Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 31 text:

Ill Pirpctuaiii Rci Mcvioy ' uiin . (Ibc Charge of tbc Ca ct£j AT rill ' . HAiTu: i)[ m; makki;i ' . ma 15. 1 64. The tluindcriiit; cannon swept the slope. TliC) ' swept the deep ravine ; Their shot tore thrcm Ii the Southern ranks Tlie ' ploU| h ' d the ijround between, Tile i,ditteriii i;- line ol Si-el stnod, twofold njion the hill ; And from its crest that st. irm of death swept back the rebels still. In vain was many a tjallant deed of soldiers ' diit - done : Kre the - mit ht rout their serried foes the batter - must be won ! And now the - ' r ordered forward, to storm the Xorthern t inis : The L,dorious (irey Hattali( n. X ' irLjinia ' s youns est sons ! It was the bo s ' first battle ! ihcy burned to strike the foe ! Their hearts are wild fur ' ;lor)- ! and with a shout the ' i;o I Three hundred school-boy soldiers ! three hundred hero elves ! And some whose gleaming rifles were taller than themselves I The - charged like men of iron nene. tlirough storms of slmt and shell 1 Xor broke their step, nor waved their line though man - a youngster fell. The sunshine on their colors ! the flag of Liberty The sunshine of their ba -onets ! a glorious sight to see.

Page 30 text:

' Ilic Officer in Charge holds the Officer of tlic Da ' responsible for the proper instruction of the guard and for the performance of its duties. He, in turn, makes the non-conimissinncd dUicers iniiler him responsible, while thcv require the sentinels to enforce the regulations uithin limits of the post entrusted to their care. W ' hencxcr, therefore, a breach of the regulations occurs, either the guilty parties are reported ur the sentinel or officer under whose supen ' ision it was detected, is charged with neglect of dut -. From this it is reatliU- seen that the idea of individual responsibility runs through the whole scheme, not of the guard only, but of all conditions of cadet life. Four ) ' ears of such life, while not in all cases productixe of is certainK- most conducive to habits (if ])romptness, exactness, neatness and order, and in these ver - points lie the excellencies of the s)-stem ; fostering, as it does, decision of character, self-reliance and self-restraint, and thus fitting its men to be leaders in the battles of life. In every calling man must control men, and as it is an accepted principle of military ethics, that, other things being equal, he can best eonmiand who best obe) ' s, the importance of such a system as ours is at once app.uvnt. The military s stem is Mimetinies coiKlenined f ir making soldiers — ami only soklicrs. As an answer to such objection we simpK- point to the list of our alunmi, nceupxing pusitions nf honor and respimsibility in all parts nf the countrx ' . The history of to-daj ' , however, proves that the nnlitary training is an iini)ortant pari of the education of our -oung men, fir in no less than nine different States, during the last two years ha e the guverndrs ileenied it necessar - to call upon their militi.i tn pruteet lives and property against the fury of lawless mobs. True efficienc) ' in these cummands is impossible without competent officers, and tor such officers a nnlitary training is absolutely necessaiy, for while the power to control and direct men is sometimes found in-born, such cases are rare and most men, if they have it at all, have it in a rudimentaiy state needing de ' elopment. .Such de elopnient nnist be made gradually and by well directed means and methods, and the opportunities for this in time of peace, are f mml (inl - in nur military colleges. The need, however, for trained leaders, has always been appreciated, and to meet such a neeil — in our nwnst.ite primaiily — the JNlilitai ' ) ' S ' stem of the Institute was first organized. That it accomplishes its purpose, history and the iib.ser ation of conser ati e people bear indisputable evidence.

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The ' crossed the broken ridges, they passed the deep ra ' ine, And struggling up toward the guns their ghttering line was seen ; While still the Yankee cannoneers poured grape-shot from each gun, And aye the Grey Battalion unflinchingly pressed on ; No doubt, no fear, could chill these hearts that tasted Gloiy ' s cup, y nd as their stricken comrades fell the thinning line closed up ; The noblest sight a conq ' ring field of battle ever gave. The charge of that Battalion ! so young ! and yet so brave ! On swept the Grey Battalion ! on ! up the sloping hill ! The sunshine on its bayonets ! its colors waving still ! Unflinchingly from the slaughter ! heedless of those who fell ! For even in her urchins, Virginian ' s blood will tell ! The Boys were on their mettle ! full in both armies ie ' ! The nearer to the Yankees the taller each Boy grew ! On ! though the men are falling ! on ! till our work is done ! On I till the foe is routed ! on ! till the guns are won ! Still, still the cannon thundered ! ileath blazed into their eyes ! But still the Grey Battalion swept on toward its prize ! On, through the flaming battle ! upward until at last, In ' mong the blazing cannons the glittering ba} ' onets passed ! N ' ainlv the swarming Yankees fought ' gainst the Boys ' attack ! No foeman ' s arm could stop them, whom death coukl not hokl back ! The Boys stood wildly shouting, around each cajiturcd gun ! And Sigel ' s line was broken ! the blazing batteiy won !