West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-12-08
Commonwealth OF Virginia.
Office of the Secretary OF
Virginia Military Records.

Virginia Military Records.
RICHMOND, Va. Nov. II, 1904.
Editor Argus -
The compilation of the "Roster of the
Officers and Enlisted Men of the Union and
Confederate Armies" provided for by Act
OF Congress, is now in progress and work
VIII soon he begun on the Virginia rolls
The Act of our General Assembly of the
7th of March, 1904, directs the Secretary of
Virginia Military Records shall, by every
proper means at his command, seek to oh.
tain the muster rolls and records, cot the
several companies, battalons, regiments aud
other military organizations from Virginia
in tho Armies Tor other m,litary,l marine or
naval service of the Confederate States, and
the names of all virginisns, of whatever
rank, " in said service.
Many valuable rolls aud records have
been secured; but. ii is known, there arc
many others in the hands Of persons who
have no, been reached, OF who are reluctant
to part with them. Many arc held as
souvenirs, and many have fallen into the
hands OF spectators. These latter are the
property either of the United States, or the
State of Virginia, aud are held without legal
tight
II was not thought 10y the Congress or our
Legislature that these muster-rolls would
ever become merchandise, and no provision
was made by either for their purchase. On
the contrary, 1t was confidently believed that
all Virginaus. glorying in the States in.
comparable record, would eagerly embrace
the opportunity to rescue from oblivion the
names of her sons, whose herosm cOntribu.
ted So largely to its achievement, and
specially that all officers who we're honored
with commands would he as solIcitous for
the enduring tame of their men as they were
proud of their bearing in battle. The results
SO far have fallen short of expectation; but
there IS still time, If all interested will be-
stir themselves
As It will be impossible to make our
for any reason whatever, I, again, urgently
appeal to my comrades throughout Virginia
and Yves, Virginia, to the Sons and
Daughters of the Confedercy, in their in
dividual aud organized capacity, and to the
newspapers of both States to come now
actively To my AID IN order that this noble
work may not fail. IL not done now il will
never be done. To my comrades still living
say that no one is warranted, from mercen-
airy or other motives, in depHving a soldier
Of his place upon this Roster that you have
a right to demand that your name 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
mus,er-rolls, and, il is hoped, she will not
be forced TO assert her right to them. Under
the ruling of the War Department ''only
conlemporaneous official records Of the War
period will be accepted asa basis for the
Roster" 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 a. the War Department, and thus
saved from the chances Of destruction.
Their yUIGe will he 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
Stvies alike IS pledged for their return to the
lenders, If desired.
Packages Of papers, too large to be sent
10y mail, may be sent by express at the ex.
pense Of this Office.
MAJOR X. w. HUNTER,
Secretary Of Virginia Military Records.