Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-23
DRUM WITHOUT HEADS.
Closing Exercises Proper OF the Vfr-
ginin Military Institute.

Military Institute to-day was like a drum
without the heads, which gives no re-
sponse for there was an absence of sheep
skins, which had, since the foundation OF
The school, been conferred at the closing
exercises on the graduates. and the re-
spouse given forth at the magic name OF
diploma" was thrilling cheers from the
recipients. No stole ever carried himself
under punishment better than the class OF
1899 of the Virginia Military Institute.
They may have been boys when 1t came
to their frivolous escapade last Decem-
Der, but their bearing certainly showed
them to be men this morning. They had
put away childish things. There was no
air Of brayado they were being penal
lied, and they knew II and took II. A
prominent member of the Board or VISIT
ors said In regard to them: They are
fine set Of men and OF fine character-in
fact. a most excellent class" The ques-
ton of giving them their diplomas was
not discussed in the meetings OF the
board. 1t had been settled at the meeting
in January, and that as far as the board
vas concerned, ended the matter. When
the class will get their diplomas, how
they will get them, what each man
standing is, where they will get them. no
is known is that they shall not be pub
llcly graduated, and that the diplomas OF
those who may have qualified FOR them
Shall be awarded in such manner and Al
such time as the superintendent may ue-
terrnine, not earlier than september i,
1880" There the matter ends.
The reason for the Withholding or the
diplomas and refusing public graduation
was one of the penalties prescribed lot
the class's breach of discipline in having
a jollification on the top of barracks on
the night of December 81, 1898 after being
Uarned not to attempt such a prank. Tho
whole class was dismissed at that time
except g. a. Derbyshire, who was on
duty.
The assembly call was sounded at IL A
NJ. for the final time of the session Oh
1885, 80 The battalion was soon under
arms and marching 10 the PARADE
grounds. where they passed before the
Board of Visitors, faculty, and alumni in
marching review, and thence 10 the jack
son Memorial Hall, where awaited large
throng of people to see what the eXer-
clses would be on this occasion. They
were very simple; distinctions were an
nounced in the second. third, and fourth
classes by Brigadler-General Scott Shipp
superintendent of the Virginia Military
Institute, from the rostrum
CAPTAIN Derbyshire did not receive his
diploma, as he had expressed a wish 10
receive il with his class when they are
awarded theirs. Mr.. a. c. Freeman, Oh
Norfolk. special student and graduate
of the class Of 1887, had the degree OF
civil Engineer conferred on him. he having
completing an extra two-years' course.
FINAL ORDER.
with the closing Of these exercises IN
the hall the battalion reformed and was
marched to the parade-ground, where
arms were stacked and the following or
der was published:
Headquarters
Virginia Military institute
General orders. No. II.
Upon the recommendation OF the acting
cotnmandant of cadets the following pro-
motions and appointments are made IN
the battalion OF cadets, ana they Will
be obeyed and respected accordingly:
To be Captains--F'irst, G. Rice. Hona-
ker. Va; second, II. Briscoe, washington
u. c.: third. G. III. Minge, New OrIeahs'
La: fourth. w. b. Montgomery lyhch-
TO be lieutenant and Adjutant-J. W.
Hyatt. Jonesville, va. o,,....,.,or
To be Lieutenant and Quartermaster-
d. M. Barnard, Petersburg, va.
To be IIeutenants-First, a. J. Pizzini.
Richmond. va; second. X. A. p. Walker,
Charlottesville, Va; third, G, d. BROOKE
Sutherlin. Va; fourth, +; Il; Bto%im'
Lynchburg Va; sixth, L. a. Robinson
Marlin. Tex; seventh, l.. A. Robertson
Galveston. Tex; eighth, A. ID. I. Janney'
Leesburg. Va. &C.. n.
To- be First sergeants-First.. G.
c. Marshall Uniontown Pa; second, =.
c. McCabe. Baltimore, Nd; third W r.
Patterson. Richmond, Va; fourth, ii. b.
Castleman. Gaylord, Va. ,
To be Sergeants-First. w. X. Basker-
vile. Dublin. Va; second, r. A. Miller.
stanton. Va; third. A. NJ. Tyler, Hlck-
fiance, Va; fifth, r. s. Hartz, Richmond.
Va: sixth. l.. A. BrittOn. Pensaukin; \.
J.: seventh, l.: L. CANNON Nor1oIk' Va:
eighth. r. w. Johnson, Little Rock Ark';
ninth. r. b. Lemoine, Emerton. va;
tenth. NJ II. Hudgins, Portsmouth, va;
eleventh. G.. w. Watson. Petersburg, Va;
twelfth. w. W. Sheppard, Edgeheld, ;.
c.. thirteenth, f. l.. MeGhee; FranIIlin-
ton. N. c.: fourteenth, st. j. r. Mar
shall. Portsmouth, Va: fifteenth, }.
Richardson. Georgetown, ;. c.; sixteenth,
". d. Rucker, Stuart, Va.
To be Corporals permanent RANK x, TO be
assigned october Ist ,proximo)mN'N TnFpiinn'
Va: J. c. Wise, New York, y. y; >. l..
Henderson, Fayetteville. Ark; A. l..
Clarke: Washngt91' D. Gi NJ l. fortbeS'
n. c.: Il. II. de steger. San Marcos, Tex;
n. M. August Richmond. Va; A. a.
Adams. Lynchburg, Va; r. f. Bierne'
Ashland. Va; H. G.. Garland, Lynchburg,
Va: r. A. Riser, Calvert, Tex; s, NJ.
Oakland. Cal: W. p. Upshur, Richmond.
va: NJ. f. NJ. Werth. Richmond, va;
II. d. Jackson, Front Royal, Va; II. j.
Geiger. Staunton, Va; ii. a. Ward, Nor
III. Leave of absence until LIST of Sep
TENDER is granted to Cadets-Captain I;
Rice: First-Sergeants w. p. Patterson and
H. Il. Castleman; Sergeant c. >. Roller;
Corporals j. Il. Johnston, NJ. /. Forbes,
r.. NJ. August III. G.. Garland. and w. +.
Upshur They are ordered 10 report for
duty on September LIST TO assist In organ
izing and drilling new cadets.
III. Leave of absence Is granted 10 all
cadets. except those mentioned in fore
going part of this order, until 9Th of Sep
TENDER.
Nv. New cadets are required TO report
for duty on September list
V. The first class is hereby relieved
from duty.
BY command Brgadler- General Ship,
superintendent H. e. HYATT.
Captain and Adjutant of Virginia Mill
With the reading OF the order came
the order, Parade rest" and Sound on
to the band. when AUD Lang Syne"
awoke the echoes and with its completion
the command came, Break ranks" The
sixtieth session of the Virginia Military
Institute had closed
The roster of the first class, which
should have graduated to-day, is as fol-
lows: G. II. Alexander, Danville. Va;
j. Il. Ayers. Big Stone Gap. Va; s. f.
DENLY, Washington. ID. c.; G. A. Derby
shire, Richmond, Va; II. S. Ervay. Colo
II