The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-17
A Complete Roster is to be
Published.
SECRETARY ROOFS PLAN
Gallant Foemeh's Names viii be Gathered Into
Thirty or More Large Volumes 10 be
Published by the War De-
pariment.
(Bv the Associated Press.l

Washington, ID, c., March 16.-By di-
rection of Secretary Root the War De-
rartment embarked on the extensive
work of compiling and publishing a com
plete roster of the officers and enlisted
men of the Union and Confederate ar
mics. This is the Secretary's own pro-
ject and he succeeded in impressing Con-
gress 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 his
tories with accuracy. The North through
separate State publications has covered
pretty well this ground for its own sol
diers, but the Southern records and
archives, never very complete, we're seat
tered and destroyed owing to the outcome
of the war and it 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. 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 me-
mortal associations for transcripts of
the military records of State troops, to
answer which would cost more than
million dollars, so that the most econom-
ical way would be to publish complete
roster.
The publicatio will be of enormous size
including no less than 80 volumes as large
as the Civil War records. The North
ern 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
rotary Root today sent the following let
ter to the Governors of all States who
furnished troops for the Confederate
armies:
"W1ar Department.,
washington, March Is, 1903.
'The Governor of the State of -
"Sir:-There is very general de-
sire on the part of the surviving partici-
pants of the great struggle in which the
country was engaged from 1851 to 1865.
and on the part of descendants OF those
who have passed away, for 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 for the Union or for the Con-
federacy during the great war. In the
opinion that this desire is one that
shol,ld be gratified, and that it be graft
fed in the measure least expensive by
= a
of the publication known as the 'Ofhclal
Records of the Union and Confederate
Armies a complete list or roster OF the
officers and men who served IN theoe
armies during the Civil War, this de-
nartment recommended at the last seS-.
sion of Congress the enactment OF law
authorizing the compilation and prepara-
finn of such a roster for pubucatloh'
THAT recommendation was followed py
tho enactment of provision OF law
ubicb is embodied in the legislative eN-
ecutiye and judicial appropriation act
anrroved February 25, 1908, and was aS
follows: co
Tbat upder the direction of the Secre-
tarv os War the chief of record anu
pension Office shall compile, from Sucn
official records as are in the posseS'ioi'
Of tho limited States, and from such oth'f
records as may be obtained by loan rom
tho various States and other onlcldl
so,rrcos a complete roster of the ottlceiS
ard enlisted men of the Union and Con
federate armies. .on
The department is preparing to en'er
at once upon the work or making 'n'
conniIation thus authorized and to push
il to completion as rapidly as pos
sible There will be little or no am
Guilty in making the Union part OF me
roster complete but there will be great
difficulty with regard TO the Confedera'e
part, because of the incomplete news OF
the collection of the Confederate RECORDS
n the possession of this department. IL
ia of the first Importance, therefore, that
no effort shall be spared to secure the
temporary loan to the War Department
of the copying any and all authentic Con
federate records that can be found any
where. Many of these records are in the
possession of the various States. and IL
is hoped will be made readily accessible,
but there are others that are widely
scattered among historical and memorial
associations and private citizens. Tho
problem of how to find and how to procure
the loan of these scattered records is q
difficult one. but it is one that must
be solved in order that the Confederate
soldier shall receive the full credit that
is due him in the roster that is to be
compiled
II earnestly invite your cooperation
with the department in an effort to make
this compilation as nearly complete as
t is possible to make it, and l shall be
glad to have the benefit of any sugges-