The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-21
COL. VIM. GILLIAN
SOLDIER CACHE R.
Brief Tribute Paid By One Who
Knew Him and Loved
Him.
HE WAS A MODEL INSTRUCTOR
His Splendid Work For Virginia
and the South in War
Times.

In the long ago-as far back as lSis--l
entered the Virginia Military Institute do
n cadet from Richmond city. There were
r,ne other Richmond boys. and every pro-
lessor and subprofessor and all my COL
leagues of that date are dead.
In that generation virginia was The
Old dominion The guns which her
we'll filled arsenals and armories and over
which her flag floated, were the en-
blems OF her sovereignty. which her gal
liant sons had wrssted from her Mother
britannia, whose flag was also hers. But
..Britannia crowned by virtue seen
trampling on tyranny and opposition" no
longer satisfied Virginia. Time and cir
cumstances called for change. her
Industrious son, George Wythe, was asked
TO furnish q proper device. He retained
enough of the old English flag to satisfy
all true patriots. but gave the present
ernblems and motto for the seal OF the
State On one side "Libertas, Ceres,
Etenitas" with the motto, "Persever-
ando." on the other side. virtus with
her foot upon the tyrant's neck, and the
motto. ''Sic semper tyrannis."
Her ancient landmarks have been re-
u.
in the mind and heart, and will never
be forgotten by the sons of old Virginia.
Virginia had her public guard and the
most perfect state militia organization
that necessity and long experience could
devise. She was stronger than any State
in the Union. and stronger than the
United States government for when she
coded her northwestern territory to the
general government, her eldest daughter.
Kentucky, and all Of the border counties
protested most earnestly against the
withdrawal of her forces, and President
George Washington, with his far-seeing
wisdom, waved the constitutional diff
culties in the way of State protection,
preferring her cooperation with her plan
and means of defense to massacre and
pllage, which the government of the
United States, without her aid was in-
potent to prevent.
Her Thomas Jefferson established the
United States training school at West
Point, now the finest of it's kind in the
world.
And when the finger of destiny began
to point TO another ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the
ancient d2minion, by reason of the then
impassabls mountains. which necesstated
closer relations, in trade and interest, and
which were insuperable, it was then that
Virginia hoped, by establishing training
school at her arsenals at Lexington, in
connection with Washington College, and
after Jefferson's design, to hold her peo-
pie together
AT the Virginia Military institute 1t is
her boast that the sons of her humblest
and poorest citizens by birth can stand
upon an absolute equality with the sons
or the wealthiest and most accomplished
men from tho mountains to the sea.
There they are all instructed In the ira
diaons of a glorious old mother and with
common heritage. and by her peculiar
laws OF duty and association, there win
ever lee voiceless bond which all old
cadets know and understand which is to
be found in no other school. 1t is a
mothers hearthstone, and upon whose
Shield is Inscribed virtue, courage zeal
and genius-polnting to the ladder of
Fame, with promise OF q clear title to
him who, by his own endeavor, may climb
70 the top round, and 1t has only been
attained by the worthy.
The action of the honorable Board OF
Visitors OF the Virginia Military Institute
In causing portrait of the late Colonel
William Gilman to be placed at the insti-
tute, was and Is 81 source of qualification
TO the friends OF that distinguished in
structor, who iilled the communicates Of
flee from 1876 TO 1861, Inclusive with
marked ability. / doubt If there is a
school in the world of the same numbers
whose records equal that made by the
graduates OF his administration in the
Civil War
The commandment Of the corps is the
rnainspring IN "espret de aorps." the
'get-up' and discipline Colonel Gilman
was especially gifted in zeal for what
ever nc undertook, ! was the adjutant
of the corps OF cadets OF The class az
81 and q, and my Office threV me II
close contact with him, afiording on.
pefiuhlties for seeing the workings Of
MS warm heart and generous, mani,
disposition.
Colonel Gilman was gentleman. Gen
,ieman are not always found In higt
places, and when one is, it impresse
the people OF the possibilities for IN,
Youns men brought under such infln
enees. Colonel Gilman lad a clear nu,.
Dsnasiye mind. lie impaired infornatIn,
In his class room by sort OF solntiI,n
ton; his t~inkiing eye ana busy hand
would lead the dun and inspra IN,
brighter minds, and his even ten,nn
made II comfortable to be In his nra.,
eneet He WAS an instructor ar b,,l
order, He mastered the cusrlculun M
In the examination halls. often hy ,o5d
Ing questions, would help dIFftdan
cadet rs giving HIM a start, and thar1
by enabling him eshow what no Al
knoW~others less qualified woiIa y
more apt 70 show what the poor fs,la,
didn't know.
COLONEL Gilman was distinguished