LOUISIANA STATE SEMINARY
of Learning and Military Academy,
Alexandria, January 1, 1861.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, Alexandria:
Sir: I have the
honor to submit this, my Annual Report. Accompanying it you will find,
1st. Balance sheet,
exhibiting the state of all accounts for 1860.
2nd. An Inventory of
articles on hand for sale to cadets, classified as "merchandise,” such as
text books, clothing, bedding, etc.
3d. An inventory of
property belonging to the Seminary, charged to expense account, but remaining
on hand and in daily use.
4th. A return of
arms, accoutrements and ammunition stored here, for the Central State Arsenal.
5th. A list or
catalogue of all professors, cadets, and other persons belonging to the
Seminary.
6th. An exhibit,
giving the approximate cost of maintaining a "state" and "pay”
cadet.
These contain all
the information I am required to give at this time, but I am satisfied you will
expect of me a more full exhibit of our financial prospects.
By an examination of
the Balance sheet, marked 1, you will observe that we begin the new year with:
[$56,056.02]. . .
I estimate our
expenses for this current year to be: ($43,746.42]. . .
Deducting this from
the former sum and we should have a cash balance at the beginning of next year,
of $12,310.60, of which balance the sum of $10,502.97 will belong to the “State
Cadet Fund," "and must be held sacred. Deducting this from the former
balance, leaves the sum of $1,807.63 over and above all the estimated expenses,
which are full and liberal. From our isolated position, however, we must expect
always to keep on hand a pretty large stock of merchandise for sale to cadets;
and this will require a moderate capital to be retained in hand.
All other accounts,
such as wood, tuition, furniture, and tailors, are self supporting.
The two professors'
houses are now substantially done, and will be occupied within a fortnight. The
old rail fence has been removed, and a plain board fence constructed, so as to
enclose the buildings in a rectangular field of about twenty-eight acres. The
small balance of the appropriation for roads and fences, $243.06, will soon be
expended on the main road, within the Seminary limits, and in connection with
the road now under construction by commissioners of the parish.
It would be well, at
this time, to demolish the old, dilapidated log cabin which stands by the east
tower of the Seminary, as well as the shanty occupied by the tailor's family,
and to construct, in more retired localities, two plain but neat cottages, one
for the servants employed about the Institution, and the other for the
occupation of the tailor. These would not cost over seven hundred dollars, a
sum that the very favorable condition of our finances will warrant. With these
small changes, I do not see that any more buildings will be called for till the
number of cadets exceed one hundred and sixty.
CENTRAL STATE
ARSENAL. By the act of your General Assembly, approved March 14, 1860, was
established here, in connection with this Military Academy, an Arsenal under
the above title. We then had on hand only fifty-five muskets and fifty sets of
rifle equipments, and it appeared to me of some importance that a better supply
should be procured before the opening of the present term. On my application,
the adjutant-general of the state, M. Grivot, and Governor Moore, placed in my
hands a requisition on the ordnance department of the United States, for the
quota of arms due Louisiana for the year 1861. Availing myself of the August
vacation, I went to Washington, at my own expense, had a personal interview
with the secretary of war, Gov. Floyd, who promptly and courteously gave the
necessary orders for advancing these arms before the time they could be claimed
under existing laws. Colonel Craig, chief of ordnance, promptly filled the
requisition, so that we are now in possession of a complete supply of the very
arms and accoutrements needed by this institution. The arms are of the newest
and best patterns. The jury of the parish, at its December meeting, appropriated
the sum of two hundred, fifty dollars for the purchase and deposit here of
powder, balls, and percussion caps. By an inspection of the return herewith you
will see a complete list of them all.
To afford a proper
and safe place of storage for these arms and ammunition, I enclosed the space
under the main stairway, in such a manner as greatly to strengthen them, and to
afford a magazine easy of access, easy to guard, and where the powder is remote
from any walls containing fireplaces or flues.
It was my purpose to
give in detail the history of events which attended our progress during the
past year; to have explained the character of discipline, of instruction, and
all things that would be calculated to assist you in your duty report to the
legislature. But I find all these things so well described by your late
vice-president, General Graham, in his report of April 28, 1860, that I have
nothing further to add.
The rules and
regulations for the government of us all, professors and cadets, have been so
thoroughly canvassed, and adopted and printed for general use and circulation,
that nothing remains but to give them a fair trial. Should, in their
application, any defects exhibit themselves, I shall not hesitate to point them
out, and at the very start I cannot withhold the expression of my earnest
conviction that, in our course of study and array of text books, we have
imposed upon the cadets a load they cannot bear, and that it is calculated to
make imperfect and superficial scholars. In adding to a full scientific course
of study a most complete classical one, we are apt to appall the mind of
ambitious youth who contemplates the task he has assumed.
Our standard for
admission is low, but not too low. The majority of applicants come to us very
badly prepared, and with every disposition possible to yield to the wishes of
parents, the Academic Board was constrained to reject twelve applicants at the
beginning of this term. All these things can be safely left to time, and,
in the meantime, by adhering closely to the system which has been well begun,
by maintaining a pretty severe discipline, and more especially, by keeping the
classes of cadets constantly employed, at their studies and recitations, we
can, beyond the probability of doubt, complete the work so auspiciously begun,
and make this to rank among the first institutions of our country. A result in
which I feel assured all, professors and cadets will continue to exhibit a pride
and zeal worthy the cause.
I have the honor to
be your ob't servant,
W. T. SHERMAN,
superintendent.
SOURCE: Walter L.
Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 321-5
