Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-04

as laying out and throwing up some Of tho works OF
campaign which most ordinarily used; batteries,
trenches. cavaliers. the OF conducting saps the
construction Of gahons and ascnes Sc Sc and course
ct topography ssapped TO military "Reminiscences; in
deed, such Is the vast importance OF this branch that
new department, embracing the whole subject could not
ia'i to ae very advantageous to the military student
In the department of natural philosophy many port
ant practical Illustrations might be advan,ageou-ly intro
duced Al present the experimental part OF the course
Is principally confined 10 the illustration such facts and
gen.'"i principles smay he established by experiments
eNhbuedn the presence OF the class These illus
raiions arc attended with most beneficial effects as
hey serve TO make very iurcibe sion on the mind
oil The student but they aane insufficient. 1t is fire.
ihehy Important that the student should only be
q"aned with the and use OF instrument, but tina,
ne should he able to emplcy himself This only be
done, when s"icient time is allowed for each student
make eqIent use OF such instruments under the impo.
date direction OF the professor.
This deficiency j. particularly felt in the course Of as
onomy, where an Intimate acquaintance with the use of
instruments, and the habits OF submitting the data furnish
cd by observation 10 the process of ate essen
tally necessary enable the student TO appy his theore
uea' knowledge TO useful purposes. The instruction in
astronomy entirely limited. The time hch
can he devoted to this object being scarcely more than
sufficient to permit the professor to make the students ac
quainted with the objects the lew instruments i'm the
possession oil THIS department. This is certainly great
ueec important lines are frequently required be e.a-
oshed as boundaries between States aud Territories of
heshoonng nations, where the OF ius,ru-
heh oil the last Importance and the cadets OF this AGA
denny ought TO be practically taught use them with per-
feet correctness.
The principles of strategy or grand tactics n,igh, he
taught with advantage.
III Is true that there is work treating of those subie
wmch sufficiently condensed and the same time per
ecy excepiionsblc in its principles and illustrations
out the same industry and talent which have furnished
text books III other departments OF military science ip n,
DC emPoyed Tor TINS purpose with great success fur
hsh series oil lectures embracing adrnou of the too H.
meal terms employed and OF such general pncpe. a..
admit oil the clearest and most exact illustration
III appears always to have been desirable tina, cavalry
tactics should be taught at the great National Military
denny Tins branch has hitherto been totally lectod: but
mas become more essentially necessary since this arm,
mas oeeh added to The regular army the country The
service oil cavalry aud horse artillery ought TO form mari
OF the practical instruction Of this academy aud the board
esPeeuny recommend this subject TO your consde
me cadets are now occupied seuously every hour of
me day III The prosecution of the studies now sup in
is insu'ion 1t will be necessary if these subjects are
deemcd OF sufficient importance be added to the presen,
course, that the term OF the study shou he
tended-or, that the qualifications required on entering the
academy should he made much greater than they now are
hey are now lower than required by any literary ins,
Huon III TINS country, and doubt the frequent dismissal
o. those young men, who cannot keep with their class
P'ncp"iy from this cause Parents ought be in
formed oil e great advantage their would derive the
urst year OF their OF this academy by being well
GROUNDED III the Classics in arithmetic and zebra and in
the fudiments oil the French language.
The manner in which the cadets are furnished with
ciohhg was SUBJECT OF inquiry by the board who ere
satisfied that this done in The most economical
her' Their mess inspected while the cadets
were at their meals and the board were satisfied that ,he
steward uhled his contract faithfully. and supplied the
An inquiry having been made into the manner in which
The cadets supplied sith the class books and
~ ne ooau are satisfied, after careful inves,iy alton
a' inc Cadets are supplied with all such articles al 10
e Price ihan they be purchased Ne York and in
ne most convenient just and economical manneI; and thai
the arrangement made by The in mis-
u'Wa' Is marked ny The same prudent economy order
anu nlegehce' which characterize the mana mt of
the institution. ~ "
The boatd ,vinp learnt that tho nres.,, ,
OF "e mhtary academy, whose health has suffered from,
MS close attention TO the affairs the institution las hy
i' o"n soIchauon BEEN called TO the performance OF
uu les cannot orbear express the very high sense
'hey entertain OF his merit and ices during the Ions
period OF his command of the station.
10 the knowledge acquired with this view law Co,
mayer, The military academy of the United States owes
its present admirable organization; and TO hi, zeal
GU. ana nnweaIied attention TO lis duties is be aitrbu-
ecu e hign Stale oil discipline and mpOv the in.
suution To his exerons owe in great the
success OF this establishment, the extensive usefulness, of
fully appreci tied. - ~
Independently Of serving disseminate over the vast
erones OF The United States knowledge of description
which cannot enter into the usual course OF studies in
academies aud furnishing the means OF rendering mo.i
ehechve our army and militia, secuIiug our frontier and
Improving the communications iroue hom, the States IA
calculated to elevate the moral OF the military mo-
LESSON in our country, the importance OF which TO the
general interests OF the nation too much insisted
upon.
The annals OF history prove that succe in arms ia
oil tue most faithful sources Of personal popularity and in
country where the soldier is still citizen and NAV be
caea upon 10 share in the civil government rise 10
The highest honors OF the Sale standard of study and
discipline conno be too high which developes his talents
ana forms his character. The annals show that al
the close OF successful the liberties OF country de.
pend III great measure upon the character of liz armies
at such period the fortunate soldier possesses bower
and great aud probably well-earned popularity and il
MS character Is not so elevated by nature or educa-
uen as 10 lead him TO prefer the solid fame Of having pre
served the liberties OF his fellow citizens to the @lier
oil false anbiion and TO sacrifice all personal views Of az
grandzement TO the good OF his country, he may plunge
the State into anarchy, rve upon his fellow. citizens
the chains OF despoiSm If the Liberties of the States
OF Europe shall be recovered il will be effected Ihrouoh
e improved condition. character education of their
officers and soldcIs and while indulge the hone that
tie liberty oil these States rests upon firm basis TO be
oveTthrown by the ambition of those no COMPOSE our
mics IT cannot be concealed, that they not
ed their Ignorance and depravily might seriously enan
ger the peace of the country.
The board have observed with regret that the old
works iii the neighborhood of The academy have been IN
some instances disturbed They oue in their onnion
TO be preserved as monuments of the glorious struqeI.
which secured our independence. The conemoL.xI6 q,
such memorials cannot fail TO have beneDAs51 7Yo
they are calculated 10 inspire all Americans with senty
ncnts oil exalted and e remind them of the ex
uaordlharS-eo sacrifices made by our fore
'!e,s to achieve the liberty and ndepe of the
solutions, and TO reflect, that heirs the immortal
oil Their ancestors, they bound 10 emulate their oior
Gus career and preserve their bright nhera with The
same lnlexible courage and undertaking puroose
STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER PJesident
CHARLES COFFIN, EpAsrus r.
j. X. BURDEN, JouN Fopovnr,
o. o. SKINNER, JOSEPH G. YATES
iLFIN YALE, JAMES FENNER
-. 80 ,, hOssELL3 JOHN A. ToMLINsoN,
=, - ~ ANIbbf crawford, r. b. PoyALL, Virginia,
- - ~ H. POLLARD, Virginia,
mo " ENwIck, H. Cen q. READ, Delaware,
JAMES BANKHEAD, j. Rooms Delaware
! j. X PoINsETT,