Chap. 44.—An ACT to provide for the appointment of a secretary of Virginia
military records, prescribing his duties, and for collecting materials for
the “History of Virginia in the Civil War’; and to appropriate the sum
of $7,600 for the years of 1906-1907 to defray the necessary expenses of the
office.

Approved February 20, 1906.

Whereas under theactapproved March seven, nineteen hundred and four,
a secretary of the Virginia military records was appointed for the purpose
of co-operating with the war department of the United States. in its
design to obtain and publish under act of congress, a complete roster of
the officers and enlisted men of the Union and Confederate armics under
the direction of the secretary ; and

Whereas much has been accomplished by the secretary of Virginia mili-
tary records in the collection of muster rolls, records, and materials bear-
ing on military history in Virginia in the several wars, but much remains
to be accomplished to the end that the State may do its part to preserve
the names of those who served it in war and the memories of their deeds,
and may fully co-operate with the worthy efforts of the Federal govern-
ment in this direction.
1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That there shall
be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the commander of the
grand camp of the Confederate veterans of Virginia, a secretary, whose
duty it shall be forthwith to collect, so far as it has not already been ac-
complished, all muster rolls, records, and ofher materials showing the
officers and enlisted men of the several companies, battalions, regiments,
and other military organizations from Virginia in the 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 Con-
federate States, whether regulars, volunteers, conscripts, militia, reserves,
home guards, or local troops.

2. The said appointee shall be known as the secretary of Virginia mili-
tary records. He shall, by advertisement, visitation, correspondence,
search, and by every other proper means at his command, seek to obtain
the muster rolls, records, or other material above indicated (so far as this
has not already been done), and shall receive them either by gifts or loan
to the State. He shall turn over to the State librarian of Virginia all
such muster rolls, records, together with a separate transcript of same,
and other materials so procured by him, and the librarian shall cause the
originals to be transmitted to the war department of the United States,
to be copied and used in the preparation of the roster above referred to, in
so far as needed for that purpose. This shall be done with the under-
standing on the part of the United States and the State of Virginia
alike, that they shall be returned when copied to the State library, or to
the owner, as the librarian may direct; but in any case the State librarian
shall keep in his possession the transcripts herein provided for. The
State librarian is hereby authorized and requested to co-operate with the
secretary of the Virginia military records, to the end that this work be

speedily done.
‘Secretary's Duties.

3. He shall prepare a short history, showing the organization of every
regiment, battalion, company or other organization that was in the mili-
tary, naval or marine service of Virginia, or was contributed by Virginia
to the military, marine, or naval service of the Confederate States,
whether regulars, volunteers, conscripts, home guards or local troops,
militia or reserves, and stating, as far as practicable, the service rendered
and the battles, combats or skirmishes in which they were engaged.

He shall also, as far as practicable, collect pictures and photographs of
the officers and soldiers who served in the civil war and deliver them to
the librarian, to be preserved by the State.

He shall ascertain and report what counties, cities or towns have caused
the rolls of the organizations contributed by Virginia to be put on record.
and where this has not been done shall encourage its accomplishment.
He shall make a list and report of all battles, combats and actions
which took place in Virginia during the civil war, and annotate upon a
map of Virginia, which shall show the counties in which they were
fought.

4. The secretary of military records shall commence his duties imme-
diately upon his appointment.

He shall hold office from the time of his appointment until the as-
sembling of the general assembly, to be next elected at the general election
to be held in November, nineteen hundred and seven.

The governor shall have the power to remove said secretary for any
reason he may deem proper, and to appoint another in his stead at any
time. Such new appointment to be with the consent of the commander
of the grand camp of the Confederate veterans of Virginia.

Upon the assembling of the general assembly to be elected in Novem-
ber, nineteen hundred and seven, the office of the military records shall
cease, and this act cease to be in force, unless it shall be otherwise pro-
vided by the general assembly.

5. The secretary of military records shall receive a salary at the rate of
two thousand dollars per annum, payable in monthly installments, upon
the warrant of the auditor of public accounts.

He is hereby authorized to employ an assistant as chief clerk, who shall
receive a salary of twelve hundred dollars per annum, payable in monthly
installments, upon the warrant of the auditor of public accounts. Said
assistant or chief clerk shall be removable at will as well as appointive by
the secretary of military records.

6. The governor of the Commonwealth is hereby authorized and em-
powered to allow the secretary of military records such additional clerical
assistance, as the secretary may apply for, and as the governor may deem
necessary and expedient: provided, the cost thereof do not exceed three
hundred dollars per year, and also an allowance for postage, expressage,
and other incidental expenses of office work not exceeding three hundred
dollars per year, and upon the governor’s approval and by his direction
the payment therefor, within the limit named, shall be made upon the
warrant of the auditor of public accounts.

7. There is hereby appropriated the sum of seven thousand six hundred
dollars for the two years, nineteen hundred and six and nineteen hun-
dred and seven, to pay the salaries and necessary expenses of this office
out of any money in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be
paid out as provided by section six of this act.

8. By reason of the facts sct forth in the preamble of this act there is

an emergency that demands its immediate operation, and the same shall
be in force from its passage.