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


fused by Connecticut. He was elect
ed town representative from Norwich
in 1888 and 1884 and in the latter year
secured charter which changed the
name to Norwich University and
granted it full power to confer de-
grees and possess all other powers
and immunities of college. Capt
Partridge was returned to the Legis-
lature again in 1887 and 1889.
First Military College.
The university commenced opera
tons under its new charter in 1885,
being the first military collegiate in
stituton in the country, and it is to-
day. so far as the writer knows, the
only one having power to confer de-
grees for proficiency in military
science. At the reorganization Capt.
Partridge was elected president of
the faculty and professor of military
science and engineering, and contin>
ued to hold the presidency until 1S43,
and then he resigned only to assist in
organizing the militia in various
States.
He had called a convention at Nor
witch in 1888, made up of military Of
ficers and others, and a similar con-
vention had met there annually for
several years afterward, to discuss
plans for the organization and discip-
line of the militia. He organized the
military school at Portsmouth, Va,
in 1889, and the success of that and
other similar schools, together with
his national reputation as a master of
military science, brought his services
into requisition by the various States.
He had a plan for taking an advanc
ed class of military and scientific
students to Europe, to study battle
fields and campaigns, the armies and
military resources of the old world,
and late in 1853 returned to Norwich
to mature his plans for the expedition,
but was taken suddenly i'll and died
January II, 1854.
Gen. RansOm's Presidency.
Capt. Partridges successor in the
presidency was Gen. Truman B. RAN
som, a graduate in 1926, who had been
vice-president and professor of nat
ural philosopher and engineering. He
believed in the Partridge idea of long
marches for the cadets and in 1916
took them through New Hampshire
and Massachusetts to Boston. to
camp on Boston common. President
Ransom resigned on the breaking out
of the Mexican war and was made
lieutenant colonel of Franklin Pierces
regiment. He was killed while storm
ing the heights of Chapultapec at the
head of his regiment. Rev. Edward
Bourns, his successor, though not
military man, proved an efficient head
of the institution, but the great men
of Norwich have been Partridge, Ran
| som and Jackman The latter, grad
uate from Norwich at it's first COM
mencement, was associated with Dr.
| Bourns as professor of military sci
ence, mathematics and civil engineer
ing.
The cadet uniform in those days was
a startling and wonderful thing,
though no more eXtravagant than that
of the militia or the regular army. In
fact it was modelled on the regular
army uniform, as it is today The uni
versity regulations of the fifties pres
cribe the uniform thus: Claw hammer
tons, dark blue pants with two inch
black velvet stripe down the seam, bell
muzzle, high, blue cloth cap with gold
band; for undress, single breasted
frock, soft blue cap with velvet band
and the letters N. U. in gold wreath
in front. The arm then in use was
the old fink lock Springfield that
weighed twelve pounds. A hike in
those days, trussed up in such uni
| form and carrying a musket of that
weight, meant more exertion than to-
day.
Gen. Jackman's Rule.
Gen. Jackman was a great man in
his day, and the State owes much to
him. He was made brigadier-general
of the Vermont troops in 1859 and at
the beginning of the war was offered
any position it was in the power of
Governor Fairbanks to grant, but at
the same time the Governor requested
him to remain at the university and
qualify the young men for duty as
officers. He abandoned all thought
of glory or promotion and remained
at his post He inspected the militia,
organized new companies and regi-
ments, sent out cadets to drill newly
raised companies, and at the univer-
sity gave instruction to regimental Of
ficers, not only for Vermont but for
other States. Vermont kept up her
quota of troops during the war and
sent them to the field well prepared
for service, and for much of the SPLEEN
did record of the State during that
struggle credit is due to the self-sac-
rificing man who stayed at home and
trained others to go forward and
win glory.
Remarkable Record.