Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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Historical Sketch of the Virginia Militarg Institute (From Virginia State Dir ]EXINGTON, the county seat of Rockbridge count}-, lies upon North River, surrounded b} ' wild and beautiful scenerj ' . It is the seat of the Virginia Military Institute, and also of Wash- ington and Lee University. The remains of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. L,ee lie buried here. The Virginia Military Institute, called the West Point of the South, was established under an act of the General Assemblj of Virginia, passed in March, 1839 ; and the first corps of cadets was mustered into the service of the State on the 9th of November, 1839. Up to that time a company of soldiers had been maintained by the State to garrison the Western Arsenal at Lexington, in which were stored 30,000 muskets and a large quantit}- of military material. In 1836, J. T. L. Preston, Esq., a citizen of Lexing- ton, for thirty-seven years an honored professor upon the active list, and afterwards Emeritus Professor in the Institute, conceived the idea of substi- tuting for the company of soldiers guarding the arsenal a company of cadets, who, in addition to the duties of an armed guard, should pursue a course of scientific and military studies. This happ} ' conception was consummated by the Act of March, 1839. In May, 1839, the first Board of Visitors met in Lexington. Under wise guidance, in the prosecution of its special ends, the school grew rapidly in popular favor. The Legislature increased its annuity from time to time and appropriated generously to provide new barracks and to equip the institution. In May, 1864, in the battle of New Market, the cadets distinguished themselves for their braver}-, losing one-fifth of their number. On the nth of June, 1864, the barracks, mess hall, ofiicers ' quarters, the library containing

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Academic Staff General Scott Shipp, LL. D., Super in ten dent. Colonel John M. Brooke, Professor of Physics and Astronomy. Colonel Thomas M. Semmes, Professor of Modern Languages and Rhetoric. Colonel E. W. Nichols, Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics. Colonel R. A. Marr, Professor of Engineering, Architecture, Geodesy and Drawing. Colonel Hunter Pendleton, M. A., Ph. D., Professor of General and Applied Chemistry. Colonel David D. Price, ist Lieut, ist Artillery, U. S. A., Commandant of Cadets and Professor Military Science. Colonel N. B. Tucker, C. E. B. S., Professor of Geology and Mineralogy , and Associate Professor of Chemistry. Captain W. T. Voorheis, Graduate U. of Ya., histnutor of Latin. Captain M. B. Corse, Assistant Professor of Chemistry , Physics, A stronomy and Tactics. Captain B. B. Morgan, C. E., Assistajit Professor of Mathematics , French and Tactics. Captain C. B. Slemp, B. S., Assistant Professor of Mathematics, English and Tactics. Captain H. E. Hyatt, B. S., Assistant Professor of Mathematics, English and French. Captain C. W. Watts, C. E., Assistant Professor of Mathematics , Drawing and Tactics.

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G. F. POHL, A. C. RALEIGH, ILLUSTRATING STAFF A. C. CRUMP, ' 98 H. S. ESTILL, ' 9 E. S. BERRY, 190 This Plate Presented by Publishers