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 14 Southern Historical Society Papers.

constituted should be submitted by the Surgeon-General, in his Annual Reports to the United Confederate Veterans.

We also urge upon the United Confederate Veterans, assembled at this the Fourth Annual Reunion, the necessity of conferring upon the Surgeon-General, the power to effect a thorough and permanent organization of the Medical Department, by approving and confirm- ing his efforts in behalf of the United Confederate Veterans, and by conferring upon him the power of appointing one or more Medical Officers, Medical Directors, and Medical Inspectors, with the rank of Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel in each of the following Southern States namely:

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indian Territory, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Misissippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.

The Surgeon-General should be clothed with power to fill vacan- cies on his staff, and to apportion to each staff officer such inspec- tions and medical duties as he may deem best for the relief of the suffering, and the advancement of the hygienic and sanitary interests of the Confederate Veterans.

Each Camp or Soldiers' Home should preserve

i st. Roster of its officers and members, giving names, nature, and place of service ; date of commissions in the Confederate Army or Navy ; nature of wound, and date and circumstance of reception.

2d. Hospital Register, containing names and description of sick, and injuries and results of all post mortem examinations, and a record of all deaths and their causes.

The discharge of difficult, responsible, and persistent duties, apper- taining to honorary positions without pay, must rest upon the patri- otic interest of the officer, whose highest reward must be sought in the approval of his comrades and the satisfaction in being used as an instrument for the relief of human suffering.

Permanency appears to be essential to the success of labors relating to the relief of the wants and sufferings of men, and the gatherings and preservation ot important statistics illustrating the extent and nature of the sufferings and losses by battle and disease of the Con- federate soldiers.

With great respect and high esteem, I have the honor, General, to remain,

Your obedient servant,

, JOSEPH JONES, M, D. LL. D., Surgeon- General^ United Confederate Veterans.