The Forrest City times., 1904-02-19
The Confederate Roster

"y Dedl SlI--i nave recently seen several clippings concerning the ap- parent loss of the Arkansas Confeder- ate records. That such a condition of neglect and indifference should obtain III reference to valuable state docu. ments IS disgrace in this day of in- telligence. l sorrow with you in your loss, but hope that you may yet be able to find something of value
 Tn this connection permit me 10 suggest that you urge all of your state ofhcials to retrieve the past by care. fully caring for the old records and papers which you may discover Ev- cry official should consider himself committee of one for the purpose of caring for these priceless manuscript treasures.
 me committee appointed by our Atlanta conference to present our me morial to the secretary of war, pray ing relaxation of his rulings in ref erence to the admission of secondary records in the compilation of rosters of the Union and Confederate armies has presented the memorial, but I am
 
 tory result. 1 am sending you here with the clipping from the Montgom- cry Advertiser on the subject. publish cd in that paper at my instance
 You might ask your local and state papers to publish Dr. Dixons report. and urge in connection herewith the importance of survivors and others hunting up all old war records, and forwarding them to you Publicity is the thing to be desired in your case.
 The following is copy of pr. Dix or s letter:
 Atlanta, Ca. Feb. 1. 1901 Hon. A. D. Candler. Chairman Roster
 Commission Ex-Confederate States,
 Atlanta, Ga:
 Dear Goyernor-Gov. Montague and myself visited the war department at Washington, and had an interview with tbe secretary of war relative to the memorial presented to Us. but I am afraid very little good will result from the presentation of the memorial, for the reason that the secretary of war seems to De opposed to the intro duction of any matter other than the original records. His statement was that he would much rather have ros- ter that was perfect. so far as it went, than to have more complete one with the probability that it might contain names not entitled to be placed upon it. He said if the South were allowed to use data furnished -;p h., | clamor for the same privilege He had information that thousands were waiting for an opportunity to be placed on the roster, in order that they might be in line for pensions He is exceed ingly anxious, however. and so is Gen, Ainesworth, that all original records should be forwarded to them, and Gen. Ainesworth seems 10 think that he las nearly all the records that are necessary from the various states to make war record of the soldiers al most perfect Tn his statement to me he said he had all the muster rolls of the different Southern States up to February. 1865. In addition to that he has all the prison records, together
 
 bining all these. he thinks he will be able to make an almost perfect roster of the Southern troops. However this may be. We did not get any assurance from him, or from the secretary of war, that our memorial would pass The secretary of war did make this concession: l asked him if he would agree after the roster was completed as far as possible from original sources, | to add the records which the different Southern States might accept as cor rect as an addendum to the original roster. lie said he would take that matter into consideration and advise us Very respectfully,
 "B F Nixon Auditor" Major Nowln states that from all the information obtainatJe from all sources. not more than one-third of the Arkansas troops are mentioned in the records in the war department
 McNapiaI Cats TMentv-One, Wears