The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-01-15

MtTCtF
served with Washington against the Indians Lewis
had also been with Washington in the war Of 1855;
Stevens, too had gone through preliminary raning
Harry Lee had been finely educated and had passed
through the lower grades of command Rutherford had
distinguished himself in the Cherokee War; Shelby had
taken active part in the fierce battle of Point
Pleasant; so had Sewer Morgan had served pri-
vate soldier under Braddock; Richardson of South
Carolina had been in the Cherokee War; Marion had
also distinguished himself in that war; had Pickens
so had Moutrie Alexander Hamilton had passion for
military studies from his boyhood. In addition 30 all
this country had the command of the best military
talent of the Old World. Kosciusko tine Engineer-n
Chief of the Army, was a graduate of the military
school at Warsaw-hs admirable field works at Bemis
Heights led the defeat of Burgoyne, and his system
of defense made West Point impregnable; Baron
Steuben graduate of the military school at Mu-
mich. His services quarter master and inspector
general of Army of incalcuable advantage to
arms Pulaski had taken part in the Polish Revolu
ton La Fayete had been trained in the best of schools
the French Army De Kalb his friend and associate
in the French servce Charles Lee had held
mission in the British Army from his eleventh year,
had served in the French and Indian war; in Portugal
and in Poland; Du Portaii, Laumoy Radere and Gou-
Won were made engineer officers in our Army their
transfer from the French.
All these facts go to prove that military education
and training highly appreciated during the Revo
luton. Our Fathers never placed inexperienced
man in position of responsibility, if they could find
with experience. Providence had so ordered it
that the French and Indian War had given a trained
band of leaders for the Revolutionary armies, and
these were the men put in command. The discovery
that training not necessary for the soldier has been
made in the last few years. Our fathers thought
differently, and the prominent of the Revolution
Washington, Hamilton, Knox, &c-urged Congress, in
l7S3 to establish military academy. Washington, in
his last annual message Dec 7th, 1896 urged again
in strong language; Whatever argument" said he,
may be drawn from particular examples specifically
viewed, thorough examination of the subject will
evnce that the art Of is both comprehensive and
complicated; that 1t demands much previous study and
that the possession of it in its improved and
feet state is aooys Of great moment to the security Of
nation" By remarkable coincidence of ideas, of
the first thoughts of the great Napoleon also to
establish military and scientific school, the Polytech
nc at Paris. In his earlier he had graduates
from it; but in his last campaigns, his distinguished
Generals were all from that InstituteE Gourgaud,
inspector general Bertrand Rogniat the great eng-
neer; Dode Duponthou; Haxo; Fleury; Valaze; Cham
berry; Bernard afterwards chief of engineers in our
service, and host of others. Napoleon wont to
speak of the Polytechnic the hen that laid him the
golden eggs" Let it be remembered, too, that Napo
leon with all his military genius, acknowledged
the military art to be of tuition. He permitted
to be promoted 'oho not graduate Of military
school, had not shown distinguished merit in inferior
position Thus, Dessaix graduate of the military
schooat Efiat Davoust graduate of that at Brienne
Keber of that at Munich Drouet, chief of artillery
graduate of the artillery school, CarnOt head of the
war department. "organizer of victory" graduate of
the engineer school at Mezieres Foy of that at La
Fevre; Pichegru and Duroc of that Brienne Eugene
Bea auharnas of that at St Germain-en-Loye; he Ber
thier. and Marmont all of officers, and
trained to the profession of arms-Berher had served
with La Fayete in America; Lecourbe educated at
military school Some of the distinguished French
generals were graduates of colleges and then passed
through the lower grades in the army. Thus Lannes,
Suchet, Mortier Lefebvre, Murat and Joubert were
thoroughly educated Moreau entered the army when
mere boy, and worked his up; Marmont also served
from his sixteenth year; Augerau had been twenty
years in service before he promoted Victor
from the ranks Hoche served for many years in a SUBJ
ordinate position. Ney, Soult Junot and Massena went
thrnI1 hal that
greatest warrior the world has known careful
that no ignorant and incompetent should have a
post of trust and responsibility; his Marshals and
Generals all eleves of military schools or they
had had long and varied experience in the realities of
war. Hence it was that the terror of his arms was |
upon all Europe from the Rock of Gibraltar to the |
River Neva and from the Black Sea the Irish Chan
nel He understood war better far better, than
understand it, His of policy, then, in mill
tary matters, should be guide us. Let US, like
him, seek educated officers for the leadership of our
troops, that VIXEN with all its horrors shall be
upon u.s. shall be able to wage it with Skill energy
and success.
1t may not be amss to cite the example of sister
State Virginia. She makes annual appropriation of
S77lo from the treasury and l5oo from the literary
und for the board and tuition fees of thirty three |
cadets in the Military Institute at Lexington Besides
his, she has made numerous special appropriations,
averaging about $7Ol5 per annum-so that her total
annual benefaction to this Institute is little
han Sl6,225. We ask for such heavy expenditure
the part Of State for the development of the n
3. NJ. Institute, although n c. has a larger literary
und than any other Southern State and is therefore
more able than Virginia to cherish her Institu-
ions. We ask for nothing than present loan of
900 to enable to provide Library and Apparatus
ind an annual appropriation OF S275 for board and
uition fees of cadet from each of the fifty senate
ial districts of the State. The appointment of the
beneficiary should rest with the Senator and should be
made alternately from each county of his District upon
he recommendation of the school committee. This
,lan affords mutual advantages our Institute and TO
he State. To the former it would be equivalent to
endowment, because it would guarantee d
ertain number of pupils to the State it would give
older and of science in each district, educated
cheapy than he could be under any other system
Furthermore, should it be made obligatory it is in
Virginia. upon each beneficiary to teach three years,
he State would have corps of competent teachers in
very part of it, and the n c. Military Institute would
a Central Normal School for the training of
uitabe instructors Of youth have report of the
Tirginia Military Institute later than 1885, but up
hat tme only two of the eighty nine benehcares who
lad been graduated there, had failed to fulfill their
obligation, and the shame of these proclaimed
8 per cent of the pay students who entered had
nergy and perseverance enough to graduate, more
han 46 per cent Of the benecares got through with
redt and received their diplomas. / subjoin brief
able to show how much the educational and scientific
interests of the country have been promoted by the
'irgina Military Institutes
p july 1859, there have been, of graduates, $50
OF these, there had been of Teachers Ill
And of the Teachers, there had been of Profess
in Universities,
Professors in Military Academies,
Principals of Academies,
Professors in Colleges "a
Assistant Professors in Colleges, 20
Principals Assistants in Schools, lo4
There had entered the Army or Navy, 9
There had entered the Coast Survey.