CHAPTER XXI. VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE.1 The Virginia Military Institute was established and is supported by the State of Virginia. It was organized in 1839 as a State military and scientific school, upon the basis of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and has been in successful operation for fortyseven years. The cadets admitted consist of two classes, State and pay cadets. The Institute supplies to the State cadet his board and tuition; and, in consideration thereof, he is required to teach two years after graduation. The pay cadet is at his own expense, which averages $360 per academic year, for every charge, including clothing. The State cadets are selected from those who are unable to pay their own expenses. The State makes an annual appropriation for the support of the Virginia Military Institute of $30,000. This sum supplies tuition and board to the State cadets without charge, and supports-by the aid of the 1 Reprinted from "The South" June, 1887. A brief but excellent sketch of the Virginia Military Institute may be found in the report of the superintendent of public instruction (Dr. W. H. Ruffner) of Virginia for 1872. A good sketch may also be found in the official register of the institute for 1886-87. The revised regulations for the Virginia Military Institute describe in minute detail its martial discipline and interior administration. The introductory address to the corps of cadets on the resumption of the academic exercises September 10, 1866, on "The Inner Life of the Virginia Military Institute Cadet," by General Francis H. Smith, LL. D., superintendent of the institute, gives a striking picture of cadet life in ante-bellum days. The following interesting letter is printed in the official register for 1886-87: "HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "Centreville, October 22, 1861. "GENTLEMEN: Your circular of the 9th instant has been received, and I beg leave to say, in reply, that I only took the field from a sense of duty; and that the obligation that brought me into service still retains me in it, and will probably continue to do so as long as the War shall last. At the close of hostilities I desire to assume the duties of my chair, and accordingly respectfully request 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. tuition fees, and the income from vested funds-the faculty. In 1860 a donation of $20,000 was made by General Philip St. George Cocke, for the endowment of the chair of agriculture, and in the same year a donation was made of $11,000 by Dr. William Newton Mercer, of Louisiana, to endow the chair of animal and vegetable physiology, applied to agriculture. A donation was made at the same time by Mrs. E. L. Claytor, of Virginia, of $5,000, to erect a hall of natural history. The Virginia Military Institute had just placed itself before the pub. lic as a general school of applied science, for the development of the agricultural, mineral, commercial, manufacturing, and internal improvement interests of the State and country, when the army of General Hunter destroyed its stately buildings and consigned to the flames its library of 10,000 volumes, the philosophical apparatus used for ten years by "Stonewall" Jackson, and all its chemicals. The cadets were then transferred to Richmond and the institution was continued in vigorous operation until the evacuation of Richmond on the 3d of April, 1865. On the 21st of September, 1864, the board of visitors met in Richmond to reorganize the institution. The War had made sad traces on the school, besides the destruction of its building, library, and apparatus. Three of its professors, Lieut. Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson, Maj. Gen. R. E. Rodes, and Col. S. Crutchfield, two of its assistant professors, Capt. W. H. Morgan, and Lieut. L. Crittenden, and 200 of its alumni had been slain in battle, and 350 others maimed. Considering, however, the great demand flowing from the general suspension of education in the South, and the special field of usefulness distinctly marked out for this school of applied science, the board of visitors proceeded with energy and resolution in their work, and having elected Gen. G. W. Custis Lee and Col. Wm. B. Blair, distinguished graduates of the U. S. Military Academy, to fill two of the chairs made vacant by the death of General Jackson and General Rodes, and at subsequent meetings appointed Commodore M. F. Maury, LL. D., late of the Observatory, professor of physics and superintendent of the physical survey of Virginia, and Capt. John M. Brooke, late of the Navy, to the new chair of practical astronomy, geodesy, physical geography, and meteorology, the Virginia Military Institute resumed its accustomed work amid its ruins at Lexing ton on the 17th of October, 1865, with some 50 cadets, organized in four classes, and prosecuted its work with earnestness and effect, and on the Fourth of July following, 10 cadets, constituting the first class, who had borne the hardships and perils of the institution during the whole of the War, were graduated, having completed a course of scientific and general study which will commend them to the confidence of the scientific scholar. The Legislature of Virginia promptly responded to these evidences of vitality on the part of the school by providing for the payment of its annuity and the interest on its vested funds. This provision enabled the board of visitors to appoint the State cadets required by law to be admitted, and arrangements were at the same time in progress to restore the buildings; and on the 1st of July, 1870, they had the pleasure to report to the Governor the complete execution of this work, including a full equipment of the laboratories, engineering, and drawing departments of the institution. The Virginia Military Institute now numbers 1,334 graduates, 430 of whom were State cadets. There have been altogether 4,975 matriculates, and of these 813 were State cadets. By the Act approved March 15, 1884, relief was given to the Virginia Military Institute, by providing substantially for the payment of the floating debt and the gradual retirement of the whole of its bonded debt; these debts resulting from the work of restoring the ruin of war. SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION AND GOVERNMENT. The system of instruction and government in the Virginia Military Institute is distinctive. and is founded upon that of the United States Military Academy at West Point. As soon as a young man enters this institution it assumes over him an entire control, and not only directs his moral and intellectual education, but provides everything required for his personal wants or comfort. A cadet may, if his parents desire it, remain in the charge of the institution for the entire term of four years, as the system of government keeps it always in operation. The months of July and August in each year are devoted exclusively to military exercises. Furloughs are granted to those who may desire it, in turn, during this period. The cadets are lodged and boarded in the institution, their clothing, books, and other supplies being provided by the quartermaster of the Institute at cost. The sick are under the special care of the surgeon, with hospital and other facilities for nursing. The energy, system, subordination, and self-reliance which the mili tary government of the Institute cultivates give a practical character to the education which it supplies. The high reputation which its alumni have established for the school is the evidence of its value. Attendance at church and Bible instruction are prescribed for each Sabbath. The government of the Virginia Military Institute, although military in its organization, is carefully arranged for the protection and development of the moral character of the cadets. Attendance on the public services of the sanctuary and regular Bible instruction on the Sabbath are positively enjoined by the regulations. Appended to the report of the examining board, July, 1875, is the following remark: "In conclusion, your committee can not too highly commend what has seemed to them the marked and distinguishing features of this institution, the happy combination of the military system of instruction with the department of science and of literary culture, and the more ennobling culture of the heart and soul. Nowhere else have we seen this combination so complete and perfect. We can not speak of it too highly. It is such a system as fits a pupil for life and for death. Under its guidance he is sure to tread always the path of duty, virtue, and honor." |