Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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at the Virginia Military Institute ha ' e won for ' theni,scl es honorable distinction. The illustrious reeonl of services rendered b - her sons during the war has established the reputation of the Virginia Military Institute upon an enduring foundation. L ' pon the roll of her academic staff are to be found the names of Stonewall Jackson, Matthew J- ' . Maury, Crutchfield, Gilham Massie, Madison. Hhiir, Washington, Williamson, Lee. Preston and Smith. Her matriculates number 5.239, of whom 1,392 became full graduates. On the first day of January, 1890, Major-General I ' rancis A. Smith, who had filled the jjosition of superintendent from the foundation of the school, and had restored it fi ' om its ruins after the war, sought in retirement the repose he had so well earned by fift ' ) ' ears of acti e and distinguished service. On the 2 1st day of March, 1890, General Smith died in the sevent ' -eighth year of his age. On tlie 15th day of July, 1890, Colonel J. T. L. Preston, who, with General Smith, constituted the entire faculty of the school from 1839 to 1842, died in the eightieth year of his age. ( )n the 10th of December, 18S9, General Scott Shipp was appointed superintendent to succeed General F. H. Smith, and under his ise and conser ati e management the school has increased in numbers and in prosperit)-, and now stands upon a firm and substantial basis. As a part of this sketch it is deemed to be not inappropriate to introduce the following letters from two illustrious men : Letter from Lieutenant T. J. Jaehsou, Headquarters i.st. Brigade, 2nd Corps A. L : A TKi: ii.Li;, Oct. 22, 1861. GEXTt.EMEX : ' om circular of the 9th inst.. h.is been received, and I beg leave to say, in repl ' . that I onlxtook the field from a sense of duty ; and that the obligation that brought me into the serxice still retains me in it, and will probablx- continue to do so as long as the war shall last. At the close of hostilities, I desire to assume the duties of m)- chair, and accordingl)- respectfiilly reipiest that, if consistent with the interest of the Institute, the action of the Board of Visitors may be such as to admit of my return upon the restoration of peace. Respectfull)-, -our obedient servant, T. J. J. CKsoN. Lrof. of Xatiiral and Ex. Pliilosopln. V. J . . T, ( Gen W i. H. Rich.xrp.son, io ■, - T Ti II - Committee. [ Ge . 1. H. Havmond. I L ettcr from Ceul. R. li. Lee : C- Mr l ' i-;rEKsi ' .L Kii, July 4, 1 S64. I ha e grie ed oxer the destruction of the Militar)- Institute. But the good that has been done to the countr - can not be destroyed, nor can its name or fame perish. It will rise .stronger than before, and continue to dififu.se its benefits to a grateful people. Under your wise administration, there ' be no suspension of its usefulness. The difficulties by which it is surrounded will call forth greater energies from its officers and increased diligence from its jjupils. Its pros[)erit - I consider certain. With great regard, ours veiy truly, R. P:. Lee.

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ME.--S HALL.

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This brief sketch miglit well be deemed sufficient, but our duty would be but half done did wc omit to mention that roll of honor to which we point with pardonable pride. To her sons, and to their achievements the Virginia Military Institute turns with exultation. In all the professions and vocations of life the men trained at the Virginia Military Institute have won for themselves and for their mother, enviable and honorable distinction. This mother is but little more than fift - }-ears of age, almcist the )-oungest of Virginia ' s daughters, but her life has been long enough to gi -e to her mother State and to her sister States an army of sons of whom an}- mother ma - well be proud. To the Lost Cause, the Virginia Militaiy Institute ga e twent)--one general officers, three Major Generals : William Mahone, W. V. C Humes and Robert K. Rhodes. Eighteen Brigadier Generals: Echols, Walker, Colston, Wharton, J. R. Jones, Garland, Pa -ne. Teny, A. C. Jones, Ba.ss, Vaughan, Elliott, Munford, Walker, Lane, Penn, McCausland, Terrill. More than one hundred Colonels : Strange, Forbes, Pendleton, Cummings, Campbell, Portei-field, Burks, Uuke, Porter, J. M. Patton, Goodes, Moncure, Doby, Berkele) ' , V. B. Jones, Trigg, Fristoe, J. W. Allen, Carter, Otey, Byrd, Gordon, Stuart, Brockenbrough, C. Smith, Carrington, Parrish, Garrett, G. S. Patton, J. Mayo, Yeger, R. Mayo, Gibbons, Phillips, G. H. Smith, Waddy, Mallory, J. W. Humes, Lightfoot, Crutch- field, W. T. Patton, L. B. Williams, R. C. Allen, Montague, McKinney, Hurt, Owen, Slaughter, Fulkerson, Neff, Edmunds, Ham, T. V. Williams, Marshall, Burgesyn, E. Morrison, Galloway, Florence, Leftwich, Tabb, and others. Nearly one hundred Lieutenant- Colonels, and more than four hundred and seventy-five Majors and Captains. More than one hundred general and regimental staff officer.s, and more than two hundred subalterns. A total of quite twelve hundred officers, including many of whom we have no definite rccoid as to regiment and compan - but who are known tn have served with honor, bravery and distinction. In the walks dfcixil life our .U 11 Matcf has furnished to the countiy no fewer, antl no less distinguished men than she has supplied in war. .She has gi en to the cuuntrx ' one L ' nited .States Minister : Charles I)enb ' ; three United .States Senators : William Mahone, C. J . Faulkner and T. Martin. Eleven Congressmen : Campbell, Duke, Marr, Berkelex ' , Ma)o, P ulkerson, Otey, llarri. . Wise, Elliott, and Turner. Besides these she has given Go ' ernors, Judges, Lawyers, Clergymen, Engineers, Physicians, members of State Senates, of State Legislatures, Professors, Artists and other callings. It will be seen from the above enumeration that the work accomplished by the clcv ' cs of the Virginia Militaiy Institute can not be over estimated. They have in all departments kept pace with advancing civilization, ha -e helped to improve our harbors, lakes and rivers ; to define our boundaries, to sur ey, and light our coasts. They have given to our militia and volunteers large numbers of -aluable officers. They ha e furnished distinguished engineers, who ha e bound our territor - together with a net work of railways and canals ; have supplied aluable City. State and Government funetiimaries ; ha e improved our worksho|)s, antl the culti ation of the soil; ha e contributed largeK ' to the bar and the pulpit, and have elevated the scientific standard of man)- of the educational institutions of our countiy, Burke has said that E.xample is the only argument of effect in civil life. These men, the Alumni of the Virginia Military In.stitute ; we present as shining examples, as strong arguments, in fa -or of good work well done in the past ; and as exponents of better and greater work to be achieved in the future-