Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1894 [PAGE 112]

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PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

113

commissioned officers, preparatory students, and those of the sophomore and freshman classes who are physically disabled or specially excused by the faculty. Since last annual inspection, there have been 78 infantry company drills, 52 artillery drills in formation of detachments, manual of the piece, dismounting and mounting, carriage and limber, etc.; 22 battalion drills, 3 dress parades^ and 5 reviews and inspections. No regular weekly company inspections have been had, but inspections have been made from time to time as part of the company drills. New students are exercised without arms from three to four weeks. There has been no artillery target practice, but artillery practice firing with blank cartridges has been had. Target firing with small arms has been limited to one afternoon's practice at 50 and 100 yards, which was attended with good results, although only twelve cadets (officers and sergeants) participated, owing principally to the unfavorable weather and the bad condition of t h e butts. No other practical instruction has been had, except signaling with wand and flag. Seven signal drills with flag have been had this' term. The military professor states t h a t instruction in telegraphy is not preferred to military signaling, and t h a t it is not desirable to send to this institution, for instruction in long range signaling, some of the old style heliographs called in from posts. There is a suitable drill ground for company and battalion drill in close order, but it is rather limited for extended order. A large hall, 100x150 feet, erected in 1889-90, affords excellent facilities for indoor drill. A target range—up to 400 yards—is located about a mile and a half south of t h e university buildings. Theoretical instruction consists of recitations, and notes by the military professor furnished the sophomore class, and has been conducted by the military professor personally, with the exception t h a t during the winter term, owing to the size of the freshman military class, the cadet major was employed as an assistant, and heard three recitations per week— t h e military professor taking the other three sections of t h a t class at t h e same hour. During the winter and spring terms four, and during the fall term five hours per week are devoted to this instruction. Since the last annual inspection the three classes, junior, sophomore, and freshman, have had a total of 152 recitations, embracing infantry drill regulations, guard duty, organization of the TJ. S. army, signaling, field fortifications, and military forces of the United §tates—the average attendance being: fall term, 175; winter, 158; and spring, 28. There are no lectures delivered by the military professor, but he furnishes the sophomore class with notes on the organization of the U. S. army for war and peace, military forces of the United States, and cannon projectiles. No other theoretical instruction has been given, no campaigns have been studied by the students and no military essays have been prepared by them. The text books in use are t h e Infantry Drill Eegulations, Manual of Guard Duty, Wheeler's Field Fortifications, and Art and Science of War. The librarian states t h a t the university library contains 300 volumes (including ordnance reports) on different military subjects. There are 299 Springfield cadet rifles on the returns, but two are believed to be deficient. The rifles are not in good condition—the stocks are scratched and battered, etc. When not in use, they are stored in drill hall and armory, and cared for by the janitor. The accoutrements (300 sets) are much worn. The two (2) six-pdr. bronze guns, with carriages and limbers, t h a t have been furnished the institution are in fair condition, but old and worn. They are kept either in the drill hall or in a small building erected for t h a t purpose. All the foregoing property

—8 U. I.