The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-29
LAGRANGE COLLEGE,
Organization of the 18th Alabama

pEsah"uon or the SSth Alabama
 Regirsent.
 Lagrange College was founded by the Southern Methodist Church, Janu- ary 2. 1880. It was situated on the mountain seven miles south of Leigh ton, Ala. For thirty years 1t exerted a great influence through several States A list of the faculty and alumni would show many eminent men. Prominent among the faculty were: Bishop Robert Paine, Rev. Ed ward Wadsworth. Edward Sims (after- ward of the University of Alabama1. William w. Hudson (afterward of the University of Alabama), Dr. Harring- ton. Collins D. Elliot (President of the Nashville Female Academy, William H. Ellison (President of the Female College. Macon. Ga.). Dr. Thomas Bar bour (afterward of the St. Louis Med teal College), Henry Mason and Henry Tutwiler tafterward of the University of Alabama). Carlos C. Smith of Uni versity of Alabama. J. W. Hardee and Rev. K. H. Rivers, all prominent in the educational circles. While among the graduates are to be found such names as; Rev. William R. Nicholson. Bishop in the Episcopal Church; Rev. J. F. Douglass, Dr. c. w. Bell. Rev. B. E. Ross and Prof John T.. Dunklin. both of A. & M College, Rev. R. H. Rivers, Governor E A. o'Neal. Cover nor D. P. Lewis. Henry Chambers of Mississippi, United States Senator Jer- emiah Clemens, Judge w. B. Wood, William NJ. Byrd. Justice of the Su- preme Court of Alabama, Hon. Henry c. Jones and many others.
 Although never a State institution and not having for its object the de- velopment of the spirit of secession, Go, ,.tr nl.t oI,-.r were not ignored. When hostilities broke out between the States. the stu dents of Lagrange were quick to re- spond to the call of their beloved Southland and many of her graduates were among the rank and file of the Confederate army. From 1857 to the suspension of the college in 1862 the discipline was military and during the latter part of that time especial atten- tion was given ,aIs department. In March, 1862. on account of the great war excitement, and the approach of the Federal troops the school was closed During the organization of the 35th Alabama regiment the college was selected as a rendezvous.
 Three of the teachers, Col. J. w. Robertson, Col Edward Goodwin and Mai. w. H. Hunt. became members, while many of the students joined the "cadet company" Nearly all this com pany were killed in battle or died of disease incident to camp life; their captain, Thaddeous w. Felton. was killed in the Second Battle of Corinth. He was buried by the Federals and sleeps in an unknown grave. Col. J. w. Robertson was given a position in the engineering department of the Confederate government, and Lieuten- ant Colonel Goodwin was made colo mel; Major Hunt was elected lieuten- ant colonel of a Georgia regiment, but died on his way to the army of Vir- ginia. Captain Ives of Lauderdale county became major. and later lieu tenant colonel of the 35th Alabama. Colonel Goodwin died at Columbus, Miss, in 1864.
 The following were the captains of the other companies at the organl- zation:
 Samuel Ives, Lauderdale county. Go. A.
 Thaddeous Felton. Jr., Franklin county, Co. B.
 A. E. Ashford, Lawrence county, Co. c.
 John S. Dickson. Madison county, D.
 J. A. Flanagan. Go. E.
 J. R. Mitchell. Co. F.
 John West, Limestone county. Go. c.
 
 H.
 The battles in which the regiment was engaged were:
 Pennington, Miss, Corinth. Miss, Baton Rouge, La, Vicksburgs Miss, Bakers Creek, Jackson and others.
 The regiment was so reduced in numbers that it was consolidated with other regiments in the latter part of the war. The regiment contained many good men, brave and loyal under all circumstances. There are only a few living now.
 The college buildings at LaGrange were burned April 29th, 1863. by the Federal troops commanded by Colonel Carnyne, who was under General Dodge. All the furniture. libraries. chemical and philosophical apparatus were destroyed. There were about 5000 in the two societies. the La fayette and Dialectical Three years before this through the instrumental lty of pr. Rivers, a large number of the books and & part of the college had been removed to Wesleyan Normal It Florence. Ala, which was afterward turned into the State Normal College.
 Note: l am indebted to MT. A. A. Me | Tregor of Town Creek. Ala, for the | above. MT. McGregor was at one time | ! member of the faculty of LaGrange | College.