GREEN A. JACKSON, Va.
THOMAS L. JACKSON, Va.
WILLIAM T. MERRITT, Va.
JOHN P. FULLER, N. C.
A. M.
JAMES E. SEBRELL, Va.
WILLIAM A. BRAME, Va.
JAMES D. PROCTOR, Va.
COLLEGE YEAR 1856-'57.
The changes in the Faculty this year were the resignation of Assistant
Professor Samuel Lander, whose place was not filled, and the
substitution of Charles W. Crawley, Principal of the Preparatory School
for Thomas A. Gatch, resigned.
In June, 1857, Professor Charles B. Stuart resigned the Chair of
Chemistry and Geology, and Professor N. T. Lupton succeeded him.
Professor O. H. P. Corprew at same time resigned the Chair of Ancient
Languages, and Professor William B. Carr succeeded him.
The degrees conferred June, 1857, were--
A. B.
GEORGE W. ARMISTEAD, Va.
WILLIAM I. COWLES, Va.
RICHARD W. JONES, Va.
JOSEPH E. LEIGH, Va.
EDWIN G. MOORE, N. C.
WILBUR F. DAVIS, N. C.
JOHN B. WILLIAMS, N. C.
WILLIAM W. PENNY, Mo.
WILLIAM A. SHEPARD, Mass.
A. M.
WILLIAM G. CONNOR, Tenn.
L. O. RIVES, Tenn.
GARLAND B. HANES, Va.
THAD. L. H. YOUNG, Va.
JESSE P. BAGBY, N. C.
ADOLPHUS W. MANGUM, N. C.
SAMUEL MOORE, Va.
THOMAS C. ELDER, Va.
THOMAS C. THACKSTON, Va.
WILLIAM H. CHEEK, N. C.
Number of students during the session, 144, including those at the
Preparatory School (34).
The worst blizzard ever known in Virginia occurred in January, 1857;
thermometer ten degrees below zero. Some suffering in the College for
want of fuel.
COLLEGE YEAR 1857-'58.
This year was reasonably prosperous. Some dissatisfaction was expressed
in the president's annual report on account of salaries.
[Illustration: RICHARD W. JONES, A. M., LL. D., _Major C. S. A.;
President Mississippi Industrial Institute; Professor Mississippi
University and Randolph-Macon College._]
In June, 1858, Prof. Lupton resigned the chair of Chemistry and Geology,
which was subsequently supplied by the election of Prof. Bennett
Puryear, of Richmond College.
Dr. W. A. Smith again tendered his resignation, for reasons personal to
himself. At the urgent solicitation of the students, the Alumni Society,
and the Board, he withdrew his resignation.
[Illustration: REV. RICHARD FERGUSON, _Virginia; Adjutant Eighteenth
Va. Regiment._]
Degrees were conferred as follows:
A. B.
BENJAMIN H. THACKSTON, Va.
RICHARD FERGUSON, Va.
VICTOR M. BRANDON, Va.
RICHARD B. HOLSTEAD, Va.
ROBERT S. ISBELL, Va.
ALEX. MALLORY, Va.
ROBERT MOORE, Va.
CLAUDIUS G. PHILLIPS, Va.
PITTMAN R. VENABLE, Va.
RICHARD O. WYATT, Va.
B. L. AND S.
WALTER M. IRBY, Virginia.
A. M.
GEORGE E. BOOKER, Va.
PETER A. MOSES, Ark.
THOMAS A. GATCH, Va.
ROBERT N. SLEDD, Va.
JAMES C. HANES, Va.
Prof. JOHN C. WILLS (Honorary), Randolph-Macon College.
Students in College this session, 109; in Preparatory School, 16-total,
125.
THE ENDOWMENT RAISED TO $100,000.
At a called meeting of the Board December 27, 1858, the following action
was taken:
"The Board, being satisfied, from an examination of the bonds and
subscriptions obtained by the agent, that the endowment fund of the
College, in bonds, cash, and valid subscriptions, has been raised to and
above one hundred thousand dollars; therefore be it
"_Resolved_, That the following notice be given through the newspapers
of the State, viz.: 'By order of the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon
College, at a meeting held this day, notice is hereby given to those
persons who have contributed by bonds and subscriptions to increase the
endowment of the College that the said fund has been raised to the
amount of one hundred thousand dollars in bonds, cash, and valid
subscriptions, that their obligations have become absolute, and it is
hoped that they will discharge them, in order that the money may be
invested in permanent form as soon as practicable.'"
The herculean task of raising the largest endowment fund ever
contributed to any college in Virginia or in the South up to this date
by public subscription was thus confirmed. When it is considered that
the larger part of this amount was contributed by individuals in sums
ranging from five to one thousand dollars (the latter sum the largest
contributed by one subscriber), the immense labor and difficulties of
the undertaking may be, to some extent, estimated. But the large number
of subscribers evidenced one gratifying fact, that after the subject of
education had been ventilated in mass-meetings, the people had become
interested in Christian education, and had given practical proof of that
interest.
[Illustration: HENRY B. COWLES, _Virginia Conference; Agent
Randolph-Macon College._]
The friends of the College were jubilant over this great event, which
seemed to insure new life and energy to the College, the subject of so
many hopes and prayers. The three great moving and active agents in
consummating the work--President W. A. Smith, Dr. Leroy M. Lee, and
Agent Rev. Henry B. Cowles--are worthy of all honor, and their names
should be handed down to succeeding generations as the benefactors of
their State and church.
At the commencement, June, 1859, there was a large re-union of the
Alumni of Randolph-Macon to rejoice over the endowment secured and to
consult together about the interests of the College. Prominent among
those present were Rev. President John C. Blackwell, the oldest alumnus;
Rev. Holland N. McTyeire, D. D., editor of the _Nashville Christian
Advocate_; Rev. James A. Duncan, Hon. Thomas H. Campbell, etc. A banquet
of the Society was held, which was attended by many of its members and
invited guests. The Society of Alumni adopted the following preamble and
resolutions:
"Whereas the Bible, as the word of God, contains the highest wisdom as
well as the highest truth; and whereas it is the oldest as well as the
best of books, and bears a vital relation to literature and civilization
as well as to religion; and whereas a knowledge of its teachings and the
history of those religious opinions and institutions which have
exercised a controlling influence upon the character and destiny of
mankind is necessary to a broad, liberal and complete education;
therefore,
"_Resolved_, 1. That the Bible, as a text-book, ought to occupy a
central place in education, as it does in morals.
"2. That it is eminently proper for the church, in conducting education,
to give the Bible such a place and distinct recognition.
"3. That we, the alumni of Randolph-Macon College, recommend and
respectfully urge upon the Board of Trustees the creation of a _Chair of
Biblical Literature_, whose instruction shall be accessible to all
students of the College who shall desire to include them in their course
of study, and shall be extended free of charge to any young men who are
studying with a view to the Christian ministry.
"4. That we recommend that the Virginia Conference rand the friends and
patrons of the College everywhere take measures for speedily endowing a
_Chair of Biblical Literature_.
(Signed) "HOLLAND N. MCTYEIRE.
"JOHN C. BLACKWELL."
[Illustration: REV. WILLIAM S. DAVIS, _Of the North Carolina Conference;
General of Cavalry in the C. S. A._]
This was the most pleasant and cheering commencement occasion which had
occurred for many years. The catalogue showed the attendance to have
been: Students in College, 119; in Preparatory School, 22--total, 141.
This year the old curriculum of four years was abandoned, and the course
was made _elective_, with the following departments, viz.:
[Illustration: THOMAS J. JARVIS, LL. D., _Ex-Governor of North Carolina;
Senator in U. S. Congress; Minister to Brazil._]
1. Ancient Languages,
2. Mathematics,
3. Chemistry and Natural Philosophy,
4. Moral Philosophy,
5. Modern Languages,
6. Preparatory.
A. B. and A. M. courses for degrees were established.
Professor J. C. Wills resigned the Chair of Mathematics. He left much to
the regret of the Board and the Faculty to take a professorship at the
Southern University, Greensboro, Ala. Mr. Robert T. Massie was elected
to fill the vacancy. Robert S. Isbell was Principal of the Preparatory
School.
The following degrees were conferred:
A. B.
WILLIAM S. DAVIS, N. C.
AURELIUS T. GILL, Va.
ADAM C. BAGBY, Va.
JOHN L. JOHNSON, Va.
HENRY B. COWLES, JR.; Va.
JOHN DAVIDSON BLACKWELL, Va.
WILLIAM H. DAVIS, Va.
JOHN T. HUMPHREYS, Va.
THOMAS J. OVERBY, N. C.
JOHN L. CHAMBERLAIN, N. C.
EDWIN S. HARDY, Va.
JOHN W. JONES, Va.
WILLIAM G. STARR, Va.
CHRISTOPHER THROWER, Ark.
LEROY S. EDWARDS, Va.
LUTHER WRIGHT, Va.
ENGLISH AND SCIENCE.
J. W. HEARTSFIELD, N. C.
THOMAS W. BRANCH, Va.
F. X. MILLER, N. C.
A. M.
DR. SAMUEL D. SANDERS, S. C.
WILLIAM T. MERRITT, Va.
GREEN A. JACKSON, Va.
ARGYLE HALEY, Va.
JOHN E. CHRISTIAN, Va.
JOHN WILLIAMS, N. C.
ALEXANDER HOGG, Texas.
D. D.
Prof. A. M. SHIPP, Wofford College, S. C.
COLLEGE YEAR 1859-'60.
This was the first year under the new system of instruction. At the
annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, the committee on "The course of
instruction and new system of government" reported very favorably on the
results, and advised continuance of the same, with some modifications.
The Preparatory School was abolished this year, after an unsuccessful
course generally, for about twenty-eight years. The number of students
in attendance this year was: in College, 149; in Preparatory School,
16--total, 165.
[Illustration: B. W. ARNOLD, A. M., _Professor of Vanderbilt University;
Member of the Virginia Legislature._]
Degrees conferred June, 1860, _under new course_:
A. B.
JOSEPH D. ARNOLD, Va.
WILLIAM P. HILL, Va.
THOMAS J. JARVIS, N. C.
A. M.
BENJ. W. ARNOLD, Va.
ANTHONY DIBRELL, Va.
GEORGE B. FINCH, Va.
P. FLETCHER FORD. Va.
WILLIAM M. JONES, Va.
JAMES H. PEAY, Va.
BENJAMIN I. SCOTT, Va.
JOHN W. TAYLOR, Va.
A. M., under the old course.
WILLIAM I. COWLES, Va.
RICHARD W. JONES, Va.
JOHN B. WILLIAMS, N. C.
WILBUR F. DAVIS, Va.
EDWIN G. MOORE, N. C.
GEORGE W. ARMISTEAD, Va.
WILLIAM A. SHEPARD, Va.
JOHN L. GILLESPIE, Va.
COLLEGE YEAR 1860-'61.
This College year reached into the first year of the civil war. The
matriculation at the opening was fairly good, but during the second term
many of the young men left to enter the military service. The
Commencement exercises were dispensed with, and the Board conferred only
a few degrees. Those receiving them were--
A. M.
B. L. ARNOLD, Va.
B. J. HAWTHORNE, Va.
RICHARD B. HOLSTEAD, Va.
RICHARD O. WYATT, Va.
A. B.
JOHN THOMPSON BROWN, Va.
D. D
REV. JOHN C. BLACKWELL, A. M., Pres. Buckingham Female Inst.
Under the discouraging circumstances the Board determined to suspend the
exercises of the College--a very wise move, but unfortunately it was
countermanded at a subsequent meeting.
COLLEGE YEAR 1861-'62.
At a called meeting of the Board held August 29, 1861, the previous
action of the Board was rescinded, and it was resolved, "That the
College be opened at the usual time under a complete system of military
government, and Rev. Major William H. Wheelwright Was elected Professor
of Military Tactics."
At a subsequent meeting of the Board, Professor Lewis Turner was elected
to the Chair of Mathematics, vacated by the resignation of Professor
Massie, who had entered the military service; Professor W. A. Shepard
had also entered the service, but his place was not filled.
At a meeting held in Norfolk, Va., November 22, 1861, a committee was
appointed to secure a change in the charter, authorizing the military
feature proposed for the College.
At a meeting of the Board held January 20, 1862, J. E. Blankenship was
elected Professor in place of Major Wheelwright, who declined to accept
the position offered him. On the 20th February the military organization
was completed by the action of the Executive Committee. It was as
follows, viz.:
REV. WM. A. SMITH, D. D., _Col. Commanding Corps Cadets_.
J. E. BLANKENSHIP, Major, _Professor Mathematics and Military
Science_.
BENNETT PURYEAR, Captain. _Professor Chemistry_. WILLIAM B. CARR,
Captain, _Professor Ancient Languages_.
G. STAUBLY, Captain, _Professor Modern Languages_.
A long schedule of military rules was adopted--too long for their
insertion here, and much longer than their existence would have
justified.
Those who reversed the deliberate action of the Board at the annual
meeting, carried away with the excitement of the times, thought they
were doing the best, but, as we look at it now, it appears a solemn
farce. It was also an expensive one.
At the close of the year, June, 1862, the following received degrees:
A. M.
WILLIAM A. ARCHER, Va.
J. E. BUTLER, Ark.
R. A. COMPTON, Va.
WILLIAM S. WILLIAMS. Mo.
GRADUATES OF FORMER YEARS.
WILLIAM G. STARR,
ROBERT S. ISBELL,
JOHN D. BLACKWELL.
A. B.
WILLIAM E. EDWARDS.
B. L. ARNOLD, Va.
[Illustration: WILLIAM E. EDWARDS, D. D., _A. B., 1862._]
At the annual meeting, June, 1862, of the Trustees, the following
resolution was adopted:
"This Board, having the utmost confidence in the ability of the
Confederate States to maintain their independence, and that it is safe
to make investment in their stocks (bonds), is of the opinion that it
would be judicious to sell out our stocks which do not pay an interest
of more than six per cent., and to invest the same in Confederate States
bonds, bearing an interest of eight per cent. And that the President of
the College be requested to confer with our Investing Agent on the
subject, and that if the investing Agent concur with the Board in the
propriety of the exchance of stocks, that he proceed to make it."
Under the military _regime_ the session opened as usual in September,
1862. The number of students in attendance was small, as might have been
expected.
The board of students was fixed at $25 per month, with the following
bill of fare at the Mess Hall:
"_For breakfast_--Sugar, coffee (_or substitute_) or milk (_those using
the one will not be entitled to the other_), flour-bread, viz., loaf
bread and biscuit, and either batter-bread, waffles or muffins, butter,
cold or fried bacon, or hash.
"_For dinner_--Boiled bacon and cabbage, or other greens, and one of the
following kinds of meats, viz., beef, mutton, shoat or fowls, with the
vegetables of the season, and corn-bread.
"_For supper_--Sugar, coffee (_or a substitute_) or milk, as at
breakfast, flour-bread, viz., loaf-bread and biscuit, and either
batter-bread, waflles, muffins, or toast-bread and butter."
What soldier could not fight on such fare as this!
In October, 1862, Professor Staubly resigned, and soon afterwards went
to Petersburg, along with Professor W. B. Carr, to teach in the
Petersburg Female College. They were thus engaged till the 9th of June,
1864, when General Kautz attacked the Home Guards, under the command of
Major F. H. Archer. In this engagement Professors Carr and Staubly were
participants, and the latter was killed, along with Geo. B. Jones, a
Randolph-Macon alumnus.
At a called meeting of the Trustees held December 18, 1862, the
President presented to the consideration of the Board the condition of
the College, with an exhibit of receipts and disbursements.
After much deliberation, it was ordered that the operations of the
College be suspended from and after the 5th of February, 1863, to the
opening of the fall term, in September following.
"Dr. W. A. Smith was placed in charge of the property. At a meeting of
the Trustees held July 24, 1863, the President in his report in regard
to the closing term said:
"The College opened September, 1862, with about twenty students, which
number gradually increased to forty-four. The Conscript Act then went
into operation, and took nearly half that number.
Then, on motion, it was ordered that the exercises of the College be
suspended until otherwise ordered. The Virginia Conference of the M. E.
Church, South, held its annual session at Broad-street Methodist Church
November, 1863. At this Conference the following resolution was adopted:
"_Resolved_, That we recommend the Trustees of Randolph-Macon College to
remove it from its present site to some more eligible locality, and we
call their attention specially to the advantages presented by Lynchburg
as the place to which it should be transferred."
A meeting of the Trustees was called to consider the resolution of the
Conference, and the Trustees assembled at Broad-street Church November
26, 1863.
As there were only nine members in attendance, the Trustees adjourned to
meet in the city of Petersburg on the 20th of January, to consider the
recommendation of the Conference, and an order was made that notice of
the adjourned meeting be given in the newspapers of Richmond and
Petersburg.
The Trustees of Randolph-Macon College met, pursuant to adjournment, at
the Washington-street M. E. Church, Petersburg, Va., on Wednesday,
January 20, 1864. There were present seventeen members. The chairman,
President Smith, presented the resolution of the Conference, given
above.
After considerable discussion, the following was agreed upon as the
sense of the Board:
"_Resolved unanimously_, That while the Board of Trustees of
Randolph-Macon College are not prepared to take decisive action on the
resolution of the Virginia Conference in relation to the change of
location of said College, yet this Board so far concurs in the spirit of
their resolution as to appoint five members as a committee of the Board
to take immediate steps to ascertain the comparative advantages offered
by other localities with a view to its removal; and that the committee
be requested to perform their duty with dispatch, and report to an
adjourned meeting to be held in Petersburg, Va., on Wednesday, March 9,
1864."
The following were appointed said committee: Rev. W. A. Smith, chairman,
Rev. L. M. Lee, Rev. J. C. Blackwell, E. R. Chambers, and R. M. Smith;
and, on motion, Captain Richard Irby was added to the committee.
The Trustees met, pursuant to adjournment, in Washington-street M. E.
Church, Petersburg, Va., March 9, 1864.
The committee appointed at the meeting January 20 last made report, as
follows:
"The committee to whom were referred the comparative claims of the
different localities which have been spoken of as offering the most
encouraging prospects of success beg leave to submit, that such is the
unsettled state of public opinion as to the financial condition of the
country at this time, and for some time to come, that no enlightened
judgment can be reached by your committee as to the advantages offered
by other localities compared with the present location of the College,
we beg, therefore, to be relieved from the further consideration of the
subject.
"(Signed) WM. A. SMITH, _Chairman_."
The following order was adopted in regard to the report, viz.:
"_Resolved_, That the report of the committee be referred back to the
same committee, with instructions to take into consideration all the
subjects committed to them at the meeting held in Petersburg on the 20th
January last, and report to a subsequent meeting to be held in
Petersburg at the call of the President, or when he may be requested to
call a meeting by any five members of the Board of Trustees."
This meeting was never called. The committee never formulated any
further report. In a few weeks after the meeting was held, Petersburg
was invested by the Federal army, under General Grant. This investment
was continued until April, 1865, when General Lee's right wing was
turned, Petersburg and Richmond evacuated, and the final surrender at
Appomattox.
The following reminiscences of the last days of the College before the
suspension are given by Rev. Dr. W. E. Edwards, who was at the College
till near the close:
"The years 1860-1862 were among the most memorable in the history of the
College. In 1860 the College, perhaps, had attained the climax of its
_ante-bellum_ prosperity. It had met difficulties and conquered them. It
had grown and developed into commanding importance. A future of great
promise opened up before it. Dr. William A. Smith was now at the zenith
of his great popularity as a college president and as an instructor in
Moral Philosophy. The changes which from time to time he had introduced
in the management of affairs bore continually-increasing fruit in the
orderly conduct of students and in their closer application to books;
nay, more, his adaptation to the professorial duties which he had
assumed shone out conspicuously before the church and the state. He was
endowed with splendid abilities--an intellectual giant. Especially was
he a born metaphysician. He possessed a power of introspection and an
aptness for the logical arrangement of truth that fall to the lot of
but few men in life; and now, by patient toil, he elaborated and
delivered to his classes a course of original lectures upon the various
subjects in his special department, which of itself would justly
entitle him to a high rank among the instructors of the country. It is
to be regretted that these lectures were never written out _in extenso_
and given to the public. No doubt, at certain points, they would
disclose a lack of thoroughness, due to the absence of large and general
reading; still, they would manifest a marked degree of original and
profound investigation, and would prove, what cannot be said of all that
today is taught in our colleges under the name of Moral Science,
exceedingly helpful in the proper culture and discipline of character.
In other words, the Doctor, in the plan and order of his talent, was
practical rather than speculative.
The dark cloud of civil war, so long anticipated and dreaded, now
appeared with threatening aspect upon the horizon. The presidential
nominees were made. Intense excitement pervaded every department of
society. Still the attendance of students upon the fall session of the
College for 1860 was not much abated. Of course, the storm without was
felt in the narrower circle of college life; all the circumstances of a
regular political campaign was here faithfully enacted. Parties were
formed; electors were chosen; speeches were made; votes were cast. The
majority upon which so important a decision was made (to the best of my
memory) was five, yet, in spite of this political strife, studies were
pursued with the zest and regularity of former years. A few months
passed by. The great American people, despite the students of
Randolph-Macon College, decided who should be the President of the
country, and declared in favor of Abraham Lincoln, 'the rail-splitter of
Illinois.' The College participated more and more in the effects of the
increasing excitement. Many students from the seceded States returned to
their homes. At length the 4th of March, 1861, arrived. Mr. Lincoln was
inducted into office. Immediately he called for seventy-five thousand
men to crush the 'rebellion.' Virginia, so long standing aloof, and
hoping against hope, now compelled to make a decision, unhesitatingly
cast her fortune with that of her Southern sisters. The wildest
enthusiasm prevailed among the students. Bondfires were kindled; a great
torchlight procession was formed; the different professors were visited,
and, after the most approved style, called on for speeches. Then the
march was continued to Boydton, to the manifest delight of the citizens
of that little town; and then, at a late hour of the night, the line was
broken, and every one was left to find his way as best he could back to
his room. It is a time long to be remembered.
"Soon students in large numbers left for their homes to prepare for war.
The country was converted into an immense camp. So great was the
depletion in the number of students, and so great was the excitement
that prevailed throughout the country, that the College authorities
deemed it inexpedient to hold the regular commencement exercises for
this year. So closed the term of 1860-'61.