Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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ilbc flDUitani Svc ' tciii of the llnsititutc The A ' irginia Militan- Institute, as its naiiK- im])lics isilistiiicti cly .1 military scIiodI. Its educational system embraces general and scientific courses, aiul wliile b - nti means classical, its cin-nculimi is cnmprehensue ennuyli Ui gi e it rank among the first colleges of the count!-)-. In spite ( if this, houever, the Institute is pre-eminently a militan- school. Histor)- proNCs it such. Of the armies of the Confederac}-, one-tenth was commanded by her I ' Aiv.v, and though at the outbreak of the «-ar but eighteen classes had been graduated, she furnished from her muster rolls, three Major Generals, eighteen Brigadier Generals, fifty-eight Colonels, fort --four Lieutenant Colonels, fifty-six Majors and one hundred and eighty staff and compan)- officers of lesser rank. So much is on record. The military sNstem is thorough and absolute and regulates eveiy phase of cadet life. W ith the sound .if the reveille, arousing him for the roll call at 6:20 A. M., the cadet is launched on a routine of duties regulated by drums and bugles — first to breakfast, then guard mounting, classes, dinner, classes again, di-ill, parade, study hours, tattoo and finally taps at 10 p. M. when the long mellow notes of the bugle signal lights out, and the busy life of barracks is at once hushed to a stillness, broken onl - by the tramp of the sentinels keeping guard i:) er all. His presence during the da - is erified b - no less than six roll calls and four inspections, exclusive of his cla.ss rolls, so that skulking or taking duty is quickl)- noted. Throughout all departments the principles of the militar - hierarchy are strictly obsen-ed and obedience and subordination are the first lessons taught. In barracks the chief authority is ested in the Commandant, as head of the militar - department and commander of the battalion of cadets. hor instruction in the drill regulations and militan- police and discipline, the battalion is di -ided into four companies, each commanded by an assistant professor, who ranks as Captain of Engineers in the X ' irginia Militia, and with a complement of cadet officers and non-commi.ssioned officers, through whom the individual instruction is transmitted. Under such superv-ision all cadets are thoroughly instructed in the -arious drills and ceremonies, including signalling, target practice and all camp duties. The barracks is under the immediate supervision of the Officer in Charge, who is an assistant professor, assisted by the cadet ( )fficer of the Day and each of the four dixisions into which it is di ided is conti-ollcd by its Inspector and assistant Inspector.

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I 1 1 r. COLORS.

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llATl ' ALKiX DRILL.