
had been errors of omission or commission
they would have come TO light before now.
yet this roll ALL not be accepted by the war
department.
The original rolls and records In the pos.
session oi private indi vidualk have been scat
copies here and there found lodgment in
desks and bureaus and when the origin
owner was called hence the chances are that
the value Of such documents fell In the eyes
OF Others. 1t Is fair TO presume that the large
majority Of muster rolls held by officers and
men cannot now be produced. although
many OF Them are yet In existence, ana the
effort 10 obtain them will not meet with any
great success. |, Is to be regretted that the
war department cannot see It's way clear 10
use authentic information outside of the
original records, but the act OF Congress
ought 10 be amended IN this particular, 80
that the rolls already in possession OF the
State can be utilized by the department. Tue
publication of rosters only from original
sources Will exclude large number OF sol.
diers from the record, when the object aimed
at was TO procure an accurate and full roster
Of each com maud. This order OF the de.
partment will nullify the act OF Congress,
and delay the consummation OF un ad
mirable purpose.