The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-02-10

There are military colleges a-plenty
in the country, some of them State
institutions, some privately managed,
some aristocratic, exclusive and eX-
pensive, some democratic and working
for accomplishment and character
rather than appearance, but none of
them in age, in military standing, in
the high achievements of its gradu-
ates, has so high standing or pos
sesses so much of interest as Nor
witch University at Mortified, the mill
itary college of the State of Vermont.
Founded as a private undertaking,
working at first without charter
from the State, it has proved its worth
in so many ways, its officers and
graduates and students have render
ed such distinguished military SER
vices to the State and Nation that it
has been made the military college
of the State, has been granted power
by it's charter to confer degrees and
is aided by an annual appropriation
from the State.
The school has enjoyed a high
located at Norwich had students from
every State in the country. 1t nat
urally attracted attention from the
fact that it's founder was Capt. Alden
Partridge, who had been superintend-
ent of the United States Military Acad
envy at West Point. The military spir-
it was strong after the war of 1912
and the number of cadets authorized
at West Point was limited. So a
school founded and directed by one
of Capt Partridge's attachments and
reputation easily drew ambitious
youth from all sections.
Sketch of the Founder.
Capt. Partridge was born at Nor
witch in 1885 and entered Dartmouth,
just across the river, in 1902. He
had nearly completed his course there
when he received an appointment as
cadet of artillerists in the United
States service. The Military Acade-
my at West Point then offered only
limited course, but young Partridge
left Dartmouth and took up the mill
tary course, graduating in 1906. He
was appointed assistant professor of
mathematics Immediately after grad
uation and continued on the teaching
staff until 1915, when he was made
superintendent. During his incumben-
cy Congress increased it's appropria-
ton, enlarged the number of students
and reorganized the whole course. On
Capt. Partridge rested the response
bility of carrying into effect all the
changes and he was really the founder
of the present West Point. But he
was not in accord with the army board
of control as to the policy of devel-
oping the institution and withdrew,
at the same time resigning his COM
mission in the army For some time
he lectured on various branches of
military science to a class of officers
and citizens in New York and in 1919
he Joined party in an exploration
survey of the northeastern boundary
of the United States
He remained in this service one year,
but resigned to give his attention to
scheme of education that had in
terested him for several years. He
perceived what he considered deficien-
cies in the courses offered at Dart
mouth and West Point and in a lee
ture at that time stated his views and
gave this definition of education: ED
ucation in its most perfect state is the
preparing of youth in the best posi-
BILE manner for the correct discharge
of the duties of any station in Which
he may be placed Believing that ou:
country needed iastitutions ~ o1'li1
young men ior military service he
founded in Norwi II, the American
literary, Scientific and Military Acad-
eny The citizens wers Interested in
the Undertaking, gave the land and
contributed toward the necessary
funds, and in 1920 the school was
opened. The class that entered that
fall numbered one hundred students,
who came from all parts of the coun-
try The course of study compared
favorably with that of the colleges of
that day and gave special attention to
military branches. There was taught,
according to the prospectus
THE Law of Nations; Military Law:
the Constitution of the United States
and of the States seyerally; Metaphy-
sizes; Agriculture; Permanent and
Field Notifications; Field Engineer
ing generally; the Construction of
Marine Batteries; Artillery Duty; the
Principles of Gunnery; a complete
course of Military Tactics; the attack
and defense OF fortified places; the
Ancient Tactics, particularly those of
the Greeks and Romans. with a de-
scription of the organization and dis
cipline of the phalanx and legion
Fencing; Military Drawing; Topo-
graphy; Civil Engineering. including
the construction of roads, canals,