Chap. 70.—An ACT to provide for the collection of all muster rolls, records, and
other materials, showing the names, number, and character of the officers and
soldiers furnished by Virginia to the army and navy of the Confederate States
of America; and to provide for the appointment and compensation of a secre-
tary of Virginia military records and for the other expenses incidental to the
work to be performed, and to appropriate the sum of $3,000 therefor.

Approved March 7, 1904.

Whereas, the Congress of the United States has provided that “a com-
plete roster of the officers and enlisted men of the Union and Confed-
erate armies” shall be made undcr the direction of the secretary of war;
and,

Whereas, the secretary of war has applied to the governor of this State
to aid him in his work by furnishing such rolls, records, and other mate-
rials as would show the names and numbers of the troops furnished by
Virginia to the Confederate army, which request the governor has been
enabled to comply with only to a very limited extent; and,

Whereas, the time is limited in which our State can avail itself of the
provision made by the United States to publish these rosters; and,

Whereas, the soldiers sent by Virginia to the Confederate army obeyed
the command of their State and made a record of which we are proud,
and which the State desires to preserve with their names and their his-
tory; therefore, .

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That there shall
be appointed by the governor, upon the recommendation of the com-
mander of the grand camp of Confederate veterans of Virginia, a sec-
retary, whose duty it shall be forthwith to collect all muster rolls, re-
cords, and other materials showing the officers and enlisted men of the
several companies, battalions, regiments, and other military organiza-
tions from Virginia in the armies (or other military), marine or naval
service of the Confederate States, and the name of all Virginians, of
whatever rank, in the military, marine, or naval service of the Confed
erate States, whether regulars or volunteers (militia or reserves).

2. The said appointee shall be known as the secretary of Virginia mill
tary records. He shall by advertisement, visitation, correspondence
search, and by every other proper means at his command, seek to obtau
the muster rolls, records, or other material above indicated, and shal
receive them either by gift or loan to the State. He shall turn over t
the State librarian of Virginia all such muster rolls, records, and othe
materials so procured by him, and the librarian shall cause them to b
transmitted to the war department of the United States to be copied an
used in the preparation of the roster above referred to in so far as neede
for that purpose. This shall be done with the understanding on the par
of the United States and the State of Virginia alike that they shall be re
turned, when copied, to the State library, or to the owner, as the libra
rian may direct. The State librarian is hereby authorized and requeste:
to co-operate with the secretary of the Virginia military records to thi
end that this work be speedily done.

3. The secretary of Virginia military records shall commence the per
formance of his duties immediately on his appointment. He shall hol
his office from the time of his appointment and for a term of one yea
from the first day of the month next succeeding his appointment. H:
shall be paid for his services at the end of each month at the rate o
eighteen hundred dollars per annum upon the warrant of the auditor o
public accounts. The governor shall have the power to remove such sec
retary for any reason he may deem proper, and to appoint another in hi
stead at any time. Any appointment subsequent to the first shall b
made like it, upon the recommendation of the commander of the granc
camp of Confederate veterans of Virginia.

4. The sum of three thousand dollars is hereby appropriated out o
any funds in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated (or such par
thereof as may be necessary) to pay the salary of said secretary and the
expenses of the office, traveling and other necessary expenses he or ths
State librarian may incur in carrying this act into effect. The expense
necessary to discharge the duties of the secretary, his salary excepted
shall not be incurred except upon the approval of the governor.

5. By reason of the facts set forth in the preamble of this act, there
is an emergency that demands its immediate operation, and the sam
shall be in force from its passage.