Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1868 [PAGE 95]

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83

The foregoing brief outline indicates, with sufficient clearness, the general plan. The government assumes the necessary expenses, and provides all the means of efficient military instruction, so as to make it an absolute gratuity to students. Your Committee suggest the same general plan of military education, whether the bill proposed by the W a r Department be adopted by Congress, or whether the University is left to carry existing laws into effect with its present means. The course of military studies should comprise the theory of ordnance and gunnery, military engineering, including the attack and defense of works; the art of war, illustrated from military history; military law, with the practice of courts martial; and the theory of military discipline, police, and administration. The method of illustration will be by recitation and lecture, with suitable text books for study and reference, corresponding, in all chief features, to the theoretical course of military science at West Point, during the last year of study—modifying and reducing the full course, when expedient, so far as consistent with the mastery of the fundamental principles of military science; thus accomplishing all that the limited time will allow in obtaining sound genel a views, and an ample foundation for future study and improvement. This course will require a recitation or lecture of one hour daily, on four or five days of the week. The equipment of the lecture room will not be costly. The maps and drawings can be easily purchased or copied, and will serve all the essential purposes of instruction. It will be desirable to collect, as opportunity offers, models of the most important instruments, engines and appliances of war, to include matters of ordnance, fortifications, devices for attack and defense, mines, bridges, etc. They will greatly aid the lecturer in imparting instruction, and the student in obtaining clear views on these subjects; and will be more necessary in consequence of the modification of this course to a university standard. The course of military exercises would comprise practical instruction in infantry tactics, through the school of the soldier, company and battalion, with skirmishing, the forms of parade, and the duties of guards, and, when practicable and desired, in fencing, and the sabre and bayonet exercise. The attainment of a uniform course of study and exercise throughout all military schools, being a leading object, the general plan pursued at West Point should be followed, as nearly as practicable. As the military professor will, of necessity, be a graduate of that institution, and our text books and methods of instruction the same as there employed, this object will be accomplished, as a matter of course. The corps of students will be organized into companies of moderate size, from fifty to sixty strong, so as to give an even number of companies for the University battalion. This will be the habitua. organization for infantry drills and general parades. The battalion staff, and the company officers, will be taken from the senior class; the staff sergeants, and the company sergeants, from the junior class; the corporals, from the sophomores; with such modifications as may suit the case of students on shorter or longer courses. All these grades should be taken by detail for limited periods, so as to give to all, as far as practicable, the advantage of practice in all positions. Students, not on duty as officers, and all the freshman class, will do duty as privates, the classes being intermixed in companies in definite proportions. Details for duty as officers should be based, not only on proficiency in this particular department, but have reference to superior excellence in all others, and to general deportment. For this and other reasons, the details, if made by the military professor, should be approved by the University faculty, or by the Regent, as might be expedient. Whenever possible, in the course of practical instruction, expert members of the superior classes should be employed in drilling the lower, as well from the necessity for such assistance, as for the benefits to students so employed. In this way, military habits and routine will be transmitted from class to class, with each succeeding year. The studies and recitations of classes will proceed, uninterrupted by changing seasons; but exercise and drill will require the drill room during inclement weather. This will insure steady progress in military practice, and alsoafford to all students a due decree