Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/349

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The Southern Historical Society.
349

Fourteenth North Carolina troops, prepared for service under the admirable soldier, General Junius Daniel, and because I wish the vast audience to know of this great and courageous act of our county men.

I have made inquiry for Sergeant Ingram to-day in your county, and learn that his name has perished from your midst.





THE SOUTHERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY:

ITS ORIGIN AND HISTORY.





A wish has been expressed to the Secretary of the Southern Historical Society (the editor of its publication) that some account should be given of the origin and existence of the Society. Major-General Dabney H. Maury, in a letter dated November 3, 1890, writes:

" I feel a natural desire to record the history of the inception of the Southern Historical Society, which has accomplished a work so important for the Southern people.

" In May, 1868, I was a resident of New Orleans, surrounded by many comrades of the war between the States, with whom I daily exchanged recollections of that 'the greatest struggle for separate nationality the world has ever seen,' and I felt the importance to history and to our posterity of making, while we could, a record of the facts then fresh in the memories of the actors; and addressed myself to the work."

General Maury proceeds to state conferences in furtherance of his desire, as expressed, with Generals Braxton Bragg, Richard Taylor, and others.

The progress of the movement is recorded in " Proceedings Vol. I," of the Southern Historical Society, as follows:

" At a meeting held in the office of Messrs. Stuart, Norton & Co., in the city of New Orleans, at 7:30 o'clock P. M., Thursday, April 15, 1869, the following gentlemen were present :

General Braxton Bragg, Major J. E. Austin,
General Dabney H. Maury, Major B. M. Harrod,
General S. B. Buckner, Captain S. H. Buck,
Colonel A. L. Stuart, Captain George Norton,
Mr. C. L. C. Dupuy."