UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Nevins) [PAGE 96]

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82

BEGINNINGS OF THE UNIVERSITY

Turner's nor Morrill's original measures, but was added to the Morrill bill in its last stages by amendment. In the period just following the Civil War it caught the popular fancy. It was felt that this military instruction would scatter throughout the nation a body of men indispensable in war, and would also be a splendid disciplinary force at each institution. In no State were greater expectations pinned on it than in that of Grant and Logan. Gen. Brayman prepared a special plan which contemplated little less than making a new West Point of the University, though a liberal one. The students were to be organized as in a military camp, with the usual regulations as to exercise, recreation, sleep, the reveille, the roll call, and the tattoo, arranged not to interfere with studies. They were to wear uniforms as an habitual dress, thus achieving democracy and neatness at once, and awakening the manly pride of each student. The inspiriting fife, drum, bugle, and military band were to be heard. Daily martial exercises were to be enforced, so that at proper intervals every student might be withdrawn from mental effort for physical development. Thus, in Gen. Brayman's opinion, "the race of wretched dyspeptics, hypochondriacs, and consumptives which crowd the learned professions' ' was to be forever abolished in the West. Col. Shattuck, the first military head, was soon succeeded by Snyder j and in 1877, after repeated applications to the War Department, and enlistment of the help of Congressman " J o e " Cannon, Lieut. W. A. Dinwiddie was appointed professor of tactics, soon after— following a laughable struggle with Snyder—becoming commandank|| For a time Gen. Brayman actually induced the University to outline a three years' military course to qualify graduates as army officers, but this