The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-06
THE VIRGINIA
MILITARY INSTITUTE
The Alma Mater of Many Dis
tinguished Men Through
out the Country.

Got6piAoheQ onooT HI act Oh lilo fca-
eral Assembly OF Virginia, paused In
March. 1897 and the nrst corps OF
cadets was mustered into the service
OF the State on tho 18th day Of No
vemoer. 1880. UP to that time, a oom-
pany OF soldiers had been maintained
by tho State, at an annual charge Of
$4,000, to garrison the Western Ar
senal at Lexington. In which were
stored thirty thousand muskets and
large quantity Of military material.
In 1885. ]. T. L Preston. ESQ.,
oltizen OF Lexington, for thirty-seven
years an honored professor upon the
active list and afterwards emeritus
professor In the institute, conceived
the Idea OF substituting for the COM
pany OF soldiers who guarded the ar
senal a company OF cadets, who, In
addition to the duties OF an armed
guard, should pursue a course OF
scientific and military studies. This
happy conception waz contaminated by
tho act Of March. 1899.
In May. 1889. the first board OF
visitors met in Lexington. or this
board. Colonel Claude Crozet, graduate
OF the Polytechnic School OF France,
q soldier under Napoleon in the Rus
sian campaign OF 1912, and suose-
quently q professor in the United
Point, and at the time a citizen OF
Virginia, was president The first act
of tho now board was to recognize
tho eminent fitness Of General Francis
II. Smith, distinguished graduate OF
West Point and at that time profess
sor Of mathematics in Hampden-Sidney
College, for the position OF superin-
tendant
Under wiae guidance. In tho proseou-
ton OF its special ends. the school
grew rapidly in public favor. The
Legislature increased the annuity
from time to time, and appropriated
large amounts to provide new bar
racks and To equip the institution. In
1851, tho school was full to its capa-
city. An extension OF the barracks
was In process Of construction to meet
the demands OF those seeking adms-
sion. the privileges Of the school hav-
ing been extended TO citizens Of other
States.
In April, 1851, at tho call OF tho
State. the corps of cadets. under the
command OF Major-afterwards Lieu
tenant Gcneral-Jackson, marched for
RichmoEo.
These cadets were employed in in
sTuctfng and drilling the large num-
Dor of volunteers assembled IT,! organ
iIation and instruction IN Camp Lee,
near Richmond, but were soon disor-
gained and scattered by the advance
ment Of cadets to military rank in tho
different grades Of service. IL 1852.
upon tho demand OF the military au-
thoritics OF the Confederate States
for the reorsani zation OF the institute
as training school. to supply skilled
and educated officers for the armies
the institute was reopened
During the war. cadets were repeat
eddy called INFO active nervice In the
Valley Of Virginia and on tho lines
around Richmond. On the 10Th day OF
May. 1864. at New Market, the corps
~
infantry of four companies, and as
platoon of artillery. serving two three
inch rife guns, lost over nifty killed
and wounded out OF an aggregate Of
$50. On the 18th OF June, 1854, the
bsrrack. mess hall. oficers' quarters,
the library, containing about ten thou
sand volumes. and all the apparatus
and instruments OF the various de-
partments of the school. were burned
by order OF General David Hunter.
commanding the United States Army
at that time operating in the Valley
of Virginia From providential causes.
tho quarters OF the superintendent
building left standing upon the
grounds
In October. 1865, after the close OF
tho war, the institute was reopened.
Tho buildings and equipments of the
school were rapidly restored. and the
institute entered upon an era OF un-
precedented prosperity. The course OF
instruction was enlarged and extend
ed. Appliances OF instruction were
provided in tho departments OF chem
iatry. physics, geology. mineralogy,
engineering. drawing and surveying.
Since 1896. the material facilities ana
educational equipment OF the institu-
ton have been greatly Increased and
improved. There have been erected
ha To MemoriaI Hall
Francis II. Smith academic building.
the administration building. an en-
larged and modern kitchen and bakery
a new and handsome mess-hall to
take the place OF the one burned in
1905, a power plant of sufficient capa-
city to supply heat and light to the
whole establishment, a commodious
new library in place Of the old one.
which has been converted into quar-
tiers for cadets. and the Maury- Brooke
Hall. a large building to be devoted
10 the teaching and practice OF chem
zeal and other sciences
In all the professions and vocations
Of life, the man trained at the v. sM.
I. have won for themselves honorable
distinction. The illustrious record or
service rendered by her sons during
tho Civil. Spanish and Philippine Wars
has established the reputation OF the
institution upon an enduring FONDA
ton. Upon the roll Of her academic
staff are to be found the names OF
Stonewall jackson. Matthew F. Maury,
John NJ. Brooke. Crutchfield. Gillian,
Massie. Madison. Blair. Washington.
Williamson. Lee, Colson. Preston and
Smith. Her matriculates number g.
500. OF whom 2,15O have become full
graduates.
On the LIST day Of January. 1890.
Major General Francis H. Smith, who
had H1led fha nOgiffOn NJ aDnprinten-
dent from the foundation Of the
school, and had restored II from Its
ruins after the war, sought in retire
ment the repose ne had SO well earned
by fifty years of active and distin-
guished service. On the 21st day OF
March, 1890. General Smith died. in
the seventy eighth year Of his age.
On the 18th day of July, 1890. Colonel
j. T. L Preston. who. with General
Smith, constituted the entire faculty
OF che school from 1899 to 1912, died
in the elghtieth year OF his age.