The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-11-30
NORWICH UNIVERSITY NOTES
Nor~ich University Designated BY the
War Department as Cavalry Unit.
ReserNe Oileers Training Corps.

VI, ihc Oldest military college 81
school Of any kind Ia the uniteS
States. excepting West Point, has JUS
been designated By the War Depart
ment Is Unit of the Reserve OH
GERS Training Corps for training re-
serve officers Of cavalry Norwich
University is the only exclusively cav.
airy school in the United States, and
il the only college or university in the
United States designated by the War
Department as a Cavalry Unit, Senior
Division Of the Reserve Officers Train
ing Corps
Norwich University is unique
among American colleges in that il
was the first, by a great many years,
10 adopt a military system in connec-
ton with It's regular academic courses.
The University was founded in 1919
BY Captain Allan Partridge, a gradu-
ate, and later superintendent Of the
United States Military Academy at
West Point. II is the pioneer engin-
eering school of the country, antedat-
ing all others by at least eight years.
The original name Of the institu-
ton was the American Literary, Sci
entific and Military Academy but on
November 6, 1884, the State of Yer
mont granted charter of incorpora-
ton under the name Of The Norwich
University. which thus became the
first scientific and classical, as well as
the first military collegiate institution
in the United States
1t is a Characteristic and peculiar
feature Of the institution that, in addi-
ton to the usual collegiate courses, the
charter requires "a course of military
instruction, both theoretical and prac-
teal" For this reason the discipline
is military in form and principle, mod
eled after that of the national acad-
emy al West Point. From its founda-
ton to the present time it has held
distinction. The second president,
Truman B. Ransom, resigned his chair
to lead the Ninth New England Regl-
ment in the Mexican War, and fell at
It's head in the assault on Chapultepec,
September, lS47. A long line of dis
tinguished sons served in the Civil and
Spanish wars. Today many are to be
found in both army and navy.
The late General William Tecumseh
Sherman said Of the University: "rhis
military school at one time almost
rivaled the National Academy at West
Point, and there many man, who
afterwards became famous in the
Mexican and Civil Wars, first drank
in the inspiration Of patriotism and
learned the lessons of the art of war.
To the discipline and instruction re-
ceived at this institution is due the
reputation acquired by many New
England regiments in the Mexican
and Civil Wars. The honor roll of the
Civil War numbers over five hundred
officers. The names Of the most prom
inent fenerals are Grenville NJ. Dodge,
Thomas +. G. Ransom, Robert n. Mil
roy, Joseph A. Mower, Edward A.
Hatch, Truman Seymour, Frederick
W. Lander Seth Williams, George F.
Buell., Henry S. Burton, Peter V.
Hagner To these are to be added Ia
brevet brigader generals, 35 colonels.
"a lieutenant colonels, "a majors, l35
captains, and large number of COM
missioned officers of lower rank, max
ing ACT in all.
More than so Of her past cadets
served in the late war with Spain,
chief among them being Admiral
Dewey, Brigadier General Williston,
General Edmund Rice, Ad-
miral Converse, Admiral Colcocoress-
es, and others Of less rang in both
branches of the service.
At the Presidents call for the mo-
bilization Of the National Guard in ,
June 1916, 95 per cent Of the cadets {
responded. A number who we're un- !
der age. and some who failed to pass /
he physical examinations were elm =
mated, but the remaining cadets Of the y
University served through the entire /
summer. In addition to the cadets {
several members Of the faculty were \
n service, among them Colonel |. l.. r
Reeves. the President, who served as Y
Colonel Of the First Vermont Infantry h
m the border, and Captain Charles \. r
Barber, who was adiutant Of this reg p
ment n
Norwich University has for num- /,
,er Of years been National Guard in ,,
titution, and has been part of the
National Guard, in the Field Artillery, n
signal Corps and Cavalry branches Of !,
he service. The members Of the Corps A
rere mustered out as National ~
;nardsmen in September, and since a,
hat time the board Of trustees has :,
aiken the necessaryaction TO change G,
Is status from that Of a National