Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 18 text:

CADET OFFICERS. STAFF. A. H. Fitzgerald Adjutant. W. L. Hopkins Quartermaster. S. G. FiTZSiMONS Sergeant Major. H. Mansfield Color Sergeant. J. D. Ward Private Secretary. E. Blake Librarian. COMPANY A. I. Hudson Captain. G. B. Miller First Lieutenant. M. B. Corse Second F. Bell - . . . . Third C. P. Barnett First Sergeant. E. A. Palmer Second F. A. Jacobshagen Third J. A. LuDWiG Fourth J. M. Redfield First Corporal. J. A. Ventress Second L. S. Thompson Third E. B. DuBuissoN Fourth R. T. GooDWYN Fifth COMPANY B. J. H. Winston Captain. G. W. FiTCHETT First Lieutenant. J. J. Hager ... Second G. L. Nicholson Third M. W. Doty First Sergeant. A. C. Spotts Second H. J. Redfield Third J. N. Camden Fourth A. B. Luck Fifth R. L. Wilson Sixth J. C. Mechie First Corporal. W. Dickinson Second T. T. Terry Third W. W. Bkander Fourth G. T. Langhorne Fifth W. B. Corse Si.xth

Page 17 text:

THE BOMB. In May, 1864, Gen. Breckenridge, C. S. A., called upon the Corps of Cadets to aid in repelling Siegel ' s invasion of the Valley ; they re- sponded, took part in the Battle of New Market, May 15th, 1864, and contributed greatly to the victory gained there. Two hundred and fifty entered this engagement, and fifty-six were killed and wounded. When Gen. Hunter, U. S. A., invaded the Valley, the buildings, library, and all of its equipments, were consigned to the flames. Upon re-organizing, at the close of hostilities, it was found necessary to incur a large debt for the purpose of rebuilding and refurnishing the Labora- tory, c. This debt pressed heavily upon the School until, by the Act of Legislature, March 15th, 1884, relief was given by providing sub- stantially for the payment of the same. Under the control of the pres- ent Board of Visitors renewed life has been given to the Institution, improvements are being daily made, and the school of Stonewall Jackson, Maury, Rodes, c., may look forward to a long life of pros- perity and usefulness.

Page 19 text:

History cf ' 85. URS has been a momentous history, made illustrious by our own illustrious achievements ! It will soon be time for us to step down and out, and what is the old Institute going to do without us? Do better, some one suggested, but he has been sat on most uncere- moniously, and the question is still unanswered. We have been hiding ourselves under a bushel for the last four years, and we are now going out to shine ; hitherto only a few stray pilgrims from S n have been dazzled by our brightness — this is not right, and we are going to do better. The prospect is bright and we are as happy as our dignity will permit, but, mingled with this, comes a feeling of sadness, and we will soon be parted forever. It is sad, even to us, yet we can sympathize with those in their loneliness — girls who will not see us any more. This is why we dread the coming end, and examinations have no terror for us. It is even rumored that F ' ather Spex is going to take a number and thus give all a chance for The First Jackson-Hope. Our career, so covered with glory, was begun in the Fall of ' 8i, when fifty-one brave youths started out to make a name ; we have made a name, and will devote the next four years to the un-making of said name. But we are not fifty-one now ; some did not stick close to their desks, the result of which was that they were soon all at sea ; some left with unlimited furloughs, granted by the Superintendent for reasons un- necessary to mention, while death has gathered in three of our brightest and best. In the Fall of ' 82 we were strongly reinforced, and our ac- quisitions, though they might not excite admiration, were certainly such as to attract attention. Through the altered class we passed victorious, and successfully ran the gauntlet of professional jokes that have )iot grown better with time. When we did attempt to make ourselves useful, by methods both inge nious and original, our efforts were plainly not appreciated, as the follow ing distinctly shows :