Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-05-29
A FIELD DAY.

| VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE-TH sTAUN
TON MALE ACADEMY CADET CORRESPONDENTS
| TIVE DRILL, REVIEW OF THE BATTALION
! AND DRESS PARADE-MEDALs AWARDED.
Monday was day long to be remembered il
pleasing associations with our military organ
| izations of the past and present.
The semi centennial anniversary of the Vir
| glnia Military Institute will be celebrated with
the closing exercises Of the present session o
| the Institute. A Committee of the Alumni
| was appointed some time since 10 complete
| The arrangements fer the purpose. Joseph r
| Anderson, jr., of Richmond, is the chairman
ofthe committee, and the progress which hat
been made for the accomplishment is an as
| surance of its success.
The local committee OF ex- cadets of Augusts
and adjoining counties. is which Messrs ]. W
McCorkle, and R. 7. Goodwin of MiddIebrook
were earnestly engaged, issued a-call for the as
sembling OF the cx.cadets residing in the terri
tory, and accordingly meeting was held, ovei
| which Col ohm D. Lilly, of Augusta, presided
| and Mr.. Heber Ker. of Stauntou, was Secreta
| ry. An adjourned meeting was then decided
| upon to take place at the Council Chamber In
| this city on the afternoon of the 9th instant
| Thirty or more responded. Col. Lilly presided
and Mr.. Ker acted as Secretary. The object
| of the meeting was explained by Mr.. r. T.
| Goodwin. 1t was agreed to form permanent
! organization. Captain w. P Tams was made
president. and Mr.. Heber Ker, secretary. By
appointment of the retiring chairman, Captain
John N. Opie and Mr.. R. T. Goodwin escorted
Captain Tams to the chair.
In securing the fine attendance and impart-
ing the interest manifested much credit is due
Messrs. ]. W. MeCorkle and r. T. GOODWIN, OF
Middlebrook, and Captain W. P. Tams and
Mr.. Heller Ker. the Secretary, ofStaunton.
Necessary committees were appointed. Mr..
Ker. the Secretary, was chosen as the repre-
sentative of the Association at the centennial
to make responses for it whenever called upon.
All ex-Cadets of Stsunton, Augusta and ad-
journing counties in the Valley who desire to
become members of the Association and to at
tend the centennial are requested TO report
their names to the Secretary. The next meet
Ing will take place or the 24th of June at the
Council Chamber in this city at P. NJ.
Captain Tams announced to the meeting
that Mr.. W. w. Flanagan. now of New York,
was organizing all tie ex. cadets OF V. N. /. in
the northern States into an association, and
expects to secure large attendance on their
part at the centennial,
Captain T. Terry, of the V. M. l. Alumni
commandant of the Cadet Corps OF the Staun-
ton Male Academy, appeared and invited the
members of the meeting to attend the military
exercises to take place then at the Staunton
Male Academy. The invitation was accepted
and, after adjournment, the members Ut the
meeting in full force appeared upon the parade
ground and witnessed the competitive drill
between the two companies of the corps. the
battalion review ard dress parade, and the
award of medals for company drill, and to the
cadet winning the plize in the manual exer-
else.
ON THE ACADEMY PARADE GROUND.
Monday afternoon was the appointed time
for competitive drill between companies
"a" and 81" battalion review and dress
parade. and the award of medals for the best
drilled company, and the most proficient
cadet in the manual Of arms at the stanton
Male Academy.
The Stonewail Brigade Band is on regular
duty this season al t e dress-parades, and en-
livened the scene with elegant music as large
concourse of people as sembled.
Captains T. Terry Grd 7. H. Saunders, both
graduates of V. NJ. J., and experienced profess
sors, direct the military features of the
Academy, the first named commandment of the
battalion, which soou appeared on the parade
ground and COMMENCED the competitive drill
under command of the ccdet Captains, Will
liams and Rhsa respectively.
Captain W. P. TaIns. Mr.. ]. 1. Hudson, OF
this city, and Captain Walker, OF the Fish
burne Military School, all graduates Of V. NJ.
l., constituted the BOARD of Inspectors to
make the award of the medals. The company
evolutions and manual of arms ending IN
company order, the nire cadets competing in
the manual were formed a executed the
manual service under the direction of Capt
Terry.
Captain w. Il. Kabls. the principal of the
Academy, was the reviewing officer, and was
accompanied by The Board Of inspection and q
number of citizens and patrons Of the school
in the review.
The battalion was again formed In line. The
Hon. Henry st. Geo. Tucker appeared as che
representative of the Faculty to make the
presentation to the successful company and
cadet, which he did in his own handsome
manner. Company 3D." Cactain j. r. Rhear
of Texas, was awarded the prize for the best
drilled company, and cadet r Nj. Booker OF
Hampton, Va. received the prize as most ex-
pert in the manual. Cadet Booker is a nephew
of our townsman, Mr.. John Booker, of the
Maslin & Booker firm.
Upon the parade ground, as well as at the
meeting OF ext cadets, there were several OF the
V. NJ. 1. Alumni present from a distance,
among them Colonel Jno. W. Patton, of Rock.
bridge, now Superintendent of the Florida
State Military Institute.
During the exercises on the parade ground,
Captain Kable and his professors, Captains
Terry and Saunders, were warmly congratu
lated upon the proficiency of the school and
the accomplishments the youth n attendance
,ay, H.,
Academy.