Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/123

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Boy Soldiers.
109

Doubtless there are counties or parishes which can show as good a record, and I beg to suggest that it would be a graceful act on the part of each State historian to compile the names of the boys and file them in their State rooms, Confederate Museum, at Richmond, and in Memorial Hall, New Orleans, where it is my purpose to place this paper. I would like to see as much truthful history written as can be done, and full credit should be given to the boys for their courage, endurance, patriotism and soldiery qualities. No matter from what county or State he hails, his record is a proud heritage for the South and should be preserved. As time passes, people, even in the North, begin to wonder at the character of those boys, and I believe the time is not far distant when all the people will join in doing justice to their virtues.

I urge every newspaper in the South, and those of Mississippi in particular, to record the names of the boys, and let the banner county have the glory and distinction of having furnished the greatest number in proportion to population.

James Dinkins.