The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-30
CAPE FEAR
Continued From Page One)

The military institution was pri-
marily for instruction in the usual
branches of academic learning, in
Guiding Greek, Latin and modern
languages; but it was military
throughout in organization and
discipline. 1t made its mark on
the intelligent manhood of the
community; and, while its mill
tary training had afterwards a
remote connection with the
of the country. it gave its students
the advantage of a classical
schooling that fitted them, accord
ing to the standards of the day,
for a better and more useful citi-
zenship. Through the years they
had a leading part in the life of
the community.
In the summer Of 1868 a move
ment was inaugurated among the
citizens of Wilmington looking to
the establishment of a much need
ed educational institution. They
made overtures to General R. E.
Colston to serve as head of the
proposed school. The general had
served in the Confederate army,
and was considered to be we'll
qualified to conduct the institution.
He possessed the degree of Mas
ter of Arts, and before the war
had taught in the Virginia Mill
tary Academy, in which StoneWall
jackson Was also an instructor.
At the close of the war, also, he
had conducted a military school
for a short while in Hillsboro,
North Carolina. He had too, by
the way, enjoyed a good friend
ship with General R. E. Lee, which
was to his credit. General Colston
accepted the offer made to him
to conduct the school, and was
soon ready to begin.
In October, 1868, the military
school opened, a st en-
couraging public interest. The
general had two assistants, Cap
tain w. H. Robertson and Profess
sor A. Featherman. These latter
served one year, and we're sue
ceeded by Professors Frank A.
Alfriend and Richard K. Meade,
M. D.
The school quarters were in the
old Hill residence on the south
side of Mulberry (now Grace
street between Third and Fourth.
The house still stands in its ancient
dignity. Later the institution
moved to the Nixon residence i'm
mediately south of the Hill home,
and facing Chestnut street. This
handsome building also still
stands. There was another move
in the schools ten years of dis
tinctive existence as a military
academy. This was to the Sunday
school building, or parish house,
Of St. Johns Episcopal church on
the corner of Third and Red Cross
streets. When this last nov was
made the academy had passed in
to the control of Major B. F. Bur
CESS, who was a very strict mill
tary disciplinarian, but was net
as scholarly as General Colston.
General Colston was known to
be an unusual linguist, and 1t was
said that he could speak French
as well as he could English. This
facility, along with his military
ability, accounted for his leaving
Wilmington in the middle seven
ties. At that time he received an
offer from the Khedive of Egypt
to command an important section
of his army; and the offer was
accepted The general LETT for TINS
distinguished service and perform
ed his duties efficiently for about
two years, when he returned to
his own land. In 1879 ne came
back to Wilmington for a brief
visit, and was greeted warmly by
his old students and admirers
here.
There was a particularly inter
esting event connected with his
residence in Wilmington. This was
the memorable visit of General
Lee in April, 1870. It was said
that this was at the special IN
vitation of General Colston, h S
friend. Older citizens often refer
red to seeing General Lee stand
ing on the front porch OF the
Rolles residence on Third street
between Chestnut and Grace to
review t h e marching column OF
the Cape Fear Military Academy
cadets under the command OF
General Colston.
The visit of General Lee formed
also an occasion for him 70 visit
another friend, who was the first
citizen of Wilmington, the Honor
able George Davis. former Attor-
ney General of h e Confederate
States.
The cadets of the military acad-
envy wore Confederate gray, deck
ed with smart accoutremen:s, con-
sisting of white breast straps and
shining brass buckles, with un-
iforms and shoes in spotless con-
dition. They shouldered cleaning
muskets. There are some persons
still living who recall the sight OF
the serried ranks of the gray-clad
boys swinging sturdily through
the downtown streets in step with
the sharp taps of their drums.
In the year 1877. Captain Cater
the beloved professor) Washington
Catlett came to Wilmington to be
drill master. as we'll as school in
structor, under the new principal,
Major Burgess. The captain was
very efficient on the drill grounds,
end was also regarded as a
thorough disciplinarian in en-
forcing all the regulations CT the
school. The next year Major
Burgess le4 and Captain Catlett
took charge, with the aid of as
s1stant instructors. He dropped
the military features of the school
snd called it the Cape Fear Acad-
orov noc11pvino fha old Machinery |