Ohio State University - Makio Yearbook (Columbus, OH)

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THE BATTALIQ HISTORY. HE O. S. U. battalion was organized with the opening of the University. At Hrst it wa.s under the command ' and tutorship of certain members of the faculty and such persons as might know the rudiments of the science. Drill, during this period, was voluntary with the students, and consequently, as is always the case, the exercise was only a farce. In 1878 Lieutenant Luigia Lomia was detailed by the lVar Department to take charge of the department of mili- tary science at the University. Lieutenant Lomia was a severe disciplinarian and many are the tales told by the ex-students of their first experience with the discipline of Lomia. By the efforts of the lieutenant, drill was made compulsory and mili- tary affairs at O. S. U. took on a new phase. Lieut. Lomia was an artillery officer and much of his attention was given to that branch of the service. Through his efforts a four gun battery was organized, which was the best artillery detachment ever on the college grounds. Lieut. Lomia is now an attache of the American legation at Rome. In 1881 Lieutenant George Ruhlen, an officer of the 17th Infantry U. S. A. was placed in command at the University, and the battalion passed into a new era. Lieutenant Ruhlen. labored faithfully for the battalion and achieved success. Dur- ing his term of service the men were only required to drill four times per week and three-fourths of an hour each time, Chapel exercises and Rhetoricals seriously interfering with the work of the department. ' In 1884 Lieutenant A. P. Blocksom of the Gth Cavalry, U. S. A. was detailed to this post. Under the energetic action of Lieut. Blocksom the battalion progressed rapidly. The enthu- 80

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sia.sm of its members was aroused. In 1886 the graduating class presented to the battalion an elegant, gold mounted serv- ice sword, to be worn each year by the captain of the best drilled company. This has been, it .might be said, the life of our organization. The class of '86, was indirectly the cause of victories later on. In 1886 a competitive drill was held be- tween the University of Woostei' and O. S. U. battalions. The C. S. U. was victorious. The next year another drill was ar- ranged with the same institution, but owing to a disagreement between the parties it never came off. The prize company then went to Findlay, Ohio, to the great Natural Gas Celebration which was in progress ot that time. Here they won a. prize of 8500, taking second place, being beaten by the Toledo Cadets by only Va few points, while the VVooster City Guards, a crack organization that had participated in the ltfashington Drill, was away below them. These contests have had the etfect of arousing the latent energies of the men and have improved wonderfully the general tone of the organization. Lieutenant Kilbourne of the 2nd Artillery, was stationed at the University in 1887. Lieutenant Kilbourne has, by his earnest efforts and gentlemanly treatment, won the confidence and respect of all at the institution. The standard of the bat- talion has been kept up and new equipments have been secured through his efforts. Lieutenant Kilbourne has made many attempts to match his battalion against others, but without success. During the present year, challenges have been sent to five different military schools, viz.: Ada Normal School, Kenyon College, YVooster University, DePauw and Purdue Universities. None have ac- cepted and the commandant has been obliged to give up all thought of another drill. In thepast four years the battalion has been in splendid condition and it is with extreme regret tha.t the members of the battalion say good-bye to their re- spected commandant. 81

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