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.