The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-07
pecisl Correspondence OF the Dispatch.
LEXINGTON, Va, July 1, 1850.

LEXINGTON, Va, July 4, lsG6.
Your correspondent reached the beauti-
lul little town of Lexington this morning
in time to be present at the commence
ment exercises" of the far-famed Virgi-
MIA Military Institute. Arriving at tn
PRESBYTERIAN Church about halEpast ten
o'clock, found it rapidly filling with the
beauty and intelligence of the town and
vicinity and while waiting for the arrival
Of the cadets, had opportunity TO indulge
in a review Of the past history and future
prospects of the Institute. The Virginia
Military Institute was organized in 1889
upon the plan of the United States Acade-
my at West Point, and up to the destruc-
,ion of its beautiful buildings by the van
dial Hunter the Institute enjoyed a patron
age limited only by its accommodations.
At the time Of the burning Of its build
iDgs il numbered three hundred cadets.
Since its organization it has had two
thousand matriculatcS, of whom five hun
died have graduated. What it contributed
Ia the efficiency of the Confederate army
is too well known to require repetition.
Besides sending to the contest such men as
Lieutenant General I. J. jackson, Major
General X. Z. Rhodes, Brigadier-G General
X. +. COlston, and Colonel Crutchfeld,
from among its professors, there were edu-
Gated at the Institute the following among
many other accomplished officers: Major
Generals William Malone, J. A. Walker,
and &. c. Wharton; Brigadier- Generals
X. l.. Walker, Samuel Garland, W. r.
Terry, W. T. c. Humes, A. j. Vaughan,
BIT. Elliott, I. r. Muntord, J. II. Lane, j.
McCausland, and j. E. B. Terrill. Three
of its professors, jackson, Rhodes, and
Crutchield,) two of its assistant profess
sors Captain w. ii. Morgan and Lieuten-
ant L. Crittenden), and one hundred and
twenty five Of its alumni, were killed in
battle, and three hundred and fifty others
were wounded during the war. The ruins
OF the buildings were a fair type Of the
prospects OF the Institute a year ago; but,
thanks to the energy of Superintendent
Smith, arrangements have been completed
to accommodate at leSst one hundred and
fifty cadets next session, and that number
will undoubtedly be secured. The Fede-
raj authorities at first refused to allow
them TO resume the military feature of the
school General Terry even issued orders
forbidding them to bury with mill
tary honors the cadets who fell ut
New Market; but / believe that all
opposition has at last been removed, and
the institution will be placed next ses-
sion on its old basis Of military instruction
and discipline. The Board of Visitors
were certainly fortunate in being able to
NIL the vacant chairs with such men as
General G. W. Gusts Lee, Colonel Viii.
liam Is. Blair, and Captain John u. Brooke.
But enough Of the past history Of the In.
s!itute. started to give brief sketch of
the commencement exercises" At the
appointed hour, two professions filed down
the opposite aisles; the one composed OF
tue board OF Visitors (of whom there were
present Hon. W. II. Mcfarland, Colonel
George Boiling, 2. Turner, ESQ.,, Colonel
N. q. Hartman, Hon. w. r. Staples, Gene.
raj William II. Richardson, and Goyerno,
!. II. Peirpoint), and the Faculty; and tht
other composed Of the cadets. No bras,
band, nor even fife and drum, delighted
the small boys and negroes as In the older
time. Your correspondent noticed scene
which he would suggest as appropriate fol
some master painter to sketch: RoBERr E
Lee sitting alongside Of FRANCIS II. PEIg.
POINT. BY the way, IL has been matter
Of some wonder how the man who could
see nothing In the character Of Jackson Ia
admire" happened TO visit the grave Oi
jackson and home Of Lee"
The exercises were opened with prayer
bv Fev DIR. White, and Cadet Glazebrook