The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-21
MILITARY RECORDS
MOST INVALUABLE
SECRETARY BrDGOoD HAS PER-
FECrED A SYSTEM HARD
TO IMPROVE UPON.
ENDORSED BY CAMP
ERRORS DISCOVERED AND Ros-
TIERS OF COMPANIES CON-
PLETE IN MANY INSTANCES.
HISTORY OF THE WORK.

It is hardly likely that there win
be an abatement In the efforts OF
the State Of Virginia to perfect the
military records OF the State. To this
end Secretary Joseph v. Bidgood, or
the department OF Confederate milf
tary records, IL working energetically,
and assisted largely by his assistant.
Samuel Burnley. he has collected a
wonderfully complete roster OF many
of the old companies and regiments,
This record and roster Is OF meal
cuiAble service In making out the
State pension rolls. Frequently Score
tary Bidgood discovers errors and In
frequently he has detectcd efforts at
Misrepresentation.
Tho report OF the last annual meet
Ing of the Grand Camp. Confederate
Veterans. is just out In 1t Colonel
Bidgood explains concisely the work
OF this department OF the State gov
eminent. He says:
Since my communication to you Of
October 10, 1911. much has been ao-
compished. Many muster rolls, en-
bracing cavalry. infantry, artillery.
local defense and reserve forces have
been secured. The rosters OF n large
number Of companies In the various
branches OF the service. however. are
still incomplete. but arc being perfect
ed a. rapidly a. authentic data can be
obtained.
Tho department 10 kept continuous
" In touch with the hundred counties
and twenty cities of this Common
wealth. and no effort Ia being spared
In the diligent prosecution Of the work
In spreading. at q conservative esti-
mate. approximately tho one hundred
and thirty thousand names now OF
record IN this department. seventeen
large hx4hundred page registers have
been required. These books are stint
lar to those used by the clerks Of
courts in which to record deeds and
The records embrace sixty-four
regular regiments OF infantry. most OF
the regular battalions OF infantry. the
regiments Of infantry reserves. bat
tai.ons OF infantry reserves. q large
number OF local defense troops and
all Of the regular regiments and ba.-
taiions OF cavalry.
Tho record OF the generals ana staE
officers is nearly complete.
The artillery. navy, marine and sig
nal corps ambulance corps, county re-
serves departmental organizations
and tha officers and men OF the quar-
termaster and commissary depart
ments arc yet 90 be complied and
recorded
Before the work In complete there
will have to be n general index EN-"
bractng the names in each branch OF
the service, together with large
number OF names upon a misceIiane-
ous record which has ben prepared
fer those whose ass. gnmcnts cannot
be definitely ascerta!ned. This index
will be in alphabetical order and SO
arranged that ready reference may be
had to any name upon the records
The preparation OF such an index
will require much paanstaking and
arduous work, hut when completed Its
value will be commensurate with the
labor expended.
The correspondents OF this depart
ment has steadily increased and GER
ttfcatcs attesting the services or Con-
federate veterans are being sent 10
ali parts OF Virginia and to all parts
OF this country.
Under the act of the last general
assembly the auditor of public &C
counts has referred to this department
thousands OF application for pensions
and II has become a valuable asset to
the State in conducting pension In
vest.gations. which entail labortous
research.
The stabs OF Virginia appropriates
annually Ave hundred thousand dol
lars for pensions. and there are upon
her pension rolls about ten thousand
veterans and I'VE thousand widows.
1t Ia hoped, In view OF these facts.
that tho Grand Camp will exert It's in
fluence and shape Its endeavors to the
end that the next general assembly
viii continue and encourage the work
of this department by appropriations
adequate to insure tts proper compile
ton.
take this opportunity TO extend
my ACCOMPLISHMENTS to those from
whom I have received encouragement
ana assistance; tho number IL legion,
and 70 urgently request all who havc