William T. Sherman: Circular of June 15, 1860

In answer to the very numerous inquiries addressed to me, I have obtained from the Board of Supervisors the necessary authority to make this Circular for general information.

This institution is in part maintained from a fund held for its benefit in trust by the state, and also by direct appropriation on the part of the legislature. It is required by law to educate fifty-three cadets, for and on account of the state, and we are prepared to undertake the education and training of about one hundred young gentlemen, other than those before referred to as state cadets.

The next term will commence on the 1st day of November, 1860; and all who present themselves in person at the Seminary between the 29th day of October and the 1st day of November, with or without the formality of a previous appointment, will be examined and, if found qualified, will be assigned to rooms and classes and at once enter upon their studies and duties. The conditions of admission are: that each applicant shall be between fifteen and twenty-one years of age, of good moral character and free from any infectious or contagious disease; he must be able to read and write the English language well, and to perform, with facility and accuracy, the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, vulgar and decimal fractions, and simple and compound proportion.

After admission a printed copy of the regulations will be placed in his hands, and he will be required to conform to them strictly. The greatest regularity in all duties and recitations will be enforced, and every violation of the regulations will be punished by marks of demerits, one hundred of which for a term of six months, will be punished with dismissal. Any great disorder, disobedience or other irregularity, endangering the honor, reputation or safety of the Institution itself, will be followed by dismissal. But every facility will be afforded to the obedient and studious cadet to obtain a good education.

Each cadet will be expected to bring from his home a good trunk, seven good shirts, four pairs of drawers, seven pairs of cotton socks, two pairs of good shoes or boots, six pocket handkerchiefs, four pairs of white drilling pants, two pairs of white Berlin gloves, six towels, one clothes brush, one hair brush, one tooth brush, and one comb; also two bags for soiled clothing. All of which should be indelibly marked. He will need at the Seminary as an outfit to be paid for in cash: 1 chair - $1.50, 1 single mattress – $4, 1 linen cover to wrap the bedding - $1.15, 2 straps – $1.00, 2 pairs of good blankets - $8.00, 2 pairs of sheets – $2.80, 2 pillow cases – 60 cts., 1 feather pillow – $2.00, 1 looking glass – 75 cts., 1 water bucket – 30 cts., 1 dipper – 30 cts., candlestick and snuffers – $1, 1 uniform hat – $8; in all say – $32. These articles may be brought from home but will be at the Seminary for sale at cost prices, about as above. They should last four years with care.

The expenses for a session of ten months are estimated as follows:

Board at $12 per month	$120.00
Washing at $2 per month	20.00
Medical attendance and medicines	15.00
Rent of fixed furniture	5.00
Uniform suit of cloth	25.00
Fatigue suit of jeans	17.00
Summer pants, vests, and jackets	21.00
Two pairs of shoes	10.00
Straw hat and cap	5.50
Text books and stationery	30.00
Fuel	12.00
Candles	8.00
Tuition per annum	60.00
Absolutely necessary expenses	$348.50

No cadet will be permitted to have money otherwise than above, and it is positively prohibited by the regulations for cadets to apply for or receive money from their parents, or to contract any debt whatever. All shopkeepers in this neighborhood are well acquainted with this rule, and parents are requested never to pay such bills, as cadets have no necessity to incur any debts in any manner whatever, without the distinct written permission of the superintendent.

The government of the institution is military, similar to that at the Academy at West Point; but the course of study has been selected with great care, and embraces more of the classic languages and literature than is usually taught in military schools.

Daily marks are kept of each recitation. These are consolidated quarterly, and a report thereof made to each parent or guardian, with the number of demerits up to the end of such quarter and the state of the money account.

Before the money deposited with the treasurer is exhausted, the superintendent will make his requisition on the parent for the amount needed for the remainder of the term. It will be seen the institution receives no compensation other than the $60 charged as annual tuition fee – all other moneys are simply held for the account and benefit of the cadet, the institution keeping an accurate account thereof, subject at all proper times to the inspection of the cadet, his parent, or guardian. The annual expenses are reduced to as low a figure as possible and the actual amount to be expended by any cadet will depend upon the care which he takes of his books and clothing.

This is peculiarly a state institution. The regulations encourage true morality and religion, and aid cadets in the performance of their religious duties. But there are no religious ceremonies connected with the institution itself and none can be compulsory. Ministers of the gospel frequently visit it, in which event, cadets are encouraged to attend; but when such is not the case, the cadets are permitted under the proper restrictions to attend the Church of their choice in the town of Alexandria, three miles distant.

All cadets are organized into companies and drilled: the first year as soldiers, and during subsequent years as corporals, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, and field officers.

The text books for the first year are Davies's University Arithmetic, Bourdon's Algebra and Davies's Legendre's Geometry, Noel and Chapsal's French Grammar, Noble Butler's English Grammar, Rudiman's Latin Grammar, and Josse's Spanish Grammar. All knowledge of these books acquired before coming here will give a great advantage in the first organization of the classes.

W. T. SHERMAN, superintendent. 

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 224-32