Alden Partridge Alden Partridge , ( February 12 , 1785 - January 17 , 1854 ) was an American author , legislator , officer , surveyor , an early superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York and a controversial pioneer in U . S . military education , emphasizing physical fitness training , advocating the concept of citizen soldier and establishing a series of private military academies throughout the country , including Norwich University . Early life . Alden Partridge was born and raised on a family farm in Norwich , Vermont , studious and devout son of soldier Samuel Partridge , Jr . , who had fought in the American Revolutionary War at Saratoga . Tall and hardy , the younger Partridge hiked the Green and White Mountains , worked on his father ' s farm , and matriculated in local district schools , later at Dartmouth College from 1802 until 1805 . Military career . Upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York in 1806 , Partridge received the rank of lieutenant of engineers and an appointment at the academy as an assistant instructor of mathematics . In its early days , the post served both as academy and headquarters for the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the superintendent was also chief of engineers . In 1808 chief Jonathan Williams promoted Partridge professor of mathematics and delegated to him the responsibilities of acting superintendent . Partridge set an example for physical fitness during his administration , frequently leading the cadet corps on extended marches in New York and neighboring states . Never profane or intemperate , superintendent Partridge required cadets to attend church services , occasionally preparing and delivering the sermon on Sundays . Named professor of engineers in 1813 , and officially appointed as superintendent in 1814 , " Old Pewt " developed a reputation among academy faculty as a martinet , often micromanaging subordinates , and occasionally demonstrating preference toward favorite cadets . The " Long Gray Line " that West Point has become known as originated during Partridge ' s tenure . Partridge had gray uniforms made in New York City in 1814 because of the blue cloth shortage . Then in 1816 , when the War Department decided to select a new Cadet uniform , gray was chosen because " it better suits the finance of the Cadets than one of blue . " In simple terms , the gray uniforms were cheaper . Partridge refused to relinquish his command when former student ( but superior officer ) Sylvanus Thayer was appointed to replace him as superintendent , but after court martial Partridge chose to resign his commission in 1818 , after serving his entire Army career at the academy . Citizen soldier . In the summer of 1818 Partridge was engaged in New York City to drill and instruct a volunteer infantry company , and gave a series of lectures on the subject of fortification , military science , and military education . In these lectures , Partridge advocated a new program of regional military instruction and began a lifelong campaign in opposition to the existing national military academy system which would shape the rest of his life . Partridge argued the national academy produced a professional officer class , and was creating a new military elite at odds with examples of the country ' s great generals , like George Washington and Andrew Jackson . Partridge proposed the nation be divided into state - based military departments , local citizen soldiers organized into militias and officers appointed by department , and units mustered on a regular basis for instruction and drill , much like minutemen of the well - remembered American Revolutionary War . Further , he suggested military colleges for officer instruction be established in each department . Appointed chief of the surveying expedition establishing boundaries between the U . S . and Canada required under the Treaty of Ghent , Partridge mapped the Saint Lawrence River and Hudson River natural watersheds areas , but still consumed with plans for a military college based on his program decided to resign from the expedition in 1820 , and retired to his hometown , Norwich , Vermont . Private military educator . Norwich University . In 1819 , Partridge founded the " American Literary , Scientific , and Military Academy " ( now known as Norwich University and located in Northfield , Vermont ) , the nation ' s oldest private military college , nicknamed the " Birthplace of ROTC " because it was the first school to offer the Reserve Officers Training Program . In the first four years , the nascent academy was attended by 480 students representing 21 of the 24 states , and Partridge ' s program seemed successful enough to attract the attention of the citizenry of Middletown , Connecticut , who subscribed to induce him to relocate his academy to that town , drawing nearly 1200 students in three years , but the academy was operating again in Norwich by 1829 . Curriculum . The curriculum Partridge advanced incorporated the study of liberal arts , agriculture , modern languages , engineering in addition to the sciences and various military subjects . Field exercises and drills , for which Partridge borrowed cannon and muskets from the federal and state governments , supplemented classroom instruction and added an element of realism to the college ’ s program of well - rounded military education . One of America ' s first exercise enthusiasts , Partridge became a strong proponent of physical education as an essential part of school curriculum . As part of that program , he often led his classes on hiking expeditions in the many local mountains of New England . On one climb of Vermont ' s Green Mountains in 1822 , Partridge led 27 pack - laden cadets on a 150 - mile hike from Norwich to Manchester in just four days . Other colleges . Awarded an honorary masters degree from Dartmouth in 1812 , Partridge received similar honor from the University of Vermont in 1821 , but he declined that institution ' s offer the same year to become its president . Partridge founded six other military institutions during his quest to reform the fledgling United States military : Virginia Literary , Scientific and Military Academy at Portsmouth , Virginia ( 1839 – 1846 ) , Pennsylvania Literary , Scientific , and Military Academy at Bristol , Pennsylvania ( 1842 – 1845 ) , Pennsylvania Military Institute at Harrisburg , Pennsylvania ( 1845 – 1848 ) , Wilmington Literary , Scientific and Military Academy at Wilmington , Delaware ( 1846 – 1848 ) , the Scientific and Military Collegiate Institute at Reading , Pennsylvania ( 1850 – 1854 ) , Gymnasium and Military Institute at Pembroke , New Hampshire ( 1850 – 1853 ) and the National Scientific and Military Academy at Brandywine Springs , Delaware ( 1853 ) . Personal life . An avid hiker , Partridge is described as " a noted pedestrian " in " A History of Norwich " . He had reportedly already ascended Mount Monadnock and Mount Moosilauke in New Hampshire when in 1818 he walked 76 miles from Norwich to climb both Camel ' s Hump and Mount Mansfield in two days . It rained the entire journey , according to his journal , and while one friend joined him climbing Mansfield , he hiked the balance of the expedition accompanied only by his " inseparable companions , " his knapsack and barometer . In 1823 Partridge adopted a young Greek boy , George Colvocoresses , whom he raised and educated at Norwich University . Colvocoresses , NU Class of 1831 , was appointed to the United States Navy in 1832 ; from 1838 - 1842 he served in the United States Exploring Expedition , better known as the Wilkes Expedition of the Pacific Ocean . Three separate geographical features , two on the west coast of the U . S . and another in Antarctica , were named for Colvocoresses . Married to Ann Swasey in 1837 , by whom he had two sons , Partridge died in Norwich January 16 , 1854 . His widow survived him by 48 years . A Democrat , Partridge served as Vermont ' s Surveyor General from 1822 to 1823 . He also served four terms in the Vermont House of Representatives , ( 1833 , 1834 , 1837 and 1839 ) . In addition , he ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives on five occasions between 1834 and 1840 , losing each time to Anti - Masonic and Whig party candidate Horace Everett . Works . Partridge wrote widely , mostly in local newspapers and in books , about his many travels , several mathematical and scientific subjects , and his constant , vocal opposition to the academy at West Point . The following is an incomplete list of his writings .