The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-24

federate records In possession Of this de-
partment.'' He urges that the States
take steps to- aid in supplying the defi-
Client records, remarking truly that:
MANY Of these records are In posses
sion OF the various States, and It is
hoped will be made readily accessible
scattered among historical and memorial
associations and private citizens
DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
Tho Secretary adds: 1.-THE problem OF
how to find and procure the loan OF.
these scattered records Is a difficult one,
but 1t Is one. that must be solved, in;
order that tho Confederate soldier shall
receive the full credit that is due him in
the roster that is to be complied" This
{ is a grand and noble work. IT. Is worthy
i OF our republic and the Secretary Of
War, that he should call ioni US to do
full credit To the Confederate soldier
To this end. each Governor has been
asked by. the Secretary of War, ITO
designate some official Of your State
to communicate with him, relative to
the details OF the work. The Governor,
of Virginia has been furnished with no
legal agent to act in the premises. We
can do nothing but talk unless the Cen.
efal Assembly acts with diligence.
VIRGINIA TAGGING.
b Foremost in war Virginia lags IN
commemoratlon of her heroes In tho
recent report Of Briga der, General Z. 9.
Ainsworth, of the Record and Pension
Division Of the War Department. made
September &c, 1908. to the Secretary, he
says:
"In accordance with the suggestion OF
the Secretary Of War, each of the Gov
errors addressed, with the exception OF
those of the States of Maryland, Mis-
souri, and Virginia. has appointed rep
resentative to correspond with tho de-
partment relative to the details Of the
work and the steps to BIO taken In fur
thernnce."
With the exception Of the two border
States Of Maryland and Missouri. which
were never fully identified with the Con-
federate States of America Virginia..
than which no State is richer in names
that we should not permit to die--Vir-
ginia is alas!t the sole agga I'd as to the
records Of her Confederate sons! Not.
long since. while at%the War Department
concerning this matter, I met Governor
Jennings, Of Florida. That State has
appropriated 5000 to aid this worthy
work and he was there to promote 1t.
Virginia as yet appropriated not n dime.
I do not believe Virginia intends del1ber-
atey to refuse to Go her just part Now,
while her General Assembly Is in session.
the time is ripe for its initiation.
MAY FIND OTHERS.
Travel. visitation. search and adver-
tisemcnt will be necessary to collect
many of the rolls and other papers that
are as vet extnnt IN the hands Of socie-
ties and individuals. When recently in
tho Library0of the State. found Mr..
Nlmmo an ex-soldier and q highly COM
petent clerk, picking out Of old bundles
OF papers the few rolls OF volunteer and
militia companies that could bo found
here and there. Tho librarian, Mr., Ken
redy, and Mr.. Nimmo also, Informed mo
that in the garnet OF the Capitol there
are many piles of old papers, In which,
perhaps, other rolls may loe found. These
papers should DO sifted out, and what
ever is Of permanent value In them
should be rescued. Mr. Kennedy very
kindly gave mo n list OF such rolls as
| to HIND that you may perceive Its
| meagreness. Our Revolutionary records
have been neglected. Who can tell any,
thing Of tho Virginia division that I'M.
| der Governor Nelson stood IN the
trenches of Yorktown when Washington
| struck the final blow? our lnnttentlon
| to these records has led to the writing
of false history In other States and TO
the making Of false comparisons between
their contributions to the Army Of tho
| Revolution and our own,
REPEATING OF HISTORY,
History is but repeating itself when
nowadays our State, which made such
generous contribution OF men to the Con-
| fcderate army, has, through her misfor-
tunes, incurred similar and equally un-
true disparagements Of her Immortal
forces as of old, 1t Is n work Of duty
and a work of progress that comes for
our hands TO do. 1t Is also a work of
inperlous honor, We have had much to
burden to distress, TO engage aud to
divert u.s. Our great tribulations are
over. When the Federal government
asks us ito do full credit to
i the Confederate soldier" by bringing
forth his name, we cannot stand mute
and HOPELESS. Whatever be the cost. the
most sluggish blood Should tinge and the
very misers purse should open, The
5000 asked for as n present appropria-
lion is little, compared to the nature of
/ the work, and the paramount duty to
perform It. 1t has priority OF claim over
any similar work. but when It Is &C.
1 cornplished as far as may be, we may
/ Es,.a lthas 5instrlInenta1Ity employed 4 lisa-