New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-21
CIVIL WAR HISTORIES.
Tovnsend and Congress Records
4rmlable to Local Students.
o the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The fact that The History Of the Civil
War in 12s volumes. with thirty-six volumes OF
aliases. prepared by direction OF Congress. has.
through the courtesy OF Mayor Mcclellan. arrived
at the City Hail. having been presented to the Law
Library, gives the metropolis a title to being
the Empire City OF the Empire State OF the Union.
Taken in connection with The Townsend Library
OF the Civil War" which was. in 1896 purchased
by r Augustus Schermerhorn. esq. trustee OF
Columbia University. and presented to that tnstitu-
ton. New York offers 10 the student OF American
history all the helps at present available for an
exhaustive resume OF the events Of the great strug
gle and the period OF reconstruction that followed
It. when the shattered fragments OF the Union were
united again N a still glorious whole and
Columbia arose. knowing no North. no South. no
East. no West. but united and free Republic.
The libraries utterly unlike IN their in
ception. their progress and their completion If
in the character of the material brought together.
The Congressional history. or. more strictly
speaking Memories pour Servir." although
dered by resolution in May 1851 Just fOrty-three
years ago. not begun in dead earnest until
1871 owing it is claimed. to appropriations.
In this latter year. Colonel r. " Scott L. S. A,
was appointed editor. but lived only long enough
TO publish twenty-six volumes Since 1895 the work
has been in charge OF board Of publication.
Quite different Is the history of The Townsend
Library" which is comprised in l2l volumes-91
of the original work and 80 volumes OF Digest"
In November 1860. Mr.. Townsend. convinced from
the political outlook that for the American ship Of
state there breakers ahead" began the daily
compilation of all printed matter referring TO the
subject OF possible war. slavery. etc. contained
in the newspapers. magazines. pamphlets, etc.
OF that day This work was continued without in
terruption for the next ten years. covering the
war and the period OF reconstruction. From that
time until 1898 a close watch kept all the
American publications. and everything relating
the war was collected for the library which. while
IT was purchased In 1885, was not finally completed
with its indexes until four years later and by
the same hand that began IT forty years before
certainly achievement of which any American
may we'll be proud and coincide. in the estimate OF
the Comte de Paris. when it was not half COM
pleted ut is a work of the greatest value which
seems to be above the strength of a single man
which General Grant added: I heartily indorse
the sentiments OF the COmte de Paris"
in official reports, as it should be- since it is
official publication. 1t must be remembered that
after the war ended, and thus much valuable ma
iest II was his intention to rspToduce the very
form and pressure OF that stirring period and
will deny that he has done 50. ,
The great defect however in the Congressional
index; however carefully prepared, Is not digest;
ana me in thrty Soiues a has eo
verted the original work from gigantic scrapbook
'n sun all honor to the gentlemen who have carried
out the ntsntoSs Of CTnsres SIS and the late Lieu,
at Washington did not see any conflict in the two
ssss s.sas sas.e ~ 5hs thf ss
another IN iss2-sfsr~ the purchase Of Mr., Towns.
(only moiety Of its present value but both failed
OF Introduction into the House, to say nothing Of
what ton los. has proved to
otto eyes are turned. but the Mecca to which the
and with what expense OF blood and treasure the
Republic was saved j. HENRY HAGER,
Kew York. May 20. 1907.