Southern Historical Society Papers/Volume 02/September/Editorial Paragraphs

Editorial Paragraphs
Editorial Paragraphs

A number of our friends have complied with our request, and have sent us lists of names of parties likely to subscribe for our Papers. We would be glad to have others do so, that we may be able to call the attention of parties interested to the value of our publications. And we are very anxious to secure reliable, efficient agents in all of our principal towns. Our friends will confer a favor by looking out and recommending to us suitable agents, to whom we can pay liberal commissions. We are exceedingly anxious to increase our circulation, and must ask kindly assistance to enable us to do so.


The Association of the Army of Northern Virginia was formed at a meeting of officers and soldiers, held in Richmond, on November 4th, 1870. This association was designed to embrace within its membership representatives of all the States whose soldiers constituted a part of that grand old army, and its objects were to be "the preservation of the friendships that were formed in that army, the perpetuation of its fame, and the vindication of its achievements."

The officers of this association were elected as follows:

President, Lieutenant-General Jubal A. Early; Corresponding Secretary, Colonel Walter H. Taylor; Recording Secretary, Colonel Charles S. Venable; Treasurer, Colonel Charles Marshall.

It was provided that an Executive Committee should be appointed, and that a Vice-President for each State should arrange for the formation of State Divisions.

Several State Divisions, we believe, have been organized, and we should be glad to be advised of the organization, names of officers, plans, prospects, indeed everything of interest concerning them all.


The Virginia Division of the Army of Northern Virginia has had a very efficient organization, and its annual reunions have been very delightful. General Fitz. Lee was its first president, and he was succeeded by General George E. Pickett, whose lamented death occurred while he held the position. The present organization is as follows:

President, General W. H. F. Lee; Treasurer, Major Robert Stiles; Secretaries, Sergeant George L. Christian, Sergeant Leroy S. Edwards.

Vice-Presidents—First, General R. Ransom; second, General H. Heth; third, General A. L. Long; fourth, General Wm. Terry; 5th, Captain D. B. McCorkle.

Executive Committee—General Bradley T. Johnson, Major W. K. Martin, Colonel Thos. H. Carter, Major T. A. Brander, Private Carlton McCarthy.

The annual orators of this division have been as follows: In '72, Wm. H. Payne and Colonel Jos. Mayo (in the absence of General John B. Gordon, orator elect). Colonel Charles S. Venable in 1873, Colonel Charles Marshall in 1874, and Major John W. Daniel in 1875.

The next annual reunion will take place in Richmond, on the first of November.

The chosen orator is Captain W. Gordon McCabe, who will discuss as his subject, "Petersburg in 1864-5." There will also be a banquet.

Applicants for membership in this association will be furnished with proper blanks on addressing either of the secretaries. The charges are: annual membership fee, $1; certificate of membership (beautifully engraved), $1; badge, $2. We would urge all survivors of the Virginia Division of the Army of Northern Virginia to unite with this organization.


Contributions to our Archives continue to come in. Among the more valuable received since our last acknowledgement, we may mention the following:

From Mrs. V. Hortense Rodes, Tuscaloosa, Alabama—General R. E. Rodes' reports of the Gettysburg campaign, Chancellorsville, Seven Pines, and the First Maryland campaign.

From Mrs. A. J. Graves, Baltimore— Fifteen scrap books filled with newspaper clippings for the years 1860-65, very carefully selected and arranged in chronological order.

From Rev. Geo. W. Peterkin, Baltimore— Roster of the artillery of Army Northern Virginia, copied from an original morning return which came into his possession while serving on the staff of General W. N. Pendleton, Chief of Artillery Army Northern Virginia.

From General R. L. T. Beale, of Virginia—A narrative of the part borne by the Ninth Virginia cavalry, in resisting the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid, together with a statement which establishes fully the authenticity of the infamous Dahlgren papers.

From General Dabney Herndon Maury, of Virginia—His recollections of the Elkhorn campaign.

From W. Baird, Esq., of Essex county, Virginia—A Review of the first volume of the Count of Paris' History of the Civil War in America.

From Carlton McCarthy Esq., of Richmond—Two papers on Detailed Minutiæ of Soldier Life.

From Geo. T. Whitington, Alexandria— First morning report of troops at Manassas Junction, under command of Major Cornelius Boyle, May 6th, 1861.

From Judge B. R. Wellford— Supplemental report of Confederate States Secretary of War (March 17th, 1862), embracing the correspondence in reference to the first cartel for the exchange of prisoners.

Other acknowledgments and book notices crowded out.