New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-06
COLLEGE COMMANDMENTS.
Military Univer.irs a, Norwich, VI.

Military Universify at Norwich, v.
From Our Special Correspondent
NORWICH Vt, Aug. ., 1876.
The fort fourth anniversary Of the Military University
OF Norwich and the thrtysecond Commencement Of tho
institution under its Collegiate charter has occurred to-
day. The weather has been exceedingly fine and the turn
ont OF the friends Of the institution and of the people gen.
ealy was correspondingy extensive To the friends Of
this school of seence-the only Gifts kind having any
correspondence at all with National Military
Aeademy-its history familiar To the general reader not
so mneh So But it may be well here 10 state that the
Norwich school had It's origin in the genins and fertile
mind of the late Capt Alden Partridge. He founded the
institution as Military and Scientific School in the year
1921 which. in 1884 chartered by the legislature OF
Vermont as Collegiate institution and when al many
periods in the history Of the country and particularly al
the opening and through the continuance OF the recent
war; has been found Of very signal service 10 the
Government, vastly more, IN fact; than II mas eve,
received reward even credit for and entirely beyond the
possibility Of recalling with sufficient terms Of eulogy IN
brief report like this. Among the alumni of the school
have been the following Major Generals: Truman, Sey
mour Milroy, Seth Williams, L. +. G. Ransom W. H. H.
Davis, Augustus c. Dodge and +. w. Lander, There
have been Of other distinguished officers OF hgn
rank given to the nation by this school, but We can Ind
room for their names -
Capt Partridge, the founder Of the school, died in 1854
having left the institution TO other direction IN IoH
Daring Capt Partrdges administration there were some
quently been very large. Gen. T. Is. Ransom, who was
Killed az Chapuepec, was the next Principal He was
followed by Gen. ii: ;. wheaton ana ne by tne heV;
Edward Bourns, d. d. The latter resigned in 1862 and
the school present under the temporary supervision
OF Capt ). W. Shattuck assisted by very able corps of
Professors, of whom the Rev. Dr. Bourns is one The
President of the Board Of Trustees is Prof Horace Web
ster also President OF the Free College the
City Of EewYork formerly Free Academy The
friends II the institution are casting about for a
gentleman to permanently I'LL the Presidency Of the
College, and presume violate no confidence
in promn eating the fact that Mejor-Gen Rufus saxton
very generally looked TO in the hope that he Will accept
the appointment. IL is also in contemplation TO per-
feet for increasing the usefulness and scope OF
operations in the Colleges one OF which may 90 but ms
is not eeain the removal Of the institution 10 N0rthheld
The disastrous conHagaon of last March which destroyed
the principal edifce Of the University was shock from
which has not and will not recover without very great
efforts the part OF IFS friends, and it Is thought by many
of them that another location IN community more pecu-
nary prosperous would aid in restoring the former state
of the establishment. IL is sought TO raise 100000 at
once for an endowment aud whether there 10 removal
not-a question for the faculty to deermne-a OF the
sum named will be required for its wants.
Tho class of 1866 graduates four men, Or the 81 who
originally composed the class, all but these are scattered
by the fortunes of the late The entering class will
comprise 40 II is estimated that Of the entire alumni OF
the Institution, oneqartei part served as officers during
the war
The exercises of Commencement began Sunday, July
% with the Baecalaureate sermon by President Bonns
On Wednesday, the alumni and societies OF the College
had thor respective meetings, followed in the evening by
torchght drllan occasion Of great interest, and alto
gcther unusual affair On Thursday today the regu'
lar Commencement exercises were as follows:
Pri1e-Atlery drill in the school OF the piece Prize
Infsnry drill manual Of At l0i O'clock exercises in
s sna Auburn op Men, T1 Ss g.
Eeedham. GFosS9 Mass Music Winfield Scot
Union with the yaedieory addresses-Charles H. Reed.
Bridgewaier. Mass. 10 Music
ham. boston Mass. O. Music. 3 Poem-Capt. Charles a.
Curtis u s. A. Music Exercises on the parade ground
u. Infantry and Artillery drll. @ Sword and Bayonet
fencing
The following degrees were conferred:
Bachelor Of Science on the members Of the graduating
bachelor Of Arts (hOnOrury)-Lieut. George A. Con-
va We,tSr Of A,h-Col. Joseph stedman of Jamaica
Plains Mass; Col Henry o. Kent Of Lancaster ~ ii.
Doctor of Driany-Tbe Rev T. $. Drown Of New
York; The Rev. Samuel B Shaw OF Westerly, *
The exercises of the graduating class were of specially
noteworthy character. The young who took degrees
are very promising and will reflect credit on their Alma
Mater in whatever ealings they may engage The ora
portions relating TO efforts for strengthening and
imparting vigor the College The poet failed to APP
pearl and the public drill was performed under the drec
ton OF Prof Shatuck, in presence OF very large num-
Der OF admiring spectators.
In the evening there reception by ths acting
President, and hop at the hotel near the University
brought the exercises OF the day close Music was
furnished for the Commencement by BrownsA Band Of
Boston, concert Tuesday evening by those performers
drawing out large and highly-pleased audience.
II viii be that although we give no synopsis OF the
Of training at tho Military University OF Norwich,
the system is which Ii worth chershng The school
has very excellent board of instruction and can be made
equal in efficiency TO what has ever BEEN even In the
best days its founder. The fire did very deporable
work in consuming the best part OF It's property wnlie
records and documents lost by the event. which
money time anything else can never make good
But with and industry effort can be successfully
made in its behalf and that its well wishe and If need
be- the State of Vermont may put the institution on
financial basis and that it's usefulness may be made
perpetual ought to be the wish of every friend of learning
and of the arts.