The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-06

had completed the first part-the Colonial
History--and awaited a publisher. All
who love North Carolina must be glad
of this opportunity afforded SO COM
potent a writer to show the North Caro-
lima spirit and be willing to help on
the work of publication, and, trust
sincerely, of reward to the industrious,
faithful, patient, patriotic North Caro-
linian, who has given so much of his
years to this important undertaking.
Before l received his letters 1 had written
more about the history that was needed.
had said that it was indeed necessity
that North Carolina should have spir-
tied, carefully written, able history, in
which our people should be defended
from the senseless, foul aspersioEs which
lad been heaped upon them by unfair,
uEiruthful, ignorant partisan writers,
AID the valor and patriotism of our
forefathers should be exhibited in calm
and dignifed language. The greatness
Was an eye-opener to many, but unfor-
tunately there are men who think it
honorable and truthful to misrepresent
ana pervert history, and to deny the
clearly established glorious valor of our
soldiers. l am sure, as a native North
-
never be given to the world by either
Northern or Virginia writers. Either an
unwillingness to do North Carolina JUS
tice or 9 narrow jealousy and State
pride, or absolute ignorance of facts, or
some other cause equally reprehenslble,
will continue to prevent the writer's out
side from rendering the full need of
praise which belong to our heroic peo-
l. fo,, 1o0
palpable failures, and have grossly slam
dered like Prof Cartoons Lees recent
discreditable so-called history, or have
accorded but a meagre portion of that
credit, which 1 am sure, our gallant dead
ana heroic living achieved by their arms,
l had asked, shall we have then d
history of our own, whether by some
native son who is fully identified with
the cause. lost forever? or shall we leave
the work to other hands, and permit
the laurels so nobly won, and SO stained
by the blood of our best and truest, to
be plucked by alien, unhallowed hands
from the brows of our heroes?" l said,
we have capable men. We have among
us scholars and writer's who are alike
patriotic and able. 1 wrote that North
Carolina had never been prolific in au-
thors, and has done but little for the lit
erature of our country, but still she
has never been so destitute of greatness
that she did not have sons who were
fully able to contest for her rights and
to tell the story of her wrongs and her
worth. She has such sons now among
her children. We think we know two
Or three among the younger men OF prom
ipeEce, as well as some among the older
who could prepare a work which would
take rank with the foremost State his
tories. The theme certainly is worthy
of their pens. What nobler theme would
they have than is furnished in the devo-
ton of our people and the unsurpassed
gallantry of our soldiery in the times
Which tried as in the fire, the character
OF our manhood, and the purity of our
professions?
:, lately referred to the necessity OF
having full. thoroughly prepared vol
ume OF the tremendous war-that we
needed a history covering the new
ground, from the time when the initia-
tory step was taken which led to the late
gigantic struggle, to the close of the
bloody drama, when our hopes perished
under the redtide of disaster which
swept i'll angry and desolating power
over our land. Such history must be
fall, and just, and accurate. II seems
to us that it should not only embrace
a complete record of the events of the
war in which our old State, honored and
loved by us all, bore her part most
grandly, but should contain also graphic
sketches of individual character.
Being profoundly interested in all that
concerned my deeply loved native COM
conwealth-loving her soil, her people,
her deeds, her faiths, her principles, her
glorious record for liberty, 1 wrote as
far back as 1867, urging 1.-THE gathering
of complete register of all our troops,
setting forth when they entered the SER
vice, when discharged, or killed, or dis
abled. Posterity should know who were
the brave men who devoted their lives
to q cause which they fully believed was
the cause OF human right and human lib
erty. The materials for such worn
can be now gathered, but few years
hence, much that is valuable in the prep
aration of such a work, will possibly
have forever perished.'
Thanks to the genius for governing and
the forecast of craftsmanship, our great
War Governor Zebulon B. Vance; set to
work during the dreadful conflict OF
arms to have a complete roster made OF
all our troops. This important work has
been supplemented by the patriotic ar
dor, the invincible energy and devotion
OF Chief Justice Clark, and now North
Carolina has five imposing volumes con-
tanning a history OF every regiment bat
terry and company in the war from our
State. To accomplish this splendid work
lie had to write with mis- own hand 5000
letters, to re-write many of her histories
furnished, and to read every line of the
proof OF the five stout octavos. And all
this was nobly done of his own motion
and volition, without reward pecuniarily.
He is sure to receive from all genuine
Ncrth OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES are some with
the name who are far from desiring the
stamp 'genuine''-the rich return OF
gratitude and praise. Well done, thou
faithful, unfaltering son of North Caro-
lima! By the way, Capt. Ashe and Lieut.
Co. Walter Clark served in the war and
know we'll what that means. Both were
young. Justice Clark was Lieut.. Colonel
by promotion and service before he was
eightcen-I rather think he was not much
beyond seventeen.
7 am rejoiced that Capt. Ashe is work
h t. Tho old soldiers and