Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-12-09
THE CONFEDERATE ROSTER.

The compilation of the ''ROster OF
the officers and enlisted men of the
Union and Confederate armies, ,"provid-
ed for by act of Congress, is now in
progress, and work will soon be begun
on the Virginia rolls.
The act of our General Assembly. of
March 7th, 1904, directs that the Secre-
tary of Virginia Military Records
shall, by every proper means at his COM
mand, seek to obtain the muster rolls
and records ''of the several companies 8,
battalions. regiments and other mill
tary organizations from Virginia in the
armies (or other military. marine or
navy service of the Confederate States.
and the names of all Virginians of
whatever rank" in said service.
Many valuable rolls and records have
been secured. but, it is known, there
ase many others in the hands of per-
sons who have not been reached, or
who are reluctant to part with them.
Many are held as souvenirs, and many
have fallen into the hands of specu-
lators. Those latter are the property
either of the United States. or the
State of Virginia, and are held with
out legal right.
1t was not thought by the Congress
or our legislature that these muster
rolls would ever become merchandise
aud no provision was made be either
for their purchase. On the contrary,
it was confidently believed that all Vir-
ginians. glOrying in the States incOm-
parable record, would eagerly embrace
the opportunity to rescue from oblivion
the names of her sons, whose heroism
contributed so largely to it's achieve
ment, and specially that all officers
who were honored with commands
would be as solicitous for the endur.
ing fame of their men as they were
proud of their bearing in battle. The
results, so far, have fallen short of ex
pectation, but there is still time if all
interested will bpstir themselves.
AS it will be impossible to make our
roster complete if any rolls are with
held for any reason whatever, l again
urgently appeal to my comrades
throughout Virginia and West Virgil
MIA, to the Sons and Daughters of the
COnfederacy, In their individual and
organized capacity, and to the newspa-
pers of both States to come now active
ly to my aid in order thrt this noble
work may not fail. If not done now it
will never be done. To my comrades
still living, l say that no one is war.
ranted. from mercenary or other mo-
tives. in depriving a. soldier of his
place upon this roster; that you have
a right to demand that your names be
placed there, and, furthermore, that
it is a duty we owe to our valiant dead
to see that they are not robbed of the
fame they have won with their blood.
The State asks only the loan of these
muster-rolls, and, it is hoped, she will
not be forced to assert her right to
them. Under the ruling of the War
Department ''only cOntempOraneous
official re.records of the war period
will be accepted as basis for the ros-
ter Copies of rolls will not answer.
The originals are required. AS they
are perishable and likely to be lost.
they should be sent to me at once, that
they may be copied at the War Depart
ment, and thus saved from the chances
of destruction. Their value will be
enhanced rather than impaired by the
authorization of the official roster.
Special care will be taken of them and
the faith of the State, and the United
States alike is pledged for their return
to the lenders, if desired.
Packages of papers, too large to be
sent by mail, may be sent by express
at the expense of this office.
r. W. HUNTER,
Secretary of Virginia Military Re-
cords, Richmond. Va.