Lancaster, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1859.
Dear Sir: I am
now in full possession of all documents sent to my address at Leavenworth
including the papers containing the printed proceedings of the Board of
Supervisors of August 2. I have written to you twice at Washington, but suppose
you are not well arrived, and as I find it best somewhat to qualify my offer to
come East, and visit with you the Virginia Institute, I write you again.
I have written Governor Wickliffe that I will be at Saint
Louis, Oct. 20 and at Baton Rouge Nov. 5, prepared to meet the committee of
supervisors, or the academic faculty at any time thereafter he may appoint. But
it may be more convenient for that committee to meet at once in Alexandria or
at the institute [Seminary] itself, so that I can be there at any date after
Nov. 5, which may prove agreeable to all parties.
To-morrow I will go to Frankfort, Kentucky, to be present at
the opening of the session of the Kentucky Military Institute and I will remain
long enough to see for myself as much of the practical workings of that
institute as possible. Colonel Morgan in charge will, I know, take pleasure in
making me acquainted with all details that I may desire to learn.
From Kentucky I shall return to this place, and about the
25th inst. I will go to Chicago, where I expect to meet Captain McClellan of
the Illinois Central Railroad, who a few years since visited many of the
European establishments, and who can therefore give me much information. I will
then go to Leavenport and afterward St. Louis delaying at each point a short
while, but you may rest perfectly certain that I will be on hand, when the
committee meets and that I will acquire as much practical knowledge of
organization as possible in the meantime.
I hope you will find it both pleasant and convenient to
visit the Virginia Military Institute and that you will make inquiries that
will be of service - thus ascertain the exact price of each article of dress,
and furniture furnished the cadets, price of each text-book - how supplied,
cost of black-board, drawing-board, mathematical instruments, drawing-paper,
paints, pencils, etc. The name of the merchant who supplied them. Have they a
single store, like an army suttler who keeps supplies on hand, and whose prices
are fixed by the Academic Board, or does their quartermaster provide by
wholesale and distribute to cadets charging them? Are all cadets marched to
mess hall? Do they have regular reveille, tattoo and taps?
Can we not select a dress more becoming, quite as
economical, and better adapted to climate than the grey cloth of West Point and
Virginia?
It occurs to me that climate will make it almost necessary
to make modifications of dress, period of study, drill, and even dates of
examinations. This may all be done without in the least impairing that
systematic discipline which I suppose it is the purpose to engraft on the usual
course of scientific education.
Ascertain if possible, the average annual expense of each
cadet - clothing, mess hall, books, paper, etc., lights fire, and washing and
tuition.
I will try and ascertain similar elements in Kentucky and
elsewhere, so that we may begin with full knowledge of the experience of all
others. Should you write me here the letters will be so forwarded as to meet me
with as little delay as possible.
SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, Editor, General W.T.
Sherman as College President, p. 37-9
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