Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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Z K IPinjinia ni ilitar » llnC ' titutc A IIUIKI ' IllsruKILAL AM) STATISTICAL SKIiTCll. Ill the last annual message sent by General George Washington to the Congress of the United States on Dccembci 7th, 1796, he thus reeommends and advises the establishment of militaiy schools : The institution of a military academy is also recommended by cogent reasons. Houexer pacific the general polic - of a nation ma ' be, it ought never to be without an adequate stock of militaiy knowledge for emergencies. The first would impair the energ - of its character, and both would endanger its safet)-, as expose it to greater evils, when war could not be a ' oided. Besides that war might not often depend upon its own choice. In proportion as the observance of pacific maxims might exempt a nation from the necessit)- of practicing the rules of the militaiA- art, ought to be its care in preserving and transmitting, by proper establishments the knowledge of that art ' hatever argument may be drawn from particular examples, superficialK- iewed, a thorough examination of the subject will e ince that the art of war is both comprehensive and complicated ; that it demands much previous study ; and that the possession of it, in its most improved and perfect state, is always of great moment to the securit) ' of a nation. This, therefore, ought to be a serious care of every government ; and for this purpose, an academy where a regular course of instruction is gi ' en, is an obvious expedient which different nations have successfully employed. [U. S. Doc. Foreign Rel., Vol. Ill, p. 31-2.] Criticism as to the verbiage of these wise, sound words of advice may be made, and such criticism has not been lacking; but a great practical result soon followed. This result was that six years later, on March 1 6th, 1S02, the United States Militar - Academy at West Point was established by law. and the work of that great school, since its foundation, has more than abundantly prnxctl the forethought and wisdom of the great Virginian who suggested the establishment of military schools. The near approach of the war of i S I 2 proves the practical soundness of these -iews of General Washington, and shows the great wisdom of the man. Xo one can read t he introduction to General Cullums Register of West Point and the comments of the press thereon, without being impressed with the great work ]3erformed b that school and the other militaiy schools of the countn-. Cine of the important results of the war of 181 2, was that the State of ' irginia felt the necessity of establishing an arsenal in the ' alley of Virginia for the better protection of the State. Therefore, in I 8 16 and 1 81 7 tracts of land in Lexington were conveyed to Governors Nicholas and Preston for the purpose of erecting public works, and in due course of time an arsenal was erected and a company of soldiers w ' as enlisted at an annual cost of 56,000 for the purpose of Garrisoning the Western Arsenal at Lexington, in which were stored 30,000 stands of arms and a large quantity of military supplies. This company was first commanded b - Captain James Paxton and subsequently b)- Captain Da id E. Moore.

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In 1836 J. T. L. Preston, I ' sq., a citizen of Lexington, for thirt)--se en years an lionored Professor upon the active list, and aftenvards Emeritus Professor of Latin in the Virginia Mihtary Institute, conceived the idea of substituting for the company of soldiers who guarded the arsenal a company of cadets, who, in addition to the duties of an armed guard, should pursue a course of scientific and militaiy studies. This happ)- conception was consummated by the act of AssembK- of March, 1S39. In Ma -, 1S39, the first Board of Visitors met in Lexington. Of this Board Colonel Claude Crozct, a graduate of the Pol technic School of France, a soldier under Napoleon in the Russian compaign of 181 2, and subsequent!) ' a Professor in the L ' nited States Militaiy Academ - at West Point, and at the time a citizen of X ' irginia, was president. The first act of the new Board wa.s to recognize the eminent fitness of General Francis H. Smith, a distinguished graduate of ' est Point, and at that time Professor of Mathematics in Hampden Sidne - College, for the position of superintendent. L ' nder the wise guidance, in the prosecution of its special end.s, the school grew rapidl) ' in popular favor. The Legislature increased the annuity from time to time, and appropriated large amounts to provide new barracks and to equip the institution. In 1 86 1, the school was full to its capacity. An extension of the barracks was in process of construction to meet the demand of those seeking admission, the privileges of the school having been extended to citizens of other States. In April, 1861, at the call of the States, the corps of cadets, under the command of Major — aftenvards Lieutenant General — Stonewall Jackson marched from Lexington to Richmond. These cadets were employed in instructing and drilling the large number of volunteers assembled for organization and instruction in Camp Lee, near Richmond, (but were soon disorganized and scattered b) ' the advancement of cadets) to militaiy rank in the different grades of sei-vice. In 1S62, upon t ' .c demand of military authorities of the Confederate States for the reorganization c the Institute ;is a training school to supply skilled and educated officers for the armies, the Institute was reopened. During die war cadets were repeatedK ' called into active service in the ' all ' - if ' irginia and on the lines around Richmond. ()n the 13th of May, i S64, at New Market, the corps of Cadets, organized as ..ittalion of infantiy of four companies, and as a platoon of artillen-, sen ' ing two 3 -inch rifle guns, lost over fifty killed and wounded out of an aggregate of two hundred and fift -. On the i ith of June, 1864, the barracks, mess hall, ofificers ' quarters, the libraiy containing about 10, 000 volumes, and all the apparatus and instruments of the various departments of the school, were burned, b)- order of General Da ' id Hunter, commanding the United States Arm -, at that time operating in the Valley of Virginia. From providential causes, the quarters of the superintendent escaped destruction, and was the only building left standing upon the grounds. In October, 1 865, after the close of the war, the Institute was reopened. The buildings and equipments of the school were rapidl)- restored, and the Institute entered upon an era of unprecedented prosperit)-. Since then the course instruction has been enlarged and extended. Appliances of instruction have been provided in the departments of Chemistr -, Physics, Geologv-, Mineralogv-. Engineering, Drawing, Sun-eying, and Modern Languages. In all the vocations of life the men trained