The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-04-06
ROSTER WORK
IS EXPLAINED
The Chief of War Records
Writes a Letter
He MAKES A SUGGESTION
Steps Should be Taken to Give Mat
ter of Rosters Publicity
Through the Press--ony
Original Rolls Wanted.
He MAKES A SUGGESTION

general of the state of Kentucky, which
is applicable to every state, gives some
additional information concerning the
roster the war department is preparing
of the officers and men of the Union and
Confederate armies.
Brig. Gen. F. C. Ainsworth, under
whose supervision the work is being con-
Quoted, now has a force of one hundred
and fifty men at work. The department
intends completing the Confederate rec
ords before starting on the rolls of the
Union army.
War Department,
Washington, D. c.
Gen. David r. Murray, Adjutant General
state of kentucky, Frankfort, Ky.
My Dear General-I am gratifed to
learn from letter from Governor Beck
ham to the secretary of war, dated March
10, that you have been designated to CO.
operate with the department is an eff
fort to make the recently authorized ros-
ter of the officers and men of the Union
and Confederate armies as nearly COM
plete as it is possible to make it, so far
as Kentucky troops are concerned.
A considerable collection of the rolls of
Confederate organizations is now in the
possession of the department While that
collection does not by any means show
all the names of the officers and men who
were in the Confederate service from
kentucky, and while it does not show the
complete military histories of those whose
names it does show, it is hoped that the
list of names and the histories of indvi-
dual officers and men can be made much
more nearly complete by record evidence
obi tafr hi afh faIa aa1 Ia
may now be in the possession of the
state of Kentucky. or of historical So
cieties, memorial association and ndiyi-
duals of Kentucky aad oiber status.
Compilation Restricted.
The Legislation authorizing the compila-
ton of the roster is construed by the de-
partment to restrict 1t, In making the
compila ton, to the use of original records
made during the war period, and to pre-
clude the use of printed or manuscript
copies or compilations made subsequently.
For this reason. and In order that there
shall be no ground for doubt as to the
accuracy of the proposed roster, the de-
partment will be unable to use In the
compila ton any of the rosters that have
heretofore been published, but must in
all cases seek the original records upon
which these rosters were based.
the compilation now in progress shall be
as nearly complete as it Is possible to
make 1t, 1t Is essential that the war
department shall obtain the temporary
loan, for the purpose of copying any
official original rolls lists or other docu-
ments that show the names Of Confederate
officers and men, and that are now In the
custody of the state officials historical
or memorial associations, public or private
libraries that in the nOggpSsiOn of
private citizens.
1t is impracticable for the department
to communicate with the holders of these
. scattered records. and consequently the
department must rely upon each state to
collect, by loan or otherwise. such re-
cords of its own or other Confederate or
CARNATIONS as may be obtainable with
in the state. and to forward the eollec
tion when completed to this department,
by which the records will be copied and
returned to the state with the least pos
sble delay. OF course, the express
charges incident to shipping records to
and from the state will be betrayed by the
department.
Publicity.
Permit me to suggest, If the plan here
in outlined meets with your approval,
that you take such steps, through the
public press and otherwise, as you may
uetiH TO De duNtHdDic anu " biFN
the plan wide publicity, and to enable
you to gather together all original Con-
federate records that can be collected in
your state. by loan or otherwise.
IL it occurs to you that a different plan
from that herein indicated should be
adopted, or If during the progress of the
work you can make any suggestion tend
ing to facilitate or improve 1t, you will
confer a favor upon the department and
my nv advising freely and fuliW
with regard to your views.
| regret that because of i'll health and
the pressure of business in my office,
was unable to visit Frankfort last year
for a personal conference with you as
/ had arranged to do However l hope to
be able to see you in the near future
and to discuss with you the details Of
the projected work more fully than 1t is
practicable to do in writing. Very respect
fully,
F. c. AINSN ORTIZ,
Brigadier General, u s. A..
Chief of Record and Pensi Office.