Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-24
ROSTER
SEN. HARPER FAvoRs coMPlLA-
TON OF MILITARY RECORDS
OF ALL IOWA VETERANS.

OF ALL IOWA VETERANS.
From Mondays Daily.
Il am heartily in favor Of the move
ment on foot for Iowa to compile a
history of all her soldiers In the war Of
the rebellion" said Senator S. H. Har-
per, OF this city. this morning. The
recent correspondence between Cur
ator Charles Aldrich, of the state his
torical department, and Gen. Grenville
M. Dodge, formerly of Iowa, but who
Is now a resident of New York. and
the probability that the coming annual
encampment of the Grand Army at Os-
kaloosa, may take some action on the
proposed history has brought the mat
ter to the front at the present time.
"a measure providing for the prep
~aration of such a history was intro
duced at the last session of the state
Legislature. The measure was referred
to the appropriations committee, but
it came in SO late. in fact after all the
money had been spent, that nothing
could be done but let the matter go
over till the coming session. The mat
ter will surely come up and l believe
that favorable action will be taken
upon 1t.
iowa has been generous in the way
last tribute is due to the old soldier.
1t will certainly be a most valuable
record and it's interest and value will
increase as the years go by. 1t is a
matter that should not be delayed"
An Excellent Idea.
General Dodge is Of the same opinion
and he has SO indicated to Curator Al
drich in the following letter:
II see your letter in the Register
and Leader on the necessity OF compil-
ing q history Of the soldiers of the civil
and other wars for the state of Iowa
similar to the compilation Of New
Hampshire, and think it is an excellent
idea.
II heve had it In mind to suggest
the matter to the legislature several
times, but felt a %dif1dence about it.
IT have hundreds Of letters from sol
diers making appeals and requests for
Information, but have nothing to refer
to that gives me any data. I think a list
OF the soldiers of Iowa was printed,
but without giving addresses.
II hope you will make a move on the
Legislature to have the work done"
Curator Aldrich has been much inter-
ested in and gratif1ed by the reception
which has been accorded the idea OF
having a roster of the soldiers of Iowa
compiled and published. The idea has
been received with much favor. 1t Is
beginning to be appreciated that the
state Of Iowa should occupy rs promi-
nent g. place in honoring her soldiers
as the other states OF the union, and
she distinctly is behind in this matter.
while other states already have pub
lished such rosters. Meantime the de-
lay constantly is making it more and
more difficult to secure the informa-
ton.
Several Years for Work.
1t is estimated that the work could
be started with a very small %appropria-
ltion. but to be fair about 1t, 1t is
frankly admitted that 1t would take
several years to compile a history of
the individuals who went to make UP
1.-THE $4,000 troops enlisted from Iowa.
Yet the soldiers are for it and those
who have been interviewed are for it,
because it is appreciated that while
$125, 900 was expended in a marble
monument to the heroism of all the
soldiers, q roster will be a monument
to every individual. 1t will be valuable
if only the. name of an Iowa soldier
appears in it, if his record an not be
secured.
The Grand Army of the Republic, at
the department encsmpment at Oska-
loosa in May probably will take action
with respect to this proposition. A
modest appropriation will be asked of
the legislature next winter. The pros
pect is excellent for its passage. There
was no opposition, finally, to the mon
ument proposition; it is anticipated
that there will be less opposition to
the present proposition.
AGENCY.
Agency, Jan. 23.-The meetings will
ho continued at the Methodist EpiscC.