The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-15
The Military Academy.

Thomas for 4 most instructive historical
sketch Of the South Carolina Military
Academy.
According to the sketch, to Governor
John p. Richardson belongs the credit
of first suggesting the conversion Of the
Arsenal at Columbia and the Citahr! at
Charleston into military schools. 1t oc-
Cured to the Governor that the annual
appropriation Of $4,000 for the two
| companies of enlisted soldiers to whom
was entrusted the care Of the States ord
nance and ordnance stores could he di-
verted to two military schools which
would perform the same service as the
enlisted companies in taking care of the
States military property, whilst at the
same time the students would receive a
useful education.
Alta meeting Of the Legislature in
lS4l, Colonel John Philips Of Charles
ton introduced 4 bill to effect the pur-
pose suggested by the Governor in his
message. The plan seems to have been
crude and of mcagrc scope, and failed
to meet the approval OF the Lcgisla-
turc.
| Governor Richardson, however, re-
newcd his suggestions at the next scs-
sion, when General Jam; IN, Chairman
Of the Military Committee vf the House.
introduced Il bill covering a more en-
larged plan Of instruction, and for the
appointment Of a Board Of Visitors,
whose duty it was made to formulate
proper regulations and course of study
commensurate with liberal course of
instruction. Governor Richardson went
out Of Office and Governor Hammond
was inauguratcd at the session of lS42.
He appointed as the board James Jones,
ID. +. Jamison. w. j. Hama, Daniel Wal
lace and l. H. Means.
The board met on the day of their
appointment, and from time to time at
short intervals thereafter.
Both schools were put in operation OH
the 23rd Of March, 1874. ...
The course Of studies adopted was at
once liberal and practical. Besides the
usual branches taught in the primary
schools Of the State. the course included
the History Of South Carolina, Modern
History, the French Language, every
department Of Mathematics, Book-keep-
ing, Rhetoric, Moral Philosophy, Archi-
tectural and Typographical Drawing,
Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Gcol-
ogy, Mineralogy, Botany, Civil and Mill
tary Engineering, the Constitution Of the
United States and the Law of Ma
tions.
In addition to the above course it was
provided that the cadets should be in
structed in the duties of the soldier, the
School of the Company and Of the Bat
talion,, the Science OF War, the Evolu-
tons Of the Line and the duties Of corn-
mssioned officers.
The highest standard Of instruction
and discipline was maintained through
out the twenty years of the institutions
existence. During this period it edu-
Gated to greater or less extent more
than eighteen hundred youths Of the
State, more than a third Of whom re
ceived their education free. Out Of this
number there were graduated 24O. The
total expenditure, beginning with $24,-
GOO for the two schools, was soon in
creased to 10000 per annum, and ewing
to the depreciation Of the circulating
medium during the war rose to $l47, 200
in 1864-65.
In war these cadets bore themselves,
both in camp and field, as true soldiers
of their State. The first shot of the
war was fred by these boys. and they
were furloughed by order Of Govern or
Magrath May 9th, 1865. On almost
every important battlefield Of the war
was the blood Of the South Carolina
cadet shed. They fell at the First Ma
nassas and Richmond, at Frederick burg
and Shiloh, at Chcamauga and Win
chester, at the Second Manassas and
Maryland Heights, at Sharpsburg and
Gettysburg, at the Wilderness, Peters,
burg and Bentonvlle and on the soil
that gave them birth, at James Island,
Sullivan's, Pocotaligo and Sumter
wherever brave men fronted the fight
or fell true to duty, there were to be
found our military dudesn These
schools too, gave us such Generals as