Evening star., 1927-10-30
ARMY DISPLAYING
HISTORIC RECORDS
Documents Concerning Mill
tary Life of America Contain
Much Interesting Reading.

WuNIl iiIkCt COkUtS ttCouItiHs
ReposinG in the archives of tn
sdjutant generals office of the Wa
Department arc records of many his
torical events Of great interest i'm th
military operations of the tnite'
States. The existence of many o
these records is known to few ant
are viewed infrequently even by tn
custodians of them
Those of the greatest historical anC
sentimental value are kept in locket
steel cases to minimize the chances o
loss. In order, however. that the gen
eral public might view some of these
records. the Secretary of War recent!
authorized the display of fac-simile.
of them on the walls of the north cor
ridor, second floor, OF the State. Wa
and Navy Building. outside of tht
office of the adjutant general.
AS the reports of major military
operations are voluminous it was
found impracticable to display such
records, the available space being
somewhat restricted. The selection
of records, therefore, was limited gen
orally to short reports or letters and
10 those signed by popular heroes. OF
those with an age-halo.
Muster Roll Exhibited.
A muster roll OF an organization
from each of the thirteen original
States and Vermont was selected as
representative of other muster rolls
of the period.
The report of the board of officers
that investigated the conduct of Bene-
dict Arnold and labeled his actions in
letters twice the size and density of
those in the rest of the report as
Treason of the Blacklist Dye" has a
prominent place.
Recruiting instructions to the Off
GERS appointed to recruit in New York
fo' the Continental Army are interest
ing. A bounty of twenty dollars was
offered and also a suit of clothes each
year to consist of two linnen hunting
shirts, two pairs of hose. two pairs of
oyeralls. a leathern or woollen waist
coat with sleeves. one pair of breeches,
one hat or leathern cap, and two pairs
of shoes, amounting in the whole to
twenty-dollars more; and also at the
end of the war "one hundred acres of
land as a further encoura cement" I"
The one hundred acres given to some
of the soldiers may be worth enough
luton or two in some quarters of the
globe.
Several commissions and oaths in
acceptance of commissions are exhib.
tied because they bear the signatures
of such historical figures as Patrick
Henry. governor of Virginia; John
Hay and John Hancock as Presidents
of Congress. The oaths of acceptance
of Washington, Lafayette, De kalb.
Knox. Wayne and other Revolutionary
officers of lasting fame are shown.
Officers of 1918 Listed.
There hangs on the wall a list of
general officers dated January 2, 177S,
in Gen. Washington's own handwrit-
ing. TypeWriters were unknown then.
and it is difficult in these days to
visualize the general in command of
all the military forces in the field
laboriously penning a list of his off
GERS. Gen. Washington had many
perpiexing military problems which
he solved successfully. and yet had
time and inclination to do consider
able clerical work
There is an order dated July, 1776.
and signed by Gen. Washington seek
Ing to check the practice of cursing
and swearing among the soldiers
-Four letters from Andrew Jackson
to Secretary of War Monroe are
shown. One is dated January 10, 1915.
and gives an account of the rattle of
New Orleans. The second is dated
January ~. 1915, and gives the move.
ments of his troops after the battle.
The third is dated March 16, 1915, and
acknowledges receipt of the Secre-
tary's letter relative to ratification of
the treaty of peace between Great
Britain and the United States, and
the fourth contains recommendat tions
relative to military Notifications.
IN the collection are several letters
pertaining to events Of the Seminole
Indian War, including a descrintion
and rough sketch by the officer who
visited and reported on the Dade mas.
sacre in Florida. Orders and instruc-
tlons issued to the troops in Mexico
Dy Gen. Scott also are shown.
Lees Letter OF Resignation.
Grant and Lee, who later became
the military leaders of their RESPECTIVE.
sides in the Civil War. took opposite
courses at the very outbreak of the
war.
Lees letter of resignation from the
United States Army is dated April
20, lS6l. and is addressed and writ
ten in his own handwriting TO the
Secretary OF War, Mr.. Cameron. 1t
follows:
"Sir.
Il have the honor to tender the
resignation of my commission as col.
onel Of the 1st Regt. of Cavalry.
Very respt. your Obdt. Servt
'R. E. LEE"
Under date of May "a, 1861. Grant.
writing from Galena, H.. advised Col
THOMAS, adjutant general Of the
Army, as follows:
"Sir:
Having served for Is years in the
Regular Army, including four years
at West Point, and feeling it the duty
OF every one who has been educated
at the Government expense to offer
his services for the support of that
Government, ] have the honor. very
respectfully, to tender my services
until the close of the war, in such
capacity as may be offered | should
say that in view OF my present age
and length Of service, | feel myself
competent to command a regiment. if
the President, in his judgment, should
see fit to intrust one to me-
Since the first call of the Presi-
dent, / have been serving on the
staff of the governor Of this State.
rendering such aid as | could in the
organization of our State Militia, and
am still engaged in that capacity. A
letter addressed to me at Springfield,
III, will reach me-
Il am. very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
u. $. GRANT"
Modest as TO Ability.