The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-25
IN QUEST OF RECORDS
OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Agents of United States Government
Seek Original Military and
Naval Papers.
ALL INFORMATION is WANTED
Circular Letter Sent Out From Rich
mond Informing Every Person in
Virginia of Object OF Search Which
Is Being Conducted by Uncle Sam.


Virginia of Object OF Search Which,
Is Being Conducted by Uncle Sam.
Whlo two agents of tho United
states government. with headquarters
in the Virginia state library. Build
'HI. have been industriousIy engaged
since February in quest for all the
original records. military and naval
relating To the American Revolution
aiy War or l775-l7S3 that arc cXistant
in Virginia. the fact is not generally
known.
These agents arc Morgan + Robin
son. n Richmond lawyer. who il given
tho title Of historian for the War and
Navy Departments % Records OF the
American Revolution. and j H. Lind
say editor of the Charlottesville Pro-
rrcss. In pursuance of the plan FOR
making thorough search OF tho cities
and counties of the state u circular
letter has Jus, been sent out with
view L" informing every person in Viz
Eiuia. 50 far Us possible. OF the object
Of the quest which is being conducted
br Uncle sam ana cnlistinS their In
tcr"st and assistance in tho work
TN" two agents nov tn Richmond
are operating under the direction Of
Captain II {. Clark. United states
Army, director Of publication OF revo-
lutionary military records The cir
cular viii be sent TO 2,1Oo post-of',cos
100 county clerks. the Judges OF ali
courts in the state. thirty libraries
$50 ne" spapers magazines and other
puhlica lions. 10 tho members OF tho So
Getty OF the Cincinnati in Virginia.
members Of the Virginia Historical So.
ciety and members OF The virginia
branches ~ the Sons OF the American
Revolution and Daughters OF the Amer
lean Revolution
60 TO WASHINGTON
AFTER PREPARATIONS
Mr.. Robinson is compiling the records
aud preparing them for transmission
TO Washington. Assisting the two
agents is George II. Partridge gov
eminent photographers sent h"rn from
The civil Service Bureau In Washing
ton. who has "a studio in the basement
Of the Library building. Who're II Is
possible. the government demands ac-
tual photographs OF the records. errors
OF copying. classifying and indcxinE
having been discovered In tho cases of
innuinerab bic records hcrctnfor" accept
ed az authentic. These direct photo
graphs arc made by Mr. Partridge and
r'1cNcd and classified by Mr.. Robin
sol.
Tie tex; Of the circular is as fol-
lows
The United States government de-
s'rcs to ascertain the Whereabouts OF
all original records. both military and
naval, relating To the American Rcvo-
lutionary War. 1915 TO 1883. This is a
matter OF great Importance to histori-
cal students, librarians. Institutions OF
learning, patriotic societies and all per
sons interested in their country's
struggle for independence
1T is believed that many such rec
ords are in the hands OF private own
crs. rs well as il official archives ard
libraries. /, is not desired to purchase
these papers. but TO obtain :, compicic
list OF them and their location with a
view TO publication. Information In
regard TO all such papers Will help
complete The record OF Nirginia's pnrl
in the Revolution.
TASK IN HANDS OI-
LINDSAY AND ROBINSON
The task of gathering this infor-
nation in Virginia is placed In the
hands OF Morgan +. Robinson Of Rich
mond and J. II. Lindsay. OF Charlottes-
willie.
"All persons having knowledge Of
the existence OF such records arc re-
quested TO write TO Morgan p. Rob
inson Historian for War and Navy Dc
partments. stationed at State Library.
Richmond. giving n short description
or tho documents and the post -ofTcc
address OF tho owner or custohirn'
The work undertaken was made pos
slble ny an appropriation OF $50. 900
secured from the last Congress, 500. 0GC
TO he used for compiling army records
and $1,000 for navy records. Quests
similar TO the search being made I'm
Virginia are In progress in Massachu-
settles and North Carolina, the bases OF
operations being. respectively, Boston
ana Raleigh. The scope OF the work
OF which Richmond is the ratinC
base is more than state wide. COVERING.
i"S counties embraced in tho area OF
the ola state Of Virginia. before II sep
hra'ed from West Virginia. Niue OF
tho original counties are extinct They
are; Charles River. Dunmore. Fincas
tle' Lower Norfolk. Old Rappahannock
Cprcr Norfolk. Warrosquyoke. War,
wick River and Yohogana.
the searchcrs- after historial facts
have brought TO light much interesting
matter bearing upon the Revolutionary
War; the existence of which was un-
suspected. Last Saturday Mr. Robinson
aud Captain Linsay traced the where
abouts In Southsde counties of docu-
ments sufficient to maize two four
horse wagon loads. Tho historical
value of much of this matter Is very
great.
Uncle Sam's agents make it plain
that they have no funds to purchase
the documents they arc after. They
merely ask permission to send the gov
crnmcnt photographers TO the reposi-
tory OF the records to make direct
photograph of them for the archives at
Washington. They appeal to the pa
triotism of the owners OF such docu-
ncntS in soliciting the desired infor-
7nation and privilege
The war records arc being forwarded
To Washington rs fast as they can be
COMPILED and mdcXcd.