Chap. 158.—An ACT to provide for the office of 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 $5,000 annually
for the years 1908 and 1909, to defray the necessary expenses of the office.

Approved March 9, 1908.

Whereas, under the act of March seven, nineteen hundred and four,
a secretary of Virginia military records was appointed for one year, for
the purpose of co-operating with the war department of the United
States in the compilation of a “roster of the officers and enlisted men of
of fhe Union and Confederate armies,” as provided by act of Congress,
and,

Whereas, under the act of February twenty, nineteen hundred and
six, the said office was established and continued, with an enlargement of
the scope of its labors and duties, until the assembling of the present
general assembly, and,

Whereas, much has been accomplished by the secretary of Virginia
military records in the collection of muster-rolls, records and material
bearing on the military history of 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 records of
their patriotic service;

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That there shall
be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation of the commander
of the grand camp of Confederate veterans of Virginia, a secretary
whose duty it shall be to collect, so far as it has not already been ac-
complished, all muster-rolls, records, and other 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 names of all Vir-
ginians of whatever rank in the military, marine or naval service of
the Confederate States, whether regulars, volunteers, militia, reserves,
home guards, or local troops.

2. The said appointee shall be known as “the secretary of Virginia
military 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 bv gifts
or loans to the State, with the understanding on the part of the United
States and the State of Virginia alike that they shall be returned, when
copied, to the owners, if they so desire. The said muster-rolls and
records shall remain in the custody of the secretary of military records
until the compilation of the Virginia roster is completed and ready
for publication. The State librarian is hereby authorized and requested
to co-operate with the secretary of Virginia military records to the end
that this work may be done as soon as practicable.

3. He shall prepare a short history, showing the organization of
every battalion, regiment, company or other organization that was in the
military, 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 ser-
vice rendered and the battles, combats or skirmishes in which they were
engaged. . ..

He shall ascertain and report what counties, cities or towns have
caused the rolls of the organizations enlisted or recruited within their
respective limits, and the names of the officers and soldiers of said coun-
ties, to be put on record in their clerks’ offices, and where this has not
been done shall aid and encourage its accomplishment, and all of his
records shall be written in books, properly and durably bound, ruled
specially and of best paper and material :—And the records shall be kept
in rooms of offices that are dry and safe from fire.

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 of Virginia, which shall show the counties in which they were
ought.

The secretary of Virginia military records shall commence his duties
immediately upon his appointment.

He shall hold office from the time of his appiontment until the ad-
journment of the general assembly to be elected at the general election
to be held in November, nineteen hundred and nine.

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

The governor shall have the power to remove said secretary for
proper cause, and to appoint another in his stead. Any appointment
subsequent to the first shall be made, like it, upon the recommendation
of the commander of the grand camp of Confederate veterans of
Virginia.

6. There is hereby appropriated the sum of five thousand dollars per
annum, for the two years nineteen hundred and eight and nineteen
hundred and nine, 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 heretofore provided in this act. The secretary of Vir-
ginia military records shall make to the governor of this State a full
report of his work in his department already done; and hereafter, a
semi-annual report of the work of this office.

Y. By reason of the facts set 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; and the appropriation herein pro
vided for shall be available for salaries and expenses, beginning Jan
uary eight, nineteen hundred and eight, to be paid by the auditor ir
installments and in the manner prescribed in this act.