The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-02
'SECRETORY or
MILITARY RECORD
Bill to Be Offered in Legislature
Continuing the Very I'm
pot,tant Office.
LETTERS FROM MAJOR DANIEL
Office TO BE Continued Until the
Good Work Started Be
Completed.

Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-1 enclose draft OF bill to be pro-
posed Mt the approaching session of the
! General Assembly, ito provide for the
\ appointment of Il Secretary of Virginia
/ Military Records, prescribing his duties,
| and for collecting materials for the his
tory OF Virginia in the Civil War"
As chairman of the History Committee
| OF the Grand Camp of Confederate vete-
/ rams, have felt that this duty devolves
| upon me. 1T Is one in which 1 hope for
| the sympathy and support OF all who
/, value the history of the Virginia Com
nonwealth. / hope The Times Dispatch
| will kindly print this bill, and L viii be
| glad TO receive any suggestions for It's
! Improvement
II Is now generally known that the
War Department is ABOUT 70 publish the
| rolls OF all the forces, Confederate as
wei as Union, that served at amy time
during the Civil War.
1t is also known that General Lees Of
fetal papers were destroyed by fire on the
retreat 10 AppomattoX; that the office OF
the AdJutant-Generai OF Virginia was
burned; that the Confederate War be-
partment was also burned, and that in
consequence of these three disasters the
State of Virginia was bereaved of many
muster rolls and many valuable historical
documents. The United States War De-
partment has invoked the cooperation
OF the state; and 1t has been given in
considerable degree, although the nlisior-
tune above mentioned entailcd no small
embarrassment.
The General Assembly, By act approved
March q 1904 provided for Secretary OF
virginia Military Records and approprl-
ated 5000 for expenses OF this Office.
Major Robert w. Hunter was appointed
TO the position. and has done much valu-
able work, rescuing many rolls and pa
pers which would otherwise have been
lost. suit is now pending under direc-
ton OF Attorney General Anderson. III
Which many more rolls may be retrieved.
The office OF the Secretary of Military
Records. however, has expired, by llmi-
tation, with the work incompleted, and
the Grand Camp of the Confederate Vete-
pletion.
The State is deeply interested that It
shall be completed, and this bill has been
framed to accomplish this purpose. Its
features may be summarized as follows:
]. 1t repeats the provision OF the act |
OF March Z, 1901. so far as now appl-
cable. providing for the recreation of
the office of the Secretary of Virginia
Military Records. and making a very
reasonable and moderate provision for
his assistance.
the Secretary of Virginia Military Re-
cords, 1t provides by section three that |
ne shali prepare a shor. history of the |
virginia Sris1l examinations IN the, military.
we are but following and slowly at that !
the examples OF many other States. and |
WIZ be laying the foundation upon which |
true history must he constructed. Not |
Wlthstanding thousands OF volumes OF |
literature that have appeared about the |
civil War. IT Is not yet possible for n |
Vrginian ITO tell with ACCURACY ard
iullness the great part which his State
performed In the great Confederate revo-
luton.
3. The Military Secretary is also In
structed to collect photographs or other |
pictures of Confederate officers and sol |
d ,hir And And the time will come when such
lungs sg VIII be more regarded, and sought !
Tor than they have been during the days |
OF trial and tribuiaton which came as |
the aftermath of war
:. II also provides that the Military Sec
retary shall ascertain and report what |
counties cities or towns have caused the |
roHs OF Confederate veterans and troops |
TO be placed upon record as heretofore
proxidcd by the General Assemble, and |
snail encourage those which have not
performed this duty to fulfill It. giving |
such assistance as he may.
me state Is now abundantly able to |
ssummate this work. The ex-Confederates
nave asked but little of her. This they
ask. The State cannot afford to neglect
. .., work that needs to be done The ne
and studied. and will be studied through
III me ages to come Ike the Poloponecian
war; the French Revolution, the Crom.
Wellian struggle, the American Reyolu-
" .ioii OF i4e, ana other pivotal movements
OF evolution and change. 1t Will not do |
ior TINS great Commonwealth to ipnore
the present opportunity TO rescue Mi of
! ner history that may be lost, in great |
~ l,, "a II the Confederate soldiers who
stiil survive pass away without that On.
portunity being availed or
very reSpectfully
JOHN w. DANIEL.