The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1910-04-22
ELABORATE OBSERVANCE WILL MARK MEMORIAL DAY
"reminiscences of the....
....Georgia Military institute
Condensed from the Records of
.yudge Robert L. RODGERS, EH-
Cadef and Historian, BY Mrs.
Pebecca Lanier NeSbiH.

T&HE Georgia Military Institute
was an academy for military
4 training and education. 1t was
incorporated as private institution by
Colonel 4. Y. Brumby in December,
1851. with the following Board of Trus-
tees: David Irwin, AndrewJ. Hansell,
William z. Young, John II. Glover,
Martin G. Slaughter, David Dobbs
John Jones, Charles j. Mcdonald,
William Harris, Mordecai Myers and
James Brannon. In 1862 the General
Assembly passed an Act providing for
2 Board of Visitors to meet annually
to attend to the business OF the institu
ton.
In July, 1852, the G. NJ. l. was open
ed Colonel A. Y. Brumby, superin-
tendent, with only seven cadets, but in
a little while it became very popular
and the number was largely increased.
The cadets came from the first fami
lies in Georgia, and the annual COM
mencements before the war were at
sended by the very best element, So
cially and Intellectually, of the state.
1t was the rendezvous of the elite beaux
and bellies of Georgia, and many of the
happy families OF our good old com
monwealth owe their happiness to the
pleasant meetings and greetings and
delightful associations at Marietta and
the &. NJ. |, Many of our best citizens
OF this day and generation were cadets
who attended here. The first COM
mandant of cadets was Colonel j W.
Robertson, a man honored throughout
Georgia, and who has since held many
positions of trust and responsibility.
Some of the most gallant and dis
tinguished officers and leaders in the
Confederate army were graduates OF
the Georgia Military Institute. When
the war came on they were prepared tol
service and were selected to command
because of their fine military training.
Since the war, those who survived the
clash of arms have been our most con-
spicdous leaders and advisers and our
first men of business, Colonel Evan
P. Howell, of the Atlanta Constitution,
General Pierce NJ. B. Young, Major j.
+ Jones, Colonel Francis Fontaine,
Marcellus O. Markham, Captain PEN
dleton, the only man who survived
one terrible charge, when every man
in his command was either shot down
or killed. How strange it seems that
in that awful carnage Captain Pendle-
ton was not scathed, although he
led his men.
The Georgia cadets who were at the
G. NJ. |. in 1864 had harder and long
er service IN the army than any SINH
lar organization of youths in the Con-
iederacy. In the battalion OF 1864, I'M
der General F. w. Capers, the esprit de
corps was very fine. The battalion
numbered about two hundred youths,
from fifteen to eighteen years OF age,
vigorous and spirited sons OF chIval-
rous fathers. In the spring OF 1864,
when the campaign between Generals
Sherman and Bragg opened above Dal-
ton, it was rumOred that the cadets
would be called out and the boys were
in daily expection of and eager Tor the
summons. AS memory goes back, we
see such scenes as can never come to
Us again in this life.
We see the boys as they TALL nto
ranks for roll-call at revielle. we see
them as they go guard-mounting each
morning. We see them as they marcn
in classes to recitation each day and tc
1.-The old mess hall with Jake" ano
old black "Steve" as walters upon the
tables. We see them as they drill over
the large, sloping lawn and at dress
parade every afternoon. we see olC
Cornelius" the sable drummer, an(
old fat Charlie" the fifer, as they
make music in the air and rally the
boys. We See them when tattoo
comes, when all lights must be GU
and all to bed. We see them as the.
20 to old Crawford" the sutler ant
barber OF the Institute, buying OF M
stores and having their hair cut shor
and their chins shaved. "Crawtord
was a slave and belonged to CoIohe
Brumby. He was a Iow-country ne
gro, was very polite and did I'm
business with the boys He was al
lowed to have his earnings from SHAY
ing, etc, and when emanclpatlol
came, it found him already a Well'to
do darkey. He went to Atlanta to 1--we
invested in real estate, ran line c
draws and WAS fayorablY known anon