The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11
MILITARY INSTRUCTION IN COL

struction in military tactics. Such instruc-
tion is found valuable both for the exercise
afforded young men by drilling and for the
habits of discipline and orderliness incul-
Gated. The military knowledge acquired
may come into play at any time. The law
providing for military instruction in the
Immigrant colleges was passed in 1862, but
it was several years later before the gov
eminent took the first steps towards de-
failing military instructors to universities
and colleges. 1t is interesting fact,
probably not generally known, that this
movement had its origin in Indiana and
that the State University was the first insti-
tuition in the United States to have reg
ular army officer detailed to it as a mill
tary instructor. The history of the move
ment is interesting. In November. 1866, w.
II. II. Terrell, then adjutant general of In
diana, acting under the direction of Gov
ernor Morton, prepared communication
on the subject which was submitted to the
Legislature in extra session. The commu-
ducing into the institutions a course of mill
itary instruction for young men and set
forth the obvious advantages of such train
ing. This was the first suggestion ever made
regarding systematic military instruction
in colleges, and it grew out of the recent
the North at the beginning of the war.
The next year the army bill passed by Con-
gress contained section providing for the
detail of limited number of officers Of the
army at colleges for the purpose. as ex-
pressed In the act, of promoting a knowl-
edge of military science among the young
men Of the United States. This was the
first legislation on the subject, but it was
found to be defective, and no action was
taken under it. Pending further legislation,
army, was directed by the secretary of
war, in April, 1867, ''to proceed to West
Point, New York. and to such Of the prin-
cipal colleges Of the United States as viii
enable him, after consultation with the col
lege authorities. to report a method Of in
Producing suitable system Of military
instruction into such Of the colleges of the
United States as shall desire it." In pur-
suance Of these instructions. Major Whit
tlesey made thorough Investigation Of the
subject. visiting different colleges, and in
October, 1867. he submitted a report to the
War Department, accompanied by the
draft of a bill and recommending the adop-
ton of military departments with regular
army instructors in such colleges as might
desire it. In this report he said:
The necessity for governmental action In
this matter is the more urgent from the
natural tendency Of busy people to utter
neglect of military habits during the hal
as a nation even that personal knowledge
OF the use OF firearms which was formerly
universal through the temptations pre-
sented by field sports and from the ne
cessities Of frontier life; a deficiency which
will increase as population thickens. 1t is
a traditional principle of our public policy
handed down from the patriots and sages
sequent experience, that our system of ma
tional defense must comprise q small
standing army as the nucleus Of formation
which, by its active patriotism and impos-
ing numbers. must form our chief reliance
in. war. Our system of national military
education should therefore keep In view
and provide for the two-fold object Of sup
plying educated officers for our necessary
permanent establishment, and of scattering
among the people an adequate number of
proficients In military knowledge to meet
the demands of our militia for instruction
In peace and for leadership in war.
These broad and patriotic views. support
ed by other strong arguments, were favor
ably received. On March 6. 1865. General
Terrell, who had brought the matter to the
attention of the Indiana Legislature more
than two years before, addressed letter
to General Grant, then commander-in-
chief of the army, In which he said:
Having understood that the general gov
eminent has taken some military steps to-
wards the introduction Of a course of mil
itary instruction In such schools and col
leges OF the United States in the several
States as desire II. and feeling In common
with large number Of citizens. deep I'm
forest In securing for some one. or more,
of our higher institutions Of learning what
ever advantages and assistance the general
government may be able to afford in behalf
of this important branch OF education,
have the honor to request that you will
communicate to me such information relat-
| ing to this subject as may be consistent
| with the public interest.
General Grant referred this letter to
Major Whittiesey, who wrote in reply,
under date of March II. that on the 10th
iliot.s 0thStoi hSiu, VI the
house military committee. had introduced
bill ITO establish a national system of
military education" which would undoubt-
edly pass. 1t did pass. and on Oct. 8.
| 1861 General Grant issued a special order
detailing Major General Long. OF the
! United States army. as professor of military
science at the Indiana State university. Az
far as known the first public mention of
the plan Of detailing military instructors to
educational institutions was in General Ter
| relrs communication to the Indiana Legisla-
ture in November. 1866, and the record
shows that the detail of Maj. Gen. Long
to the State University in October, 1865,
was the first one OF the kind ever made
Since then the practice has become the es-
tablished policy of the government. and
there can be no question as to its beneficial
results. Experience has shown that IL Is
superior to the plan of any other govern.
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