Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-03-19
ernOrS.

TIC S"~
ceeded in impressing Congress with the
idea that it would be only just and fair to
the South to place on the official lists the
names of the Confederate soldiers, in order
that their descendants may trace their
family histories with accuracy.
The North through separate State pub
LEGATIONS has covered pretty well this
ground for it's own soldiers. But the
Southern records and archives, never very
co,oplete. we're scattered and destroyed
owing to the outcome Of the war, and 1t Is
known that many frauds are practiced on
the benevolent, and many families lack
important links in their histories, because
of the loss of these records.
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
Secretary Root, in calling this matter to
the attention of Congress, said that the
DEPARTMENT was constantly in receipt OF
appeals from State officials, historical
societies and patriotic or memorial associa'
tions for transcript of the military record
of State troops, to answer which would
cost more than million dollars, so that
the most economical way would be to pub
lsh a complete roster.
The publication will be enormous IN
size, including no less than thirty volumes
as large a the Civil War records. The
Northern names will be published with
the Southern, because it is desired to have
all of these data in one compilation, In
stead of being scattered through various
State books. Moreover, it is felt to be
graceful thing to bracket the names OF the
men who wore the blue and the gray
In order to carry out this purpose Sec
retary Root today sent the following letter
TO the Governors of all the States which
furnished troops for the Confederate
armies:
THE sECRETARY's LETTER.
War Department,
Washington, Mach l6, 1908.
The Governor of the State Of:
Sir: There is a very general desire on
the part of the surviving participants oil
the great struggle in which this country
was engaged from 1861 to 1865, ard the
mart of the descendants of those who have
passed away, for a publication that shall
be accessible to the general public and
shall show the names Of those who, either
as officers or enlisted men, bore arms Tor
the Union or for the Confederacy during
the great war. In the opinion that this
desire is one that should be gratihed, and
that can be gratified, in great measure at
least by compiling and publishing, as
continuation of the publication known as
"The Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies," a complete list or
roster of the officers and men who served
in those armies during the Civil War, and
this Department recommended at the
last session of Congress the enactment OF
a law authorizing the compilation and pre-
paration of such q roster for publication
That recommendation was followed by the
enactment of provision of law which Is
embodied in the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation act approved FeOru'
ary %. 1908, and which is as follows:
AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS.
"That under the directio of the See
retary of War the Chief Of the Record
and Pension Office shall compile, from
such official records as are in the possession
of the United States and from such othe
records as may be obtained by loan iron
the various States and other official sour
ces. complete roster of the officers an
enlisted men of the Union and Conftdel
ate armies"
The Department is prepared to enter
once upon the work of making the CON
piation thus authorized, and to push 1t
completion as rapidly as possible. Thel
will be little or no difficulty in making tn
Union part of the roster complete, b'
there will be great difficulty with regar
TO the Confederate records in the posse
sion of this Department 1t is OF thehr
importance, therefore, that no effort shS
be spared to secure the temporary loan
the War Department, for the purpose
copying, of any and all authentic Conie'
crate records that can be found anyWher
MANY of these records are in the possessiC
of the various States, and it is hoped W
be made readily accessible, but there
Others that are widely scattered amor
historical and memorial associations al
private citizens. The problem of how
find and procure the loan of these scatte
ed records is difficult one, but it is Oh
that must be solved in order that the 20
federate soldier shall receive the full cree
that is due him 10 the roster that is to
compiled.
INVITED TO COOPERATE.
| earnestly invite your cooperate WI
the Department in an effort to make II
compilation as nearly complete as 1t
possible to make 1t, and l shall be glad
have the benefit of any suggestions tt
Won can make as 10 the manner in viii
that end can be best attained. The wo
will he in the immediate charge Of Bris
der General f. G. Alnsworth, Chief OF
Record aud Pension Office Of this Depa
meut md beg leave to suggest That
ths plan herein ou lined meets your