The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-18


Owl, records. 1t Is only through this agcn-
cy that we can over hope to see saved sure
from oblivion tic ntltnes and numbers OF
the valiant host VIC sent forth to battle.
No State Is so much iii need of It's self
help as Virginia now. The rolls IN pos
session of the United States are incom-
splctc. The War Department, through the
Secretary of War and through. the keep
or or the records. who is now. iiiicialS
knowii as the 'MilltnrN Sccrctnry, and
has tic rank OF /, Major General in the
army, has called upon us TO assist IN sup
plying these deficiencies. III short the
United states provides the means and Of
fci.s to defend and print our Confederate
history. and calls upon us to defend our
selves BY helping 1t to do It,: We should
spring to our feet to do IT, wlthsa right
royal rebel yell. and sho,id mot let the
yell be for ourselves alone; we should
put an upper story OH it and add three
times three andaa tiger for Uncle SAM
in his present aniable mood toward ms
8old-timc So-callcd rebel" friends
5CO-oPER.NrION OF THE GENERAL.
ASSEMBLY, or VIRGINIA..
rho History Committee or this camp
has the pleasure to report that diligcnt
steps have already been taken in this con-
incc,ion Last winter when our General
Assembly was lin session the chairman
drew n, bill. which was much improved by
some amendments suggested BY thcsc com
fn;Lnder OF this camp, and tho bill is now
AZ law. f5E Is& y
TIE SECRETARY, OF MILITARY RE.
CORDS.
+ This law provides for the appointment
OF q Secretary Of Military Records
and made it his duty "by advertisement,
visitation, correspondence. search nnd
every other proper means to obtain. " " all
ilSfsr
showing tho officers and enlisted nlcn3Ot@
tho several companies, battalions, reEi-
rncnls and other military organizations
from Virginia IN the armies, Or other;
military or naval source of the Confedel'-
ate States, whether regulars, volunteers,
militia or reserves.
Il Sucll records may be received by the
secretary, either as u gift to the State
or as loan. and when n record Is loancd
IL will be forwarded to tho military Secros
t:ry Of the United States. Major General
r. O. 4tinsworth, at Washington, by our
/. Secretary OF Records and will be there.
copied and returned to its owner II he SO
desires.
Major Robert w Hunter was duly apr
pointed secretary to this office, and is
now cngage in his duties.
a Whic& there were, many who could nave
worthily filled the place, no better selec-
ton could have been made. l .
z. I will not anticipate his own report OF
what he has done, which I hope he will
give us before thes services are over.
But have thus detailed the general pan
of what is right TO be acknowledged, and
4 impress upon YOU, my comrades, the,
high and potent Importance Of assisting
him in his work nd#that now Is the
time to do 1t.
ALL EXISTING ROLLS NOW CALLED
Come forward now, ana r. any Of YOU
know OF IA muster roll. Of Confederate.
troops in the hands or any soldier or
citizen, or If perchancc YOU have one.
Yourself Of your company, battalion or
regiment see that 1t is brought forth and
delivered to Major Robert w. Hunter.
Our thanks should be extended to the
General Assembly Of Virginia for the
passage OF The act which l have cited.
Colonel Upton D. Jennings. OF this city,
luuartermi.stcr general, ana Honorable
Blackburn Smith, of Clark county, merit
special mention. The second Srlclonsly
Yielded to our measure right 4of way,
In perforna nee to4:l bill of his own. which
provided for q Departmental archives ana
history al Richmond for the collection
and preservation. OF. records I'tna ING
stimulation OF historical work and also
for the diffusion OF knowledge as to our
resources.
MORE THAN NAMES PRESERVEl2 IN
MUSTER ROLLS.
There Is more than the preservation
of the. names and numbers OF men In
the task with respect to Confederate re-
cnras for. which your ND Is invokd: there
is also jhuE showing of tha statistics of
,, hi, tlnfnnI hospital for on, the muster rolls
~, M ',crorls Of wounds and sickness
and death.
Your committee report In this connec-
ton that within the last ye;ir they have
been enabled TO correctan error about the
battle Of GETTYSBURG, WHICH has been car,
rled into numerous hlstorlchi WORMS ui,u
which, had II MOI pceh 10Y INC preserve
ton Of many muster rolls WHICH are
on The archives or me lnltcd states ~
Washington, would gave been petPetuat-
ed TO Nirginla'a loss.
This, Is n circumstance thar chiis Tor
inquiry, and II may be that 7Wheh illts-
Ter rolls and other documents are eSanln,
cd. who may ma lliat the K'ilea ana
Wounded lists must DC fccast ~ ll''ns
particulars, aud that those WHO Z, aFe IN IN
this category may bo ihcreaSeu ~ o'''cf
n Lug t,,t