cornell at war and peace

CORNELL AT WAR AND PEACE

StudentsdrillinginfrontoftheKappaAlphaHouse,1910s(Source:RareandManuscriptsCollection,CornellUniversity)

ZacharyNewkirk‘12May15,2012AMST2001

InstructorCoreyEarle‘07

1

CHAPTERONE CONCEIVEDINWAR

Inthefallof1861,ayoungprofessorofhistoryattheUniversityofMichigansawa

pairofhisstudentsofftowar.“Theycouldresisttheirpatrioticconvictionsnolonger,”the

professorreminisced,“andtheyhadcometosaygood‐byetome.Theywentintothewar;

theyfoughtbravelythroughthethickestofit;and

thoughonewasbadlywounded,bothlivedto

return,andareto‐dayhonoredcitizens.”Other

studentswereneverabletocomebacktotheir

studiesandcaringprofessor.“Mydearfriendand

student”FrederickArnefellatthewetand

muddyBattleofShilohin1862.AlbertNye,

“scholarly,eloquent,noble‐hearted,withevery

gifttoensuresuccessincivillife,”wasalsoamong

thehundredsofthousandsofAmericanstoperish

inthefratricidalCivilWar.1

Seeinghisstudentsofftowarwasmerely

onepartofAndrewDicksonWhite’sCivilWar

experience.Alreadyrejectedbythearmy–“you

willbeaburdenuponthegovernmentinthefirst

hospitalyoureach;youhavenottheconstitution

tobeofuseincarryingamusket”2–Whiteinsteadturnedtowardraisingtroopsand

equipmentfortheUnioncauseandbyinspiringpatriotismfortheyoungmenunderhis

tutelage.Moredirectly,Whitesupportedmilitarydrillattheuniversity.Althoughhefaced

AndrewDicksonWhitein1865,theyearCornellUniversitywasfounded(Source:RareandManuscriptsCollection,CornellUniversity)

2

challengesinfindingasuitablemilitaryinstructorfortheMichiganundergraduates,White

eventuallysecuredaWestPointgraduatetodrillhisstudents.

TheCivilWar’simpactonhisstudentsdeeplyinfluencedWhite,convertinghiminto

astaunchproponentofmilitarydrillatAmericancollegesanduniversities.Hisconversion

cameevendespitehisgeneraldispleasureagainst“educationaldiscipline,”forhebelieved

“militarylevelingandacommonuniformwouldservetobreakdownthebulwarksof

caste.”3Moreimmediately,wasthepracticalnecessityofmilitaryinstruction.“Ihadseen

largenumbersofmybeststudentsgoforthinsufficientlytrained,andinsomecasesledto

destructionbyincompetentofficers,”Whitewroteinhisautobiography.Military

instruction,then,wouldformthebasisofaclassofeducatedcitizen‐soldiersthatwould

provetobeleadersintimesof“calamity,possiblyofcatastrophe.”ToWhite,havingcollege‐

educatedmenbecomemilitaryleaderswasforthebenefitofthenation.Otherwise,the

“powerofthesword”wouldbeleftto“ignorantandbrutalleaders,”whileeducatedyoung

men“shallslinkawayfromthesceneofduty,cowerincornersandleavetheconductof

militaryaffairstomenintellectuallyandmorallytheirinferiors.”4Thismindsetshapedthe

earlyhistoryofCornell,particularlyduringWhite’spresidentialadministration.

ThispaperexaminesthemilitaryhistoryofCornellfromitsfoundingin1865to

1917whentheUnitedStatesenteredtheGreatWar.Whatcomprisedmilitarydrillforthe

students?WhoweretheindividualsparadingontheArtsQuad,barkingordersandactually

believingindrillprocess?Whatimpactdidnationalandinternationaleventshaveon

Cornell’sstudent,faculty,staffandalumni?Foritsfirstcentury,militaryinstructionwas

compulsoryforatleastfreshmen,alegacyleftfromtheMorrillLand‐GrantActof1862.

Cornellstudents–calledCadets–learneddrill,militarytacticsandthescienceofwar.For

theearliestyears,CornellresembledWestPointmorethanacontemporaryinstitutionof

higherlearning.Althougharelativelyyounguniversity,Cornellpossessesastrongmilitary

traditionandhistory.Inthispaper,IfirstlookatthelegacyoftheCivilWaratCornell,then

3

thefirstthirtyyearsaftertheuniversity’sopeningin1868,theSpanish‐AmericanWar,the

periodbetweentheSpanish‐AmericanWarandWorldWarOne,andfinallytheGreatWar’s

impactontheuniversitybeforetheAmericanentry.

AsAndrewDicksonWhitesupportedmilitarydrillinAnnArbor,hisfuturecolleague

andpartner,EzraCornell,viewedthegrowingconflictwithanequalmixofuneaseand

patriotism.Cornell,aQuaker,wasgenerallyopposedtoviolence.Inalettertohisson,

Alonzo,in1846,Cornellwrote,“Iamsothurorly[sic]disgustedwiththewholeofthis

miserableMexicanWarthatIhavenopatienceeventoconsiderthegoodqualitiesofsome

ofourbestandbravestmen.”5Nevertheless,CornellremainedastrongRepublicanand

supportedAbrahamLincolnin1860.InFebruary1861,Cornelldescribedtohiswifeabout

seeingthepresident‐electinNewYorkCity.“Icouldnothearawordthatheuttered,but

theconvulsivejerksofhishead,andbobing[sic]ofhisbodyindicatedanearnestnessof

speech,andcalledforththewildestshoutsofapplausefromthesolidmassofadmirers

below,”Cornellwrote.6Earlier,inJanuary1861,hewrotetoafriend,“Thegreatquestionof

thedayis,haveweaNationalGovernment?Ihavealwaysthoughtwehad,Ithinkwehave

still.”7ThefiringofFortSumterinAprilclearlyputanendtothatquestion.Proponentsof

unionintheCornellfamilyspannedtheMason‐DixonLine.AcousinlivinginNorth

CarolinawrotetoEzrainApril,1861that“thedisunionist[s]haveorareabouttoplunge

ourgoodoldstateintothisunholywaragainstourwishes&betterjudgment.”8Aswar

becamearealityEzraandhiswifeMaryAnnplungedintothewareffort.

CornellheadedacommitteeofIthacansmadetoorganizesuppliesandmoneyfor

theUnion’swareffort.InJuly1861heandthreecompanionstraveledtoWashingtonDC

withmedicalsupplies.ThementraveledwiththeNewYork32ndRegimentofvolunteers,

“justintimetoseethatdivisionofourarmymakesitsstrickenretreat”duringtheBattleof

BullRun.9CornellandhiscompanionsgotlostandjoinedwiththedefeatedUnionforce,

spendingthenightata“secessionfarmershouse.”Theyleftearlyoverfearsthatthefarmer

4

wouldbetraythemandleft$2forthenight.Cornellwrotethatoneofhiscompanions,after

walkingbacktoWashington,“hasseenenoughofwar.”10Cornellwasalsofinancially

supportiveofvariouswarefforts.InApril1863hecontributed$73forthesupportof

familiesofacoloredregimentfrom

AlbanyCounty.Hewasalsoallowed

tovisitthefrontlinesin1864asa

statesenator“torenderassistance

tothewounded.”11

Cornell’scorrespondence

withhisyoungerbrotherDaniel,a

soldierintheUnionArmy,revealed

howclosethewaraffectedthe

Ithacan.Daniel’slettersdescribe

camplife(“wecandepend

upon…mouldy[sic]bread,mustybaconbodyliceandcursesfromdrunkenofficers”12),

prideinhisstatusasasoldier,and,inAugust1863,adetailedaccountofaseverewound

throughthemouthhereceivedduringtheSiegeofVicksburg.EzraCornell’sCivilWar

experiencetookatragicturnin1864whenhisnephew,W.IrvingWood,diedinVirginia.

HewasburiedatRobertE.Lee’sformerplantationatArlington,oneofthefirstveteransto

beburiedinthenowfamouscemetery.13

WhileEzraCornellandAndrewDicksonWhitewerearguablythemostimportant

pairofindividualsinshapingCornellUniversity,JustinS.Morrillalsodeservessignificant

recognition.AcongressmanandlatersenatorfromVermont,Morrillwasinstrumentalin

creatingtheuniversity.HisLand‐GrantActof1862andvarioussuccessoractshelped

createdozensofcollegesanduniversitiesacrossthecountry.Amongtheinitialact’s

numerousstipulationswasaclauserequiringmilitaryinstruction.TheActcalledfor“the

APrintoftheBattleofBullRun,July21,1861(Source:LibraryofCongress)

5

endowment,support,andmaintenanceofatleastonecollegewheretheleadingobjectshall

be,withoutexcludingotherscientificandclassicalstudiesandincludingmilitarytactics,to

teachsuchbranchesoflearningasarerelatedtoagricultureandthemechanicarts.”14

TheLand‐GrantActof1862wasnotthefirstlegislationregardingfederalfunding

forhighereducationthatMorrillproposed.In1859,Congresspassedaverysimilarbillbut

PresidentJamesBuchananvetoedit,citingthatultimatelythegrantingofpublicland

shouldbelefttothestates.The1859billhadnomentionofmilitaryinstruction.The

circumstancesin1862weredifferent.TheUnionwasreelingfromseveraldefeatsaccrued

inthepreviousyearincludingtheBattlesofBullRun,Wilson’sCreek,Winchester,Gaines’

MillandthedisappointingPeninsulaCampaign’sfailuretotakeRichmond.Theclausein

Morrill’slegislation,then,waswhathistorianRichardAbramscallsan“anafterthought

stipulation,”areactiontothenecessitiesoftheUnionatthetime.15Indeed,inaspeech

beforeCongressMorrillalludedto“thatmilitarydrillourcountrynowsogreatly

appreciates”inhisadvocacyforthebill.16Inanotherspeech,thecongressmanadmitted

thatifthelegislationhadbeenintroducedaquartercenturybefore,themilitarydrill

requirementwouldhavebeen“lessdeplorableinthenorthernstates.”AstheCivilWar

showed,however,therewasa“necessityforcedupontheattentionoftheloyalstatesby

thehistoryofthepastyear,”referencingthesuccessofConfederatearmies,ledlargelyby

graduatesofmilitaryacademiesintheSouthsuchastheVirginiaMilitaryInstituteorThe

Citadel.Hedeclared:

Ifeveragainourlegionsaresummonedtothefield,letusshowthatwearenotwhollyunprepared.Thesecollegesfoundedinevery[loyal]statewill…tosomeextentguardagainstthesheerignoranceofallmilitaryartwhichshroudedthecountry,andespeciallytheNorth,atthetimewhenthetoxinofwarsoundedatFortSumter.17

CongressmusthaveagreedwithMorrill.TheLand‐GrantActpassedtheSenateon

June10,186232to7vote.AmongtheoppositionwasSenatorJamesLaneofKansas,who

stated“asanold‐lineDemocrat,Ihavealwaysbeenopposedtothedistributionofthe

6

publiclandsamongtheStates.”18Aweeklater,theHouseofRepresentativespassedthebill

90to25.19PresidentLincolnsignedthelegislationintolawonJuly2,1862,thedayafter

theUnionvictoryatMalvernHill.

SuchwasthecontextfromwhichCornellUniversityoriginated.Evenbeforeits

officialbirthin1865,eventswereinmotiontoshapetheuniversityforitsfirstcentury.

Aprilof1865wasamonthoftragedyanddeath.WiththesurrenderofRobertE.Leeat

AppomattoxonApril9th,thedreamofanindependentSouthernnationdied.Withthe

assassinationofAbrahamLincolnonApril14,theUnitedStateslostasteadfastpresident,

emancipatorandleader.AndonApril27,thedayCornellUniversitywasofficiallyfounded,

thesteamboatSultanaexplodedandsankintheMississippiRiver,killing1,700passengers.

Yetfromamongthedefeatsandtragediesofthemonthcamethebeginningofaninstitution

ofhigherlearningthateversinceits1868openinghasproducedwriters,poets,artists,

scholars,researchers,athletesandevensoldiers.FromtheloomingshadowoftheCivil

War,Cornellmarchedforwardtomeetthetwentiethcenturywithoptimismandgrace.Yet

avestigeofthewaranditsproductsremained:militaryinstruction.

7

CHAPTERTWOTHEFIRSTTHREEDECADES

MILITARYINSTRUCTIONINTHEFIRSTYEARS

“TheCornellUniversityexpectseveryCadettobeagentlemanunderallcircumstances.”TheCornell

Era,December5,1868. ThecharterofCornellUniversitydirectlymandatedmilitaryinstruction.Inlanguage

reminiscentoftheLand‐GrantAct,sectionfourofthedocumentstatesthepurposeofthe

universityisto“toteachsuchbranchesoflearningasarerelatedtoagricultureandthe

mechanicalarts,includingmilitarytactics;inordertopromotetheliberalandpractical

educationoftheindustrialclassesintheseveralpursuitsandprofessionsinlife…”20From

1869to1902,allfreshmenandsophomoreswererequiredtotakemilitaryinstruction.

Upperclassmencouldcontinuethecoursesaselectives.From1902to1916,the

requirementwaslimitedtofreshmenbecauseofspacelimitations.21WiththenewDrill

Hall’scompletionin1917,therequirementwasagainforfreshmenandsophomores,

althoughbythentheUnitedStateshadenteredtheGreatWarandthemilitarynatureof

thecampuswasuniversal.

Admittedly,Cornellwasnotfoundedasamilitaryschool.Butinanerarecently

shapedbythewidereachofaterribleCivilWar,thesoldierandformersoldierwasever

presentinAmericanlife.TheCornellEra,theuniversity’sfirstnewspaperthatcameout

everyweek,observed,”[T]hisgreatUniversitywasnotfoundedforthepurposeof

educatingsoldiers,butifitcanimbuecitizenswithallthatisgoodinsoldiers,andfitthem

tobesoldiersintimeofneed,whoshallsaythatitsresultswillnotbecommensuratewith

itshighpurposes,anditsinfluencesasbeneficentastheeffortstoextendthemarcself‐

sacrificeandearnest?”22

8

ForthefirstcoupleyearsafterCornell’sofficialopeninginOctober1868,the

militarynatureofthecampusmusthavebeenstrikingtoacasualobserver.TheRegisterof

1868‐1869informedstudentsthattheCornelluniform–“whichcanbereadilyand

reasonablyprocuredinIthaca”–mustalwaysbewornoncampus.23Interestingly,the

administrationjustifiedthisrequirementbystatingthat

wearingthecadetuniform“thussav[es]theexpenses

incidenttovarietyofcostumeandchangesoffashion,

insuringpersonalneatnessandplacingalluponacommon

footingofrepublicanequality.”24TheRegisterof1870‐

1871notifiedstudentsthatthecompleteuniform

requirementhadbeensuspendeduntilfurthernoticebut

sternlywarned,“Allundergraduatesarerequired,atevery

appearanceontheUniversitypremisesorinanypublic

spaceintheUniversitytown,towearthedistinctive

Universitycap…”25

Theoriginalcadetuniformincludedadark‐gray

coatwithninebuttonsinthefront,dark‐graypants,adark

bluekepiwith“C.U.C.”monograminwiththe“C”singoldandthe“U”insilver,anoptional

vest,fatiguesack,cloak,shoulderstraps,chevrons,acrimsonsashforstudentofficersand

sergeantsaswellassword‐belts,cartridge‐box‐beltsandwaist‐belts.26MorrisBishopinhis

seminalAHistoryofCornellwriteshowstudentofficers“displayedtheirtasteformilitary

elegance”bywearingtheircloaks,linedinred,“withonecornertossedromanticallyover

theshoulder.”27Thepricetagforsuchauniformcouldsetastudentback.Amongthe

papersofMillardConklin’72isanadvertisementfromDevlin&Co.Clothiers.Theprice

informationonthebackrevealsthefullsuitcost$32,$8to$15forafatiguesack,$16to

$18foracape,shoulderstrapsat$1andcapandwreathsfrom$3.75to$6,dependingon

Acadet,probablyLouisLivingstonSeaman’72,posinginfulluniform.(Source:HistoryoftheClassof1872)

9

rank.28Conklin,whorosethroughthecadetranksasacorporal,sergeant,firstlieutenant

andfinallyasquartermaster,mighthavespentasmuch$75,aprettypennyintoday’s

dollars!29“Tastefulandeconomical,”theCornellErainaccuratelydescribedthem,before

theuniformshadevenarrived.30

Studentswererequiredto“submitthemselvestoasimplecodeofsemi‐military

regulationsnecessarytothepreservationofquiet,orderandhealth,”astrictorderperhaps

toanyrowdycountryteenagersarrivingattheuniversityforthefirsttime.31Tocombatthe

potentialviolationsofacalm,orderlyandhealthylifestyle,theuniversity’sdormitories

wereplacedunderthecontroloftheCommandantoftheCornell’sstudentbattalions.A

veryclearschedulepunctuatedtheregimentationofstudentlife.TheRegisteroutlinesthe

undergraduate’sschedule,asdeterminedfromthenewbellsandchimes.Reveillewould

soundat7:15a.m.,halfanhourafterthebreakfastcallcamefromthebell.Othercalls

wouldincludeachapelcallat7:45a.m.,dinnerat1:15p.m.,drillcallat5:00p.m.,supperat

6:15p.m.,tattoo(orlightsout)at9:30p.m.andtapsat10:00p.m.Inaddition,thebell

wouldgivetenstrokesateveryhouroflecturesorclasses.32

Bishop(andtheCornellEraofDecember5,1868)providesreaderswithadifferent

schedule,beginningat5:00a.m.inthesummer,5:30a.m.inthespringandautumn,and

6:00a.m.inthewintermonths.“Thestudentsthenrose,dressed,madetheirbeds,and

swepttheirrooms,”beforehavingtheirroomsinspectedbythestudentofficers.

Everywherestudentsmarchedin“militaryandorderlymanner,”eventotheirhousesof

worship.Thestrictnessevenpermeatedthedininghalls,then,ofcourse,calledmesshalls.

Everycadetwasassignedatableandateverytableaspot.Hewouldneedpermissionto

changehisseat.Studyhours,generallybetweenmeals,werestrictlyenforced:“theutmost

quietintheroomsandthehallsofthebuildingswillbeobserved,andvisitingbetween

roomsasmuchaspossibleavoided.”33Themilitarysystemwasimperfectaccordingto

Bishop.“Thestate,ofcourse,delayedindeliveringthepromisedarmaments,andtheboys

10

drilledwithcanesandumbrellasinsteadofguns,”hewrites.Theuniformswerealsolatein

arrivingandunexpectedlyexpensiveforthestudentsatroughly$40.34

Militarysciencewasonesubjectthatallstudentsduringthesefirstfewyearswere

requiredtostudy.Later,aswomenjoinedtheuniversity,therequirementwaslimitedto

maleundergraduates.Themilitarysciencedepartment,runbya“professor”thatwas

jointlyanofficeroftheUnitedStatesArmy,offeredcoursesinmilitaryexercisesand

militaryscience.Thelatterwereoptionalcourses,opentoallundergraduatesandincluded

threecourses.Thefirst,militaryengineering,offeredstudentslecturesandlaboratorieson

topography,theeffectofprojectiles,fortifications,descriptionsandnomenclatureoffield

worksandmilitaryroadsandbridges.Thecourseentitledthe“ArtofWar”discussed

“historyandprinciplesofspecialtactics;theorganizationofarmies,withsomeaccountof

theadministrativearrangementsofourownarmy;strategy;

grandtactics;andaccessoryoperationsofwar.”Finally,the

courseonmilitarylawincludedsubjectsonthearticlesofwar,

armyregulations,theconstitution,court‐martialing,military

commissionsandmilitaryboards.35Militaryexercises,onthe

otherhand,weremuchmorephysical.Theyincludedinfantry

tactics,artillerytacticsand“specialexercises,”whichincluded

“useofthesword,sabre[sic]andthebayonet”and,whenever

possible,cavalryexercises.36

ThefirstCommandantwasMajorJosephW.Whittlesey,

an“experiencedandskillfulofficer.”37CornellhistorianWatermanT.Hewettwrotethat

duringWhittlesey’stenure,punishmentwasextremelystrict.“Onecaptain,whosofar

forgothisrankastojoinsomeofhiscomradesinhazingmildlyanobnoxiousstudent,was

expelledfromtheuniversity,andmarchedawayamidvehementprotestsfromthestudent

world,andescortedbyaprocessionofhisfellowstudents.”38MajorWilliamE.Arnold

MajorJosephW.Whittlesey,Cornell’sfirstcommandant(Source:RareandManuscriptsCollection,CornellUniversity)

11

followedWhittleseyandMajorJuniusWilsonMacMurrayfollowedhim.Duringthenext

Commandant’sterm,thatofWilliamPercyVanNess,the

universityrelaxeditsmilitaryrequirementsforupperclassman,

allowingforasubstitutefordrill.In1897onlyfreshmenand

sophomoreswererequiredtodrill.Finally,from1902to1916,

onlyfreshmenhadtodrill.39Hewetthadonlylaudatory

descriptionsofthevariouscommandantsoftheuniversity.He

praisedtheircharacter,ability,honesty,attentiontoduty,

dignityandobedience.40

AllCornellundergraduatesparticipatingindrill–called

CornellCadetsinthecontextofmilitaryinstruction–were

dividedintocompanies.Astudentofficer,almostalwaysacaptain,wasinchargeofeach

company.Belowhimwereoneortwofirstlieutenants,oneortwosecondlieutenants,

threetofivesergeants,fourtosixcorporals,twomusiciansandbetween40and60private

cadets.AccordingtotheRegisterof1868‐69,captainsandlieutenantswerefourthyear

students,sergeantsthirdyearstudents,andcorporalssecond

yearstudents.

Studentscouldbepromotedthroughnominationsto

theCommandant“inviewofmilitaryaptitude,general

deportment,andproficiencyinstudies…”41Thatsystemwas

notalwaysfairlypracticed,however.Inalettertohis

parents,freshmanJohnLittleMoffat’73,wrote“Ithinkthe

bestwaytorisewouldbe,firstmerit,&then(very

important)jointhesecretsocietyinwhichtheofficersare;

butIwilldonosuchthingasthelatter…”42Thesecret

societiesMoffatreferredwerefraternitiesandtheyoungfreshmanwasevidentlyseton

MajorWilliamE.Arnold,Cornell’ssecondcommandant(Source:RareandManuscriptsCollection,CornellUniversity)

MajorJ.W.MacMurray,Cornell’sthirdcommandant(Source:RareandManuscriptsCollection,

CornellUniversity)

12

beinganIndependent.An1871articleintheEraechoedMoffat’sobservation:

“Complainantsclaimthatneitherscholarshipnormilitaryproficiencyistakenintoaccount

inissuingcommissions,thosewhohavehabituallyshirkeddrilloftenbearingoffthe

highesthonors.”43Thecadetcompaniesalsoformedasathleticbonds.TheCornellEra

regularlyreportedoncompaniesplayingbaseballwitheachother.Forexample,on

September29,1869theErareportedthatonthepreviousFriday,CompanyAdefeated

CompanyCbyascoreof46to22.44

Somestudentsviewedthemilitaryinstructionrequirementseriously.Ina

discussionontheLand‐GrantAct’srequirement,awriterinthefirstissueoftheCornell

Era,characterizedthemilitarytacticsrequirement“bynomeanstheleastinimportance.”

Thewriterattributedthesentimentto“thevividlightofrecentexperience,orinviewof

thealmosttotalabsenceofthemeansofprofessionalinstructioninthecountryforthe

officersoftheNationalMilitia,”alludingtotheNorthernstates’lackoftrainedofficers

duringtheCivilWar.45Inaddition,theEraseriouslyadvocatedforanindoorgymnasium

forthefurtherpursuitofmilitarydrill.“Boating,baseball,foot‐ball,farmwork,and

militarydrillmaybeadequatetoalldemandsinthesummerseason,butinaclimate

where,duringmorethanhalftheyear,theweatherwillnotpermitofout‐doorworkor

exercise,itiseminentlyproperthatsomemeasuresshouldbetakentoprovideforgood,

healthyin‐doorsports,”thearticlementionedintrueCornellianfashionbyobservingthe

weather’slimitingfactors.46

Otherstudentsviewedthemilitaryrequirementwithwryhumor.IntheEra’s

September29,1869issue,an“official”announcementparodyingtheRegister’sofficialtone

appeared.Writingthatpursuanttotheaforementionedsectionfouroftheuniversity’s

charterthatrequired“agricultureandthemechanicalarts,includingmilitarytactics”tobe

taught,studentswererequiredtomeetbehindNorthUniversityHall(nowWhiteHall)

“furnishedwithapickandshovel,andattiredinthecommondressoftheday‐laborer,in

13

orderthattheaboverequirementsoftheabovesectionoftheChartermaybeobserved…”

Allthisforthe“sakeofconsistency.”47Someyoungmenweresimplyopposedtomilitary

instruction.TheErareportedthatW.W.Sabin’72hadtraveledtoParisduringitssiegeby

thePrussiansduringtherecentFranco‐PrussianWar.There“heacquiredadistastefor

militaryservice,andthinksofapplyingforanexcusefromthatbranchofeducation.”48Itis

unclearwhethertheadministrationacceptedhisexcuseofconscientiousobject.

TheCornellErainDecember1868,aftertwomonthsoftheuniversity’sopening,

concludedthatmilitaryinstructionandtheregimentedlifewasabeneficialtothestudents,

universityandthetown.Theyoungmenmarchquietlyandorderly,themesshallspossess

“noneofthatgreedyscrambling,”therewasnonoiseinthehalls,no“insulting,practical

jokes,”andnoodioushazing.TotheEra’swriters,theideaofasoldier“excitesour

admirationandwinsourrespect.”IntheyearsfollowingtheCivilWar,whenthememory

oftheconflictwaslongshapedinregularpublicparadesofveterans,dazzlingmemorials

andthefar‐reachingpoliticalinfluenceoftheGrandArmyoftheRepublic,theidealofa

soldiermusthavecapturedtheyoungmenatCornell’simagination.“Courage,courtesy,

manliness,honor”aswellas“promptness,punctuality,orderandobedience”weretraits

thesewritersaspiredtoachieve,helpedalongthewaybyfellowstudentsandfaculty.49The

Erawisheditsbesttooneyoungalumnus,A.H.Edgren’71.Hemusthavelearnedathingor

twoasarecipientofCornell’smilitaryeducationashebecameamilitaryinstructor.“May

heproveasecondGustavusAdolphustohiscountrymen,”thenewspaperwished.50

CIVILWARVETERANSATCORNELL

ThedevastatingwarthatimmediatelyprecededCornell’sfoundingcastashadowon

theuniversityinmorethanoneway.AlthoughmanystudentsinCornell’sfirstfullclass

werebornbetween1850and1852,makingthemtooyoungtofightintheCivilWar,more

thanafewolderstudentsandfacultytookpartintheconflict.MostfoughtwiththeUnion,

14

althoughCornellwashometoahandfulofConfederateveterans.AmongtheUnion

veteranswereDanielKentColburn’72,GeorgeHerbertCrafts’72(whoalsoparticipatedin

campaignsagainsttheApacheintheSouthwesternstates),JosephB.Foraker’69,Leroy

AllisonFoster‘72,EdwardWyllysHyde’72,DanielRhodes’72,ClarenceWellbornStanton

’72,DoctorTarbell’72andFrankEdgarTibbetts’72.

Manyoftheseveteranshadillustriousanddistinguishedtermsofserviceduringthe

war.JosephB.Forakerservedinthe9thOhioInfantryRegiment,seeingactionin

Tennessee,WestVirginiaandGeorgia,andparticipatedinGeneralWilliamTecumseh

Sherman’s“MarchtotheSea.”HelaterservedtwotermsasgovernorofOhioandtwo

termsasUnitedStatesSenator.EdwardW.HydeandDanielRhodeseachrosetotherank

oflieutenantintheirrespectivecavalryunits.ClarenceW.Stantonwaswoundedthree

timesintheBattleofBeverlyFordduringtheGettysburgcampaign,servedtheentiretyof

theWildernessCampaignunderGeneralPhilipSheridenandwasagainwounded.Frank

EdgarTibbettsparticipatedinthePetersburgandRichmondcampaignstowardtheendof

thewar.51

AtleastthreeConfederateveteransattendedCornellUniversity.ThomasAlexander

Hamilton,anativeofGeorgiaandgraduatedofaMarietta,Georgiamilitaryacademyand

servedintheConfederateArmybetween1862and1863whenhewasmerely15and16

yearsold.AtCornellhestudiedcivilengineeringandwasinvolvedwiththeIrvingLiterary

Societyandtheclasscouncil.AdolphusLafayetteRader’72,anativeofTennessee,fought

withthe8thTexasRangersandthe11thTexasInfantryattheBattlesofMissionaryRidge

andChickamauga,wherehewaswoundedtwice.AsaCornellstudent,Raderwasalso

involvedwiththeIrvingLiterarySocietyandwontheWoodfordMedalwithhisoration

“NationalUnitytheTendencyoftheAge,”afascinatingsubjectforaformerrebel.52The

WoodfordMedal,providedbyaformerLieutenantGovernorofNewYorkStewartL.

Woodford,wasagoldmedalvaluedat$100andgivenannuallyfor“thebestEnglish

15

oration,bothmatterandmannerbeingtakenintoaccount.”53Finally,JamesBentonGrant,

“oneofthefamousofficersintheConfederateArmy,”wenttoCornellforayearstudying

engineering.HisobituaryintheCornellSunnotedhewas16yearsoldwhenhejoinedthe

Confederateforces.54GrantlaterbecameagovernorofColoradoTerritory,thefirst

Democrattoholdthatoffice.

PerhapsthemostinterestingCivilWarveteranto

haveattendedCornellwasDoctorTarbell’72.Anativeof

Groton,NewYork,TarbellenlistedintheUnionArmy

immediatelyafterthefiringonFortSumterinApril,1861.

Hejoinedthe32ndRegimentandrosethroughtheranks,

becomingacaptainin1862.Tarbellwasaparticipanttoall

ofthemajorbattlesintheEasternTheatreoftheCivilWar:

BullRun,Antietam,ChancellorsvilleandGettysburg.In

September,1864hewascapturedbyConfederateGeneral

John“GrayGhost”MosbyandsenttotheinfamousLibby

PrisoninRichmond.TarbellwasexchangedonMarch28th,

1865asthewarwascomingtoaclose.Aweekandahalf

later,TarbellstoppedinWashingtonDCandsawashowat

Ford’sTheater.ArelaxingnightviewingofOurAmericanCousinbecameoneofthemost

tragicnightsinAmericanhistoryasTarbellwitnessedtheassassinationofAbraham

Lincoln.AtCornell,Tarbellbecameaclassleader,perhapsduetohisadvancedage;hewas

bornin1838andwouldhavebeen30whenclassesbegan.Hewaselectedpresidentofthe

sophomoreclass.55Healsoparticipatedinvariousathletics,earningcommendationfrom

theEraforhis“particularlyfineplaying”infootball.56Aspresidentofhisclass,Tarbell

publiclycommunicatedwiththeclassof1873aboutanupcominggameofbaseball,saying

“Weproposetobeverylenientwithyouastosizeofbagyoushallusetocatchwith.”57

DoctorTarbell‘72

(Source:IthacaJournal)

16

Tarbell’sclasswon48to39andtheCivilWarveteranmanagedtohitahomerun.58

Veteransofthewaralsoexistedintheranksofthefaculty.Coincidentally,afuture

CornellprofessornamedHomerBaxterSpraguewasheldinLibbyPrisonatthesametime

DoctorTarbell’72wasimprisonedthere.Thetwoevidentlyhadnotmetbeforeuntilthe

dayTarbellcametoIthacatotakehisentranceexaminationstotheuniversity.59Other

facultyveteransincludedRobertHenryThurston,anengineeringprofessor,whoservedin

theUnionNavyasanengineer.60AnotherwasBurtGreenWilderwhowasasurgeoninthe

UnionArmy.

Itmusthavebeenunusualforsomeofthestudentswhohadservedunderthe

bannersofnations,foughtundertheviolentsmokeofabattlefield,andsustainedhorrible

woundstosuddenlycometoCornellascadets.Oneyoungstudent,WilliamHoraceCorbin

’70,reminiscedyearslater:

IrememberaclassmateintheUniversity,oneoftheeldestmenintheclass,whofounditdifficultwithconstantstudytokeeppacewithhisfellows.Whenorderscamethatallstudentsshouldreportforoutdoormilitarydrill,thriceaweek,hefeltthathecouldnotaffordthetime;and,afterdrillingafewafternoons,modestlyappliedtoMajorWhittlesey,CommandantofCadets,tobeexcusedfromdrill.Thatoldmartinet,veteranoftheMexicanWar,sternlyaskedwhy,whenmyclassmaterepliedthathehadbeentrainingandmarchingwithafuninthe89thNewYorkRegimentforfouryears,agooddealofthetimeatnightaswellasday,andhethoughthereallydidnotneedthedrill.OnreflectionMajorWhittleseythoughtso,too.61

TheidentityofCorbin’sclassmateremainsunknown.Itispossiblethatitmayhave

beenDoctorTarbell,whowasindeedoneoftheeldestofhisclassandhadservedinthe

warformanyyears.Tarbell,however,wasinthe32ndRegimentanditisalltogether

feasiblethatCorbin’sclassmatewasamemberofanearliergraduatingclass.

17

THELATENINETEENTHCENTURY“Militaryinstructionisintendedtobesoconductedastodevelopasoldierlikebearingandfosterthespiritofgentlemanlycourtesy,soldierlyhonor,andobediencetolawfulauthority…”CornellSun,

April6,1893.

Cornell’sfirstthreepresidentsweregenerousinpraiseformilitarydrill,whichthey

sawasapopular,character‐buildingactivity.InOctober1882,AndrewDicksonWhitegave

hisannualtalkinwhichheadmittedthatsomestudentsconsideredthemilitary

requirementas“exceedinglyirksome.”White,however,describedmilitaryinstructionas

“oneofthebestthingsinthisUniversity,”harkeningbacktohisownexperiencesduring

theCivilWarwhenhewatchedhisuntrainedstudentsgoofftowar.62Inhisfarewell

addressin1885,WhiteobservedhowthemilitaryschoolsacrosstheSouth“hadgivenher

agreatadvantageinthestruggle.[Southerners]lookedatouruniversitiesandcollegesad

sawtherewasnolongeranymilitaryinstructionworthyofthename.”63Whitealsopraised

howmilitarydrillturnedstudentsintopropermen:“Ihaveseenyoungfellowssorough

andgawkishthattheydidnotknowhowtoreturnyourcivilbow…nordaretotouchtheir

hatstoaprofessor,butwho,whenIsawthemafewmonthsafterwards,stoodupstraight

andborethemselveswitheaseandmanliness.”64Cornell’ssecondpresident,Charles

KendallAdams,offeredsimilarpraiseinhisfirstannualaddressin1885.Hedescribed

Cornell students drilling on the Arts Quad. In the distance we can see the observatory. To the left of it stands the A.D. White House and to the right there is Boardman Hall, now Olin Library. If you look closely, you can see the

spiked helmets of the cadets, a popular American military style in the 1890s. (Source: Cornell in Pictures 1868-1954)

18

militarydrillas“oneofthebestexercisesfortheyouth,forstraighteninghimselfup,

pullingbackhisshouldersandmakingas

muchamanofhimaspossible.”65

ThecadetsdrilledintheArmory.

Builtin1883atacostof$32,700,itsoon

expandedin1892withagymnasium.It

wastorndownin1957tomakeroomfor

HollisterHall.66In1887,theCommandant

oftheCornellCadets,LieutenantWilliam

PercyVanNess,wrotetotheNewYork

SunaboutCornell’smilitaryprogram.He

placedthenumberofcadetsat435,

spreadamongeightcompaniesofinfantry,

aplatoonofartillery,signalmananda

band.WhileVanNesspointedoutthat

Cornell“isnot,ofcourse,uptothatofa

strictlymilitaryschool”itreceivedpraise

fromatopofficerintheGermanartillerywhohadobservedthecadetsduringdrill.He

echoedthesentimentsofWhiteandothersthatmilitaryinstructionformsausefulclassof

citizen‐soldiers.In1887,VanNessobserved,theUnitedStates’standingarmywasonly

25,000,making“oftheutmostimportantthatasmanyyoungmenincivillife…be

instructedintacticsandotherbranchesofmilitaryscience…”67Laterin1887,aroster

revealedthemilitarydepartmenttobe“prosperousandquitesatisfactory.”TheCornellSun

reportedthattheeightcompaniesofinfantryeachpossessedbetween40and55menand

theartilleryplatoontohave25men.Only20ofthecadetswereupperclassmen,however,

showingthatmostCornellstudentsonlyfulfilledthemilitaryrequirements.Still,forthose

AnexampleofacertificateofpromotionforCharlesF.Jones’84.Thetextreads:“KnowYe:ThatreposingourspecialtrustandconfidenceinthefidelityandabilitiesofPvt.C.F.Jones,IdoherebyappointhimCorporalofthe

CorpsofCadets,CornellUniversity,toankassuchfromtheFifthofMay,1882.Hewillbeobeyedandrespectedaccordingly.”ItissignedbyA.D.Whiteandthe

Commandant.(Source:RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity)

19

20,accordingtotheSun,“[show]thattherearethoseherewhohaveinterestindrill

outsideoftheamountrequiredbytheauthorities.”68

TheCornellSunrevealedtheday‐to‐dayaspectsofdrilllife.AFebruary1888article

reportedthatthesophomorecompanyofcadetswouldbegintargetpracticesoonandthat

thebanddevotedtwohoursaweektolearningnewmusic.Thearticlefurthermentioned

howsmallflagsofwithCornellcolorsand“fringedwithyellowsilk”aretobeattachedto

therifles“inlieuofthesmallnationalflagsnowrequiredbyarmyregulations.”69Inan

1893listofnineannouncements,LieutenantGeorgeBell,thethen‐Commandant,postedhis

officehoursas1p.m.to1:30p.m.andagainfrom4p.m.to6p.m.daily.Theannouncement

alsofirmlyremindedcadetstolookneat.“[E]verybuttonofhiscoatshouldbebuttoned,his

beltadjustedtohiswaistsoasnottodropontheside”wereamongthestipulationsof

beingtrim.WhileBell’sannouncementsspent

asignificantportiononpersonalneatness,he

remindedhisofficerstobecourteousand

politetothoseunderthem.“[C]heerfulness

andgoodnaturecangohandinhandwith

energyandpromptness,”hewrotebefore

remindingthelowerranksthat“allinferiors

shouldobeystrictlyandexecutewithalacrity

andgoodfaiththelawfulordersofthe

superiorsappointedoverthem.”Thelistof

Bell’sannouncementsalsoincludedpolicies

onreports,absences,inspections,uniforms

andpromotions.70(Foradescriptionofan

1888parade,seeAppendixB).

AnexampleofacadetdanceinvitationfromCharlesF.Jones’84.Thewordsread:“ThepleasureofyourcompanyisrequestedattheReceptiontobegivenattheopeningoftheArmory,FridayMay11th,1883..”(Source:RareandManuscriptCollections,Cornell

University)

20

CHAPTERTHREETHESPANISHAMERICANWAR

“TheUniversitymaywellfeelherlosshasbeenheavyandherglorymuch.”CornellSun,

October7,1898. ThebriefwarwithSpainwasacrushingAmericanvictory,yetonCornell’scampus

thewar“touchedusstrangelylittle.”71Bishopmayhavebeenwritinginhindsight,

comparingthecampusof1898withtheflurriesofactivitythatoccurredbetweenduring

theworldwars.Besides,hewashardlyinkindergartenwhentheU.S.S.Maineblewupin

HavanaharborandtheUnitedStatesdeclaredwar.Cornellcontributedhandilytothewar.

Ofthe125alumniand40currentstudents,106wereofficers.Thatnearlytwo‐thirdsofthe

Cornelliansinthewarwereleaderswastestamenttothestrongmilitaryprogramtraining

menfortheprevious

threedecades.72

TheMaine

explodedonFebruary

15,1898andthefirst

mentionofitappeared

intheCornellSunjust

fourdayslaterina

studentoration.Both

CubaandtheMaine

weresubjectsof

studentaddressesinanightofentertainmentatLibraryHall.73OnMarch4,theuniversity

hostedjournalistMuratHalsteadwhogavealectureonCuba,declaringthat“[t]hecauseof

Cubaisoneofjusticeandwillwinintheend.”HeexplainedthattheSpanishviewtheold

colonyas“almostsacred”andthatthePresidentWilliamMcKinleymustmoveagainst

Cornellcadetsposeinthe1890sorearly1900s.(Source:RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity)

21

Spainwithcaution.Halsteadconcludedonamelancholynote,saying“withallour

sympathyforCuba,wemustfeelsorryforSpain.TheyouthsofoldSpainaredying…

mournedbymothers…acrossthesea.”74Soonenough,however,collegecampusesbeganto

rallyinsupportofwarwithSpainandthelibertyofoppressedCuba.AttheUniversityof

Pennsylvania,agroupofaround800studentsledbytheuniversity’sband,marchedupand

downPhiladelphia’sstreetswavingCuban,Americanandtheuniversity’sflags.Thecrowd

gavethreecheersforCuba,threecheersfortheUnitedStatesandthreecheersforaCuban

professor,Dr.JohnGuiteras.75

Cornellhaditsownpatrioticgathering.ThepackedmeetingofApril20thbeganin

theLibraryLectureRoom.Theleader,J.RogerLewis’95,declaredthatthemeetingwasa

resultofanaturalandspontaneousreactiontothetragedyinHavana.Themembersofthe

meeting,heproclaimed,“iscomposedofthebestbloodoftheland–Cornellblood.”They

gathered“likeourforefathersof’61,”inordertocometotheaidofasubjugatedpeople.

“Theoppressedareabouttobelifteduptothefreeairofheavenandtheiroppressors

drivenaway,”hedeclared.Lewis’sspeechwasfollowedbyanemotionalsingingof

“America”andaproclamationfromaseniorthatallstudentsofCornell“doherebytender

toHisExcellency,thePresidentoftheUnitedStates,ourheartfeltsympathyandsupportin

allthathehasdoneormaydo.”Anotherspeechfollowed,theGleeClubsang“Onward”and

thecaptainofthefootballteamdeclared“itistimetostoptalkingandact.”Aftermore

speeches,aMissLaughlinspokeonbehalfofthewomenoftheuniversity,saying,“Weare

notfightingfornationalhonor,butforhumanitywhichismore.”Herspeechwouldbethe

lastandthecrowd,imbuedwiththe“firesofpatriotism”dispersedfromthemeetingplace,

singingtheAlmaMaterastheyleft.76

Onestudent,AdelaideTaberYoung,rememberedthemeetingonthewar.Inaletter

writtensoonafterthepatrioticmeeting,shepenned:

22

Naturallywartalkistheorderoftheday.LastnightthestudentsmarchedinabigprocessionwiththeCubanflagattheirhead,yellingandtooting.TheCornellyellwasgiventimeaftertimewith‘CubaLibre’ontheendandwasoftenaccompaniedwiththephraseaboutSpain,whichisusuallyreservedhereforYale.ThenthisnoontheyhadanimmensemassmeetingintheLibraryLectureRoom.Theretheyhadpatrioticspeechesandmusic.IamsorryIcouldn’tgobutIhadacommitteemeeting.77

Aweeklater,PresidentSchurmangavealectureontheethicsofwar,remindingthe

studentsthat“warishell”beforelaunchingonthenoblecauseoftheupcomingwar.He

observedthatmostAmericanwars–withthenotableexceptionoftheMexican‐American

war–“hasbeenwagedforprinciplesandideas.”Schurmancondemnedthe“shameful

scenesinCongress”andadmittedthatterritorialdominationwasan“underlying”reasonof

thewar.Still,hesaidthe“firstgreatreasonforinterventionishumanity’ssake,”citing

SpanishatrocitiesagainsttheCubansasareasontogotowar.Schurmanconcludedhis

speechbyechoingtheattitudeofthepreviousweek’sstudentmeeting:“Andwhatarewe

todo?LetusstandbythePresidentanddoourdutyasGodseesitforus.”78Schurman’s

wordswereputCornellfirmlyinlinewiththe

UnitedStates’declarationofwaronSpainon

April23,1898.Newsofthewarpunctuated

theCornellSunfortherestofthesemester.As

studentswentoffforsummervacation,they

wouldhaveheardofAmericanvictoriesin

Cuba,GuamandthePhilippines.

ThewardirectlyimpactedCornellin

theschool’sfirstmilitarydeath.Clifton

BeckwithBrown’00waskilledinactionon

SanJuanHill,charginguptheinclinewith

TeddyRoosevelt’sfamed“RoughRiders.”He

wasoneof200AmericanskilledattheJuly1stCliftonBeckwithBrown'00(Source:1900ClassBook)

23

battle.AnativeofCleveland,Ohio,Brownwas21atthetimeofhisdeath.Oncampushe

wasinvolvedintheDeltaKappaEpsilonfraternityandwasdescribedas“amodelof

physicalstrengthandbeauty…agoodallaroundathlete,beingagoodrunner,aswellasa

finefootballplayerandfairoarsman.”79TheSundescribedhimasanexcellentexampleof

anAmericancollegestudent.“Earnestinhisnatureanddeterminedinhiscourseofaction,

whendutycalledhim,hedidnothesitatetointerruptasuccessfulcollegecareerinorderto

entertheserviceofhiscountry,”thearticlepraised.80Whenheenlistedinthearmy,

Brown’sbrotherofferedtousehisconnectionstoobtaintheCornelliananofficer’s

commission,buttheBrownwrotebacksaying“Iwouldratherearnapromotion.”Brown’s

commandingofficerwrotetohisbrotherdescribingthebattle:

IwasincommandofourcompanyattheactionatSantiago,andwhenIgavethecommandcharge,Cliftonwasthefirstmantoreachthebarbed‐wirefence.TheSpanishfirewasmurderous.Wewereexposedabouteightminutes,andaboutone‐fourthofourmenwerehit.IhelpedbringCliftonout,andsawhewasbeyondhope.Hisimmensevitalitykepthimaliveafewhours.Hewascarriedtotherearbyourmenanddiedinthefieldhospital.IcannotexpressmysympathyasIshould.Theresponsibilityisstilltoogreattoallowmuchfeeling.Myownsenseoflossisgreat,asIhadlearnedtolovetheboyasmyownbrother.HewasastrueandnobleafellowasIeverknew,andasgoodandbraveasoldieraseverlived.Hehaspaidthehighestprice.81TheuniversitydidnotforgetBrown.Hisfraternitypubliclyexpressedtheirfeelings

oflossandsympathy.82PresidentSchurmancalledontheuniversitytocreateamemorial

fortheyoungman,whichincludedplanstocreateabronzetabletinhismemory.Thetablet

wastobeplacedinSageChapel.83ThetabletwasunveiledinJanuary1900andplacedin

theuniversitylibrary.Todayitisintheuniversity’sarchives.ItwastheworkofBelaPratt

ofBoston;otherworksofhisgracetheLibraryofCongress,theBostonPublicLibraryand

theConnecticutStateCapitol.TheSuncharacterizedthetabletasa“simple,dignified

memorialtothecharacterofonewhohadthoseveryqualitiesofsimplicityanddignityso

stronglyexemplified.”84AttheunveilingceremonyintheLibraryLectureHall,President

Schurmangavealongandchargedspeech.Hesaid,“Ouryoungherohasfallenandwehave

beenbaptizedtoanewlifebythebloodofamartyr.”ProfessorTrowbridgefollowed

24

Schurman,remarkingonBrown’sstrongacademics.Twoclassmatesgaveremarksonthe

heroismandcharacterofthefallenCornellian.85Inadditiontothememorialandbronze

tablet,theuniversitycreatedtheCliftonBeckwithBrownPrizewiththehelpofBrown’s

brother,whichisstillgivenannuallytothearchitecturestudentwiththehighest

cumulativegrades.DeltaKappaEpsilonhasalsohonoredBrown,firstinafireplacebuiltat

theirhousein1899,thenwithapairofsprucetreesplantedbythen‐GovernorTheodore

Roosevelt(aDeltaKappaEpsilonbrotherandparticipantofthebattle)in1899,andfinally

aplaquecommemoratingthesprucetreesin2004.86

SeveralotherCornelliansparticipatedinandsurvivetheSpanish‐AmericanWar.

OnewasMarioGarciaMenocal’80,whoservedthroughouttheentirewarasageneral,

“oneof[CubanGeneralMaximoGomez’s]mosttrustedaids.”87Menocalwouldlaterserve

aspresidentofCubafrom1913to1921.AtCornell,hewasalsoamemberofDeltaKappa

Epsilon.AnotherwasJ.W.Beacham,aformerfootballstar,whoservedasasergeantinthe

PhilippinesandthetakeoverofManila.“Hisgundetachment,No.3,wasintheengagement

frombeginningtoend,”anditreceivedspecialrecognitionforitsaccuratefirefrom

GeneralArthurMcArthur,thefatherofthefamousWorldWarTwoGeneralDouglas

McArthur.88JamesBradyMitchell’95,aformercadetcolonel,volunteeredforservice

distinguishedhimselfduringthewarwithhisengineeringbackground,improvingthe

sanitaryconditionsforCampAlgerinVirginia.Thisactionearnedhimaplaceintheregular

army.89

Finally,therewasLouisLivingstonSeaman’72,whoseadventurouslifetookhimall

overtheworld.HewaspresidentoftheCornellClubofNewYorkin1898andpresiding

overanalumnidinnerwhenhereceivedwordoftheMaine’ssinking.Immediately,heleft

thetableandsentatelegramtotheUnitedStatesSurgeonGeneralrequestingan

examinationtobeasurgeoninthearmy.HewasacceptedandservedinCubaandPuerto

Rico.Duringthosecampaigns,helearnedthatmorecasualtiesweretheresultofdisease

25

thanenemygunfire.“Thismovedhimtoprotestagainsttheunhealthfulrationsfermenting

cannedtomatoes–andhalfcookedcannedbeansservedtotheAmericansoldiers…Itwas

thebeginningofhisincessantagitationforproperrationstosoldiersinthefield.”90Onthe

whole,Cornell’scontributionstothe“splendidlittlewar”againstSpainweremeritorious

andsomewhattragicintheuniversity’sfirstcombatdeath.Thewarseemedtofurther

justifythemilitaryinstructionrequirementandthefineservicethatCornell’ssons

providedtothecountryservedasanoptimisticreminderoftheuniversity’slargerrolein

thecountryasthetwentiethcenturydawned.

TheOldArmory,whereHollisterHallnowstands.

26

CHAPTERFOURBETWEENTHEWARS

“IfIhadmywaymilitarydrillwouldberequiredduringthefirstyearsateveryuniversityinthis

country.IbelievethatAmericanlibertywouldbefarbettersecuredthereby.”AndrewDicksonWhiteintheCornellSun,January8,1907

ATIMEOFPEACE

Thestudentscontinuedtodrillandthecommandantscontinuedtoteach.Theearly

1900swasaperiodofprosperityandgrowthfortheuniversity.Itwas,toBishop,“the

happytimeofourinnocence.”Fromthe1898‐1899academicyeartothe1913‐14,Cornell’s

enrollmentincreasedfromaroundtwothousandstudentstomorethanfivethousand.In

1909‐1910,CornellwasthesecondlargestAmericanuniversity,surpassedbyColumbiaby

only60youngscholars.91Thegrowthintheuniversityreflectedinthemilitarydepartment.

TheoldArmory,longthecenterofstudentdrillandsociallife,wasincreasinglytoosmall.

In1914,thestatelegislatureauthorizedtheDrillHall(nowBartonHall),which,when

completedontheeveoftheAmericanentryintotheGreatWar,wasthelargestunpillared

buildingintheworld.

Beyondthechangeinuniform,therewaslittlechangetothemilitaryinstruction

curriculum.Duringthe1890s,themilitarydepartmentbrieflyadoptedthespikedhelmets

thattheGermanlandforceswerefamouslyknown,thepickelhaub.Later,theuniforms

becamemorefamiliarandbythelate1910swereoftheolivedrabthatAmericanswore

intoFrance.Anexampleofstudents’entrepreneurshipandperhapsalittlepenny‐pinching

existsina1905editionoftheCornellCountryman,apublicationforagriculturestudents.

““CADETS!Donotpurchaseyourmilitaryuniformbeforeyouseemeandgetmyprices,”an

advertisementfromM.W.Evans’06implored.“Ihavealargenumberofuniformswhich

havebeenusedbefore;theseareallinfirst‐classcondition,andwillservethepurposejust

27

aswellasnewones.Icangiveyouacorrectfit,andsaveyoufiveorsixdollarsifyoubuyof

me.”92

In1906,theWarDepartmentbrieflyconsideredabolishingthemilitarydrill

requirementforaseriesoflectures.“Outsideofthephysicalexercise,probablythegainto

graduatesinfuturelifefrommeredrillwouldnotbeconsiderable,”thecircularfromthe

Departmentsaid.93TheeditorsoftheSunadmittedthatdrillhad“manyinherent

drudgeries”butstillsupportedsomelevelofmilitarysciencetobetaughtto

undergraduates.TheCommandantatthetime,FrankBarton,alsorespondedtotheWar

Departmentfavorably.Hementionedhispreviousadvocacyforsuchasystem,ashewasa

longtimebelieverthatdrilloughttobetaughtatthehighschoolorpreparatoryschool

level,leavingcollegeanduniversitytospecializedlecturesandtacticaltraining.94

Barton’sdescriptionofa“more

rationalsystem”comprisedofmilitary

lecturesstoodinsharpcontrasttoAndrew

DicksonWhite’s.Theelderlyformer

presidentsolemnlydeclaredinalettertothe

Suninsupportofthestatusquo,“IfIwere

calledupontonametheonethingwhichI

thinkwecouldnotdispensewithinCornell

Universityitis…militarydrill.”Heoutlined

severalreasonsforhisviews,whichhad

remainedconsistentovertheyears:the

beneficialpresenceofeducatedmeninthe

military,thattheUnitedStateswouldneed

suchmeninthefuture,andthevaluesitplacedinyounguniversitystudents,includinghow

military,“inthestruggleforexistence,[giveshim]abetterchancethanthemanwhohas

Commandant Frank Barton, namesake of Barton Hall. (Source: Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell

University)

28

simply‘slouched’it.Heismoreofamanamongmen.”95Fivedayslater,theSunpublisheda

letterfromProfessorBurtGreenWilder,whoalsosupportedmilitarydrill.Hecitedhis

ownserviceduringtheCivilWarinwhich“Iheardfrequentexpressionsofregretatthe

lackoftraininginthescienceandartofwaruponthepartofourvolunteers.”Asascientist,

Wilderunsurprisinglycomparedmilitaryinstructiontohisownspecialtiesinbiology,

writingthattheperfectcombinationinasubjectwasthroughtheoryandpractice–drill

andlecturesinthemilitary,lecturesandlaboratoriesinthesciences.96

Thecontroversydieddownandstudentskeptdrilling.Infact,freshmenand

sophomoreswererequiredtodrill.Since1902onlyfreshmenhadtofulfilltherequirement

becausetheArmorywassimplytwosmallfortwoclasses.Withthecompletionofthenew

DrillHall,twoclasseswouldagainberequiredtodrill.97In1913,theWarDepartment

offeredspecialcommendationtoCornellandfiveothercollegesfortheirmilitary

departments.98

TheundergraduateexperienceofStuartMauriceFord’14revealthelifeofatypical

youngmanwhoenteredCornellbeforeWorldWarOneandremainedinvolvedwiththe

CornellCadets.AnativeofMorristown,NewJersey,FordarrivedatCornellinthefallof

1910,aimingtolearnacourseinmechanicalengineering.Hisscrapbookwasputtogether

withtheorganizedprecisionofayoungmanclearlyrespectfuloforder,perhaps

reminiscentofhisinterestsinengineeringandmilitarydrill.

FordwasassignedtoCompanyA,whichbecamehishomeandfamilyforthenext

fouryears.Hisscrapbookisfilledwithprogramsandannouncementsforalitanyof

banquetsanddances.InMarchof1911,thesecond‐semesterfreshmanattendedthe

company’sbanquet,enjoyingtheoystercocktails,turkeywithgibletgravy,mashed

potatoes,peas,shrimpsalad,wafers,icecream,cakeandcoffeethatwasserved.His

father’sname,E.P.Ford,appearsontheguestlist.ByMayof1913,Fordwasacadetofficer,

havingbeenpromotedtosecondlieutenant.Heattendedabanquetinhonorofthe

29

commissionedofficers.AndrewDicksonWhiteandThomas“Teefee”Cranewerealsoin

attendance;bothmengavetoaststotheCornellCadetCorpsanddinedonbakedkingfish

encrème,juliennepotatoes,chickencutletsauBechamelandroastfiletofbeef.The

cigarettes,theprogramnoted,werefurnishedbyLiggettandMeyer,aNorthCarolina

tobaccocompany.Threedayslater,FordattendedthebanquetspecificallyforCompanyA

atTheAlhambrahotel.Hegaveremarksduringthefestivitiesandprobablyatesomeofthe

porterhousesteakandFrenchfries.

Fordevidentlywasalsoquiteadancer.Earlyinthescrapbook,thereisacardfrom

Keegan’sSchoolofDancingonEastStateStreet.“WeteachthecorrectcollegeBoston,”

theircardadvertised.Perhapsthe15waltzesandtwo‐stepsthatFordlearnedwerethe

resultofa“privatelessonbyappointment,”butundoubtedlyhislessonswereputtogood

useatthe16thAnnualMilitaryHoponNovember14,1913wherehedanced“TheWhip,”

“JoiedeVivre,”“AppleBlossomTimeinNormany,”“Luna,”“PegO’MyHeart,”andthefinal

waltz,“GoodNightEverybody.”

Bythetimeofhissenioryear,Fordwasinvitedtothemilitaryhonorsociety,

ScabbardandBlade,whichhadtheaimofcreatinganefficientbodyofofficersfor

volunteerunitsintimeofwar.Hewasonlyoneoftwoinitiatesintheclassof1914.The

initiationbanquetonNovember6,1913tookplaceatTheSenatehotel.Themenuincluded

creamoftomatosoup,porterhousesteak,mushrooms,potatoesaugratinandgreenpeas

butcigaretteswereconspicuouslymissing.ThenextFebruary,thenowCaptainof

CompanyAattendedtheScabbardandBladeInformalDance.Theprogramforthedanceis

situatednexttoahandmadeheartinthescrapbookaddressed“ToMyValentire,”perhaps

fromanendearingyounglady.AttheMasonicHall,Forddancedseveralromantic‐sounding

songsincluding“NightsofGladness,”“HoneymoonLane,”“ALittleLove,”“SunshineGirl,”

“GirlintheHeartofMaryland,”“IWantYou,”“KissMeGoodNight,”and“Sweethearts.”

Suchwasthesociallifeofthedashingyoungcadetofficer.

30

ButFord’slifewascertainlynotallbanquets,dancesandperhapsafewValentine’s

Daykisses.TheDepartmentofMilitaryScienceandTactics“InformationfortheGuidance

ofStudents”inits1910‐1911edition(Ford’sfreshmanyear)sternlyadvisedthenew

studentto“carefullyperusethispamphletandthenretainitforfuturereference.”Indeed,it

wasfullofusefulinformationregardingdrill,discipline,promotions,scheduling,uniforms,

andothersubjects.TruetoAndrewDicksonWhite’sdescriptionofdrillturningboysinto

men,thepamphletnoted,“Stooping,hollowchest,unevenshoulders,ungainlygait,

awkwardcarriageofthebody,andsimilarfaultsusuallytheresultofunconscioushabit,

arecorrected.”Further,thepamphletdirectedyoungmentoretain“manlyself‐control,”

respectelders,obeyauthority,andupholdgentlemanlyvalues.It“frownsuponallformsof

untruth,deceitanddishonesty”andencouraged“ability,integrityandhonor,”particularly

inthearenaofpromotiontoahigherrank.Thepamphletalsolistedthecoursesinthe

militarydepartment

andmentioneda

swimming

requirementforall

freshmencadets.

Whenthe

possibilityoffacing

realactionarousein

1914,Fordwasquick

toexpressinterest.

Hisscrapbook

includesanumberof

clippingsfromtheCornellSunaboutthepossibleuseoftroopsinMexico,“incasethe

PresidentshouldissueacallforvolunteerstogotoMexico.”Atthetime,Mexicowas

CompanyHdrillsontheArtsQuadin1914.SibleyHallisvisiblebehindthecadets.(Source:RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity)

31

embroiledinacivilwar.ThelongtimedictatorPorfirioDiazhadabdicatedin1911to

FranciscoMaderowho,in1913,wasoustedandexecutedbytheauthoritarian‐minded

VictorHuerta.WoodrowWilsonrefusedtorecognizetheHuertaregimeandtensions

betweentheUnitedStatesandMexicowerestrained.DistantCornellfelttheeffectsof

Mexicanpolitics.CommandantBull,alieutenantintheU.S.Army,calledforvolunteersfor

he“believe[d]thatsuchanorganizationwouldbestrongerthanifthemenwere

scattered…the‘espiritdecorps’wouldbegreater.”AccordingtotheSun,Bull’splantokeep

theCornellmentogetherintheeventofanarmedconflict,madethe“themilitary

departmentoneofthemostpopularinstitutionsintheUniversity.”TheSunlistedFordas

oneofthefirst152mentovolunteer.99Onepeace‐mindedyoungwoman,KatherineLyon

’16,rememberedthefeelingofcampusatthetimeinherdiary:“Thechimesplay‘Tramp,

tramp,tramp,theboysaremarching’andeverythingisverypatrioticandwarlike.I

certainlyhopethespiritisallweget.”100

Wargameswerethemostdynamicaspectsofmilitaryinstruction.OnMay4,1914,

Ford,afour‐yearveteranoftheCornellCadetsparticipatedinaRedArmyversusBlue

Armybattle.AscaptainofCompanyA,hereceivedspecificordersbyCadetColonelMeads

earlierintheweek.Theordersgaveleewaytocaptainstofigureoutwhichmenintheir

unitwouldbefitforvariousbattlework,suchasreconnoiteringandsendingmessages.

Otherresponsibilitiesweremoremundane.Captainswererequiredtosettheirwatchesto

McGrawTower’stimeandtoensurethattheirsergeantscarriedasmallnotebookfor

writingmessages.Theordersfurtherexplainedthat“allcultivatedlandisimpassable.

Captainswillbeheldresponsibleforalldamagedonetosuchpropertybytheir

organizations.”ThemostimportantmessagethatMeadsgavetothecaptainswastobe

deliberate:“Weighthesituationandusecommonsense.Begovernedby

‘DELIBERATENESS.’Nosnapjudgments.”

32

UnfortunatelyforFord,MeadsandtheirBlueArmy,theyweremembersofthefirst

“army”inthehistoryofCornell’smockbattlestobedefeatedbyadefensiveforce.The

CornellSunreportedthattheBlueArmyadvancedtowardtheuniversityfromVarnain

ordertocapturea“powdermagazine”neartheAgricultureCollege.Meanwhile,theRed

ArmytookapositiontotheeastofAlumniFields,whichtheumpiresofthebattle(ledby

CommandantBull)deemed“impregnable,”therebygivingthedefensivearmythevictory.

TheSunreportedthataroundfivehundredindividualswitnessedthebattleandafew

hundredmoreoncampusmissedtheactionbecauseitwassofareast.(Foranaccountof

theSun’sreportofthebattle,seeAppendixC).

CaptainFord,thoughonthedefeatedsideofthemockbattle,wasabletofinishhis

cadetcareerinaflurryofsocialengagements.AthisfinalCompanyAbanquetatThe

Alhambrajusttendaysafterthebattle,Fordgavesomeremarks.Wecanspeculateonwhat

hesaidbutperhapsitwasatributetoasystemthatimprovedhischaracterandmadehim

amanofhonorandintegrity.HisfinalbanquetforthecadetcorpscameonMay25,1914at

theIthacaHotel.FormerPresidentWhite,PresidentSchurman,Thomas“Teefee”Craneand

LieutenantBullwereallinattendance.Bytheendofthesummer,Europewouldbe

engulfedinwar.Ford,then,finishedhismilitaryserviceattheendofaneraofpeace.That

periodwouldchangeremarkablyduringthelatermonthsof1914asEurope’sarmyfound

traditionalmilitarypracticestorntoshredsbytherapid‐firerifles,machineguns,andeven

airplanes.FordhimselfwouldevidentlynotserveinanyarmyduringtheGreatWar.He

eventuallymarried,hadadaughteranddiedin1971attheageof80.

33

THEGREATWARFROMEASTHILL

TheCornellSun’sarticlesduringthesummerof1914werestrikingintheirinitial

aversiontoreportanythingrelatedtoEurope’simpendingtroubles.Thefirstmentionof

ArchdukeFranzFerdinand–theheirtotheAustro‐HungarianthronewhoseJune28th

assassinationislargelycreditedforpromptingtheFirstWorldWar–appearedonJuly17,

1914andonlyinaminorcontext.Thomas“Teefee”Crane,travelingabroadthatsummer,

reportedbacktotheuniversitythathehadseenthearchdukeinTriesteenrouteto

Sarajevo,wherehedied.Crane’sdaughterremarked,“Heissocarefullyguarded,howcould

anyoneharmhim?”101

Otherarticlesrevealnonchalanceabouttheloomingviolence,probablybecauseno

onecouldeverfathomthefuturedestruction.Ironically,theSunreportedontwoyoung

alumnistudyingpeaceinEurope,selectedearlierintheyearbytheAmericanAssociation

forInternational

Conciliation.Thetwomen,

GeorgeW.Nasmyth’06

andRolandHugins’11

existedatanunfortunate

periodofworldhistoryfor

theirdesiredpathsof

worldpeace.Still,they

triedtheirbest.Nasmyth

attendedtheParisPeace

Conference,thoughdiedin

1920.Huginsbecamea

prolificauthor,writinganumberofbooks(includingonetitledGermanyMisjudged)and

CompanyAdrillinginfrontofGoldwinSmithHallin1915.StuartM.Fordledmostofthesementhepreviousyearduringhistermasthecompany’scaptain.

(Source:RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity)

34

articlesonthesubjectofpeace.In1916,hewroteoptimistically,“PossiblyEuropewill

recoverfromthatinsanity.CertainlyAmericacannothelpEuropebycapitulatingtothe

samemadness.Onlybytheexerciseofdispassionatejudgmentandaninfinitecompassion

canweoffertheworldanewhorizonandahope.”102Huginsdiedin1929.Bothpacifists,

thankfully,weresparedthehorrorsoftheSecondWorldWarandtheatomicage.

TheSunalsospentthesummerreportingonvariousprofessors’tripstoEurope.103

InJuly,PresidentSchurmangaveaseriesoflecturesontheBalkanWarsof1912and1913

withnotasinglewordonthecurrentcrisisinEurope.104TheGermanDepartmentgavea

seriesofpubliclecturesthatsummer.Thefirst,onJuly15–thesamedaytheprime

ministerofHungaryrailedagainstSerbiainthelegislatureinBudapest–wasaboutthe

“MaybeetleComedy.”105Thenextlectureaweeklaterreceivedamisleadingheadlineinthe

Sun.“GermanLectureontheAustrianDrama,”itsaid,thoughthelecturewasactuallyabout

“theViennapopularstagebacktotheplaysoftheJesuits.”106Twodayslater,the

governmentinViennaissuedSerbiaanunconditionalandharshultimatum.Thethird

Germanlecture,ironically,wasabouttheconstitutionofGermany.Thelecturingprofessor

“point[ed]outthetendenciestowardamoretrulyrepresentativegovernmentinGermany”

comparedtotheUnitedStates.107Imaginetheraucousreactionthatwouldelicitifgiven

threeyearslater!

Foreignnewsintheuniversity’spaperlimiteditselftotheconflictinMexico,

disorderinHaitiandthedomesticconflictinIreland.Thefocusgraduallyshiftedasthe

conflictinEuropebecamereal.OnJuly26at8p.m.,anAustrianstudent,HermannRoth’15,

gavealectureonhiscountry’sdomesticsituationanditsrelationswiththeBalkansits

relationsonbehalfoftheCosmopolitanClub.TheJuly27issueoftheCornellSunwouldbe

thefirstissueofmanythatdiscussedthewaronitsfrontpages.“Austrian‐Servian[sic]War

PracticallyDeclared,”notedonesmallheadlineonthefrontpage.108OnJuly29,theSun

headlinesscreamedofwar.Thenextday,Russia’smobilizationwasdeemedimminent.The

35

nextday,theSunreported(viatheAssociatedPress,ofcourse)ofamajorSerbiandefeat.

AndbyAugust5,readersinIthacalearnedthatGreatBritainandGermanyhadofficially

enteredthefray.

MorrisBishopdescribedthemoodsof1914,1915and1916asoneof“collegiate

disregard,”inwhichthenewspapereditorsandwriters“werechieflyexercisedabout

seniorblazers,theconvocationhour,theholdingoftheArtsAssociationbanquetindry

PrudenceRisley,andstudentapathywithregardtocrew.”109Perhapstheoldprofessor,

whohadjustgraduatedwithamaster’sdegreethatspring,wasrightwithregardsto

“collegiatedisregard”buttheSuncertainlykeptthecampusappraised(again,viathe

AssociatedPress)withthecomingsandgoingsofthetitanicEuropeanconflict.

Studentsoncampusduringthesummer,forexample,mayhavebeeninterestedto

readPresidentSchurman’sdire(andsurprisinglyaccurate)predictionsforEurope.

Schurman,whohadrecentlyservedasU.S.MinistertoGreece,wasreportedtohavesaid

thestruggle“mightresultin‘remakingtheentiremapofEurope.’”Ageneralwar,

Schurmansaid,waslikelyand“wouldbesuchanunimaginablecalamity”andthat“itis

impossibletoexaggeratethegravityofthesituation.”110AndrewDicksonWhite,another

formerdiplomat,toldtheSunonAugust4thatthewar“nowthreatenstobecomeoneof

themostfearfulinthehistoryoftheworldandperhapsmoreso.”Truetofutureoutcome,

Whitepredicted,“Thewarwillprobablyhavetogoonuntilsomeofthenationsare

pinchedbyitsdrainontheirresources,andthensomeinternationalcongress,perhapsat

TheHague,maymakesomepropercasesforpeace.”111

ByAugust4,thewarhadreachedEastHillasaverysmallhandfulofEuropean

professorsandstudentswereforcedtoleaveidyllicIthacafortheconflict.ProfessorW.

GrosseoftheGermanDepartmentwasorderedtoreportbacktotheGermanreserves.

However,he,andsomanyothersreturningtoEurope,couldnotsecurepassageonany

oceanlinersincesomanyhadcancelledtheirvoyagesbecauseofthethreatofwar.112

36

ProfessorGeorgesMauxionoftheCollegeofArchitecturealsoleftCornellfortheFrench

consulateinNewYorkCity.113Fromthere,hejourneyedtotheOldWorldandbecamea

poilu,theendearingtermgiventotheFrenchsoldiers.R.Haccius,aSwissstudent,leftthe

universityforhisneutral,albeitmobilizing,homeland.Finally,therewasT.Volkoff’15,who

hadarrivedinRussiaforsummervacationbutwas“subjecttocalltotheRussianarmyand

probablyhasjoinedhisregiment.”114Oneinstructor,LaurencePumpellyoftheRomance

Department,facedtrialsinreturningbacktotheUnitedStates.InEngland,hewasaccused

ofbeingaspy.115

Mauxion,theFrencharchitectureprofessor,paidtheultimatepriceinhisreturning

toFranceforservice.Beforehisdeathin1917,however,theSunranregularupdatesonhis

timeinthetrenches.InOctober1914hiswiferelayedtothenewspaperaletterreceived

fromtheprofessor‐turned‐soldier.Hehadtransferredtothefront,thelettersaid,and

reportedthattherewasplentyoffoodbutnotenoughwaterwithwhichtowash.116In

anotherletterduringthatsamemonth,Mauxionlamentednotknowinghisexactlocation,

butshowedoptimismintheAlliedeffortbecausetheywereineffortonceoccupiedbythe

Germans.“Iwriteyouamidstthenoiseofcannon,whichnowandthenfindsomevictims,”

hewrote.117InNovember,theSunreportedviaalettertoMrs.Mauxion,thatprofessorwas

headofhiscompany’smailservice,awayfromthedangersofthefrontlines.118

InJanuary,1915theSunreprintedsnippetsofaletterhewrotetoacolleagueinthe

CollegeofArchitecturedescribingtrenchlife.Mauxionwroteofthetimeeverytendays

whenthesoldierswereallowedtogotothebackofthelinestocleantheirlinensandwash

theirfaces,althoughbathsremainedimpossible.Onthefiringlineinthetrenches,Mauxion

describeditasseldomshelteredand“naturallywhenitisrainingourfeetandlegsarevery

damp;butitiswar.Everybodyisobligedtobeready,nightandday,tofight.”Interestingly,

hisdescriptionofairplanes–“thissadbird–reflectedalongingforpeacetime;previously

37

“everyonewasgoingoutofdoorstoseeitasacuriosity”butnow,withitsreconnaissance

missions,theyweretheworstofenemies.119

TheuniversitydidnotforgetMauxion.TheCollegeofArchitecturesenthima

touchingChristmascardin1915.120ForthenextyeartheSunreportedlittleofMauxion.

NeartheSommeRiver,afellowsoldiersavedhimafterMauxionbeingburiedindirtfroma

nearbyexplodingshell.121By1916,hewasalieutenant.InJanuary,1917hereceivedthe

honoredCroixdeGuerre“fordistinguishedserviceonthebattlefield.”122OnMay16,1917

MauxiondiedfromGermangunfirenorthofSoissonsintheChemin‐des‐Damesregion.His

commandingofficerrelatedthatduringacounter‐attack,“LieutenantMauxionledhis

platoon.Asheledhismenoutofthetrenchhewasstruckintheheadbyabulletandfell

intothearmsofhisorderlywiththewords‘Jesuismort.’”Cornell’sBoardofTrustees

passedaresolutioninhishonor,sayingtheuniversityandCollegeofArchitecturehad

sufferedfromhis“heroicdeath.”123

AmidstallthesoundandthefuryofthewarinEurope,Cornell’scadetscontinuedto

drillandpractice,hesitant,perhaps,ofthedaythewarwouldreachthem.In1914,several

cadetsattendedsummercampsrunbytheWarDepartmentandreceivedspecialpraise

andseveralstudentsreceivedhonorsfortheirmarksmanshipand“bestindividualslowfire

score.”124AttheBurlington,Vermontcamp,forexample,sixofthesevencadetofficers

wereCornellCadets.125TheuniversityreopenedonSeptember24;“hundredsofoldand

newstudentspouringintothecityandthecampushasagainassumedanairoflifeand

activity.”126Meanwhile,workbeganonthenewDrillHall,whichtheSunreportedin1914

wouldhavewouldhaveenoughlockersfor750men,30newshowersandbeoneofthe

bestarmoriesonacollegecampus.127PresidentSchurmanurgedthecadetstoremaincalm

anddispassionate.“Indiscussingthemilitaryquestionweshouldkeepourfeetfirmand

ourheadscool,notallowinganyonetorushusoffourfeet,”hesaidatabanquetfor

CompanyIoftheCornellCadetCorps.128

38

Theworldwarbefore1917onlyslightlyimpactedregularstudentlife–andnot

alwaysinamannerflatteringtotheCornellundergraduate.KatherineLyon’16lamentedin

herdiaryonNovember20,1914that“Iamfeelingverylow.Havejustlearnedthatweare

goingtogiveourThanksgivingDinnertotheBelgians!”Belgium,squeezedstrategically

betweenFranceandGermany,haddeclaredneutralitybuttheGermansinvadedanywayin

August.ThesmallnationwasnearlyentirelyoccupiedbyNovember.EightdayslaterLyon

updatedherdiarywithgoodnews:“WearegoingtohaveourThanksgivingdinnerafterall.

Thevotewasnotunanimousandsotheauthoritiesthoughttheydidnothavetherightto

giveawaythemoney.Ohjoy.”129Suchanexchangewouldprobablyhavebeenan

unpleasantshocktoProfessorSutherlandSimpsonwhoheadedaBelgianaidfundunder

theWoundedAlliesReliefcommittee.130

TheLusitania,thatluxuriousandfastCunardlinerwhosesinkingdidmuchto

enflamethepassionsoftheAmericanpublicagainstGermany,sadlyaffectedtheCornell

communityinthelossofanalumna.OnMay7,1915,theU20,oneoftheKaiser’s

submarines,torpedoedtheoceanliner.Thelargeshipsankinlessthantwentyminutes,

killingnearly1,200ofher1,959

passengers.Oneofthepassengers

wasayoungalumna,Katherine

Dougall’15.ShewasintheCollege

ofAgricultureandwasamember

ofAlphaPhi.131AdelheidZeller‘16

notedonMay7thatDougallwas

ontheshipandthathernamewas

notyetonthelistofsurvivors.

“Shemusthaveperished,”ZellerwrotetwoArenderingofthetorpedoingoftheRMSLusitania.OneCornelliandiedduringthesinkingwhileanothersurvived

thetragedy.(Source:LibraryofCongress)

39

dayslater,“thusaddinganothernametothelong‘InMemoriam’listofthe1915class.”132

AnotherCornellian,RobertRankin’04,survivedthesinking.Becauseofthepropertylosses

hesustainedduringthesinking,Rankingwasabletoreceiveareparationof$1,362from

Germanyin1924,asstipulatedintheTreatyofBerlinin1921.133(SeeAppendixDfora

retellingofhisaccountontheship).

TheLusitaniadisasterwarrantedtheSun’sfirsteditorialdirectlyrelatedtothewar.

TheeditorsonMay13condemnedapetitioncirculatingforPresidentWilsontoenterthe

war.“OurPresidentisamanofhighideals,whocanberelieduponinthiscrisistoguide

thenationwithafirmhandintherightpath,”theSunespoused.“Heisnotamantobe

rushedintowarbychauvinistsandjingoists,howeverrabidtheymaybe.”Theeditorial

askedthatifthepetitioncontinue,itoughttoremovethelanguagesaying“eventssuchas

thesinkingoftheLusitaniahavenolegalormoralsignificanceinthenationalor

internationalsituation”because,totheeditors,suchlanguagewas“stultifying[for]one’s

moralsensibilities.”134Inflamedpassionssoondiedawayandthestudentsploddedalong,

awareofthewarbutuncertainastothefateoftheircountryanduniversity’sroleinit.

AsthewarragedinEurope,Cornellstruckabalancebetweenbeingconsciousofthe

conflict’seventsandisolation.NamesofFrenchriversandfortressesliketheMarne,

SommeandVerdundidfillstudentpapers.Butthepreparednessofthecampusremained

decidedlymixed.Forone,interestinthecadetprogramsurged.IntrueBishopianfashion,

theUniversityHistorianwrote,“Freshmanunderstandablypreferredthearmycaptothe

froshcap.”135TheSunpraisedthestrongshowingofafullcadetdrilloncampusinMay

1915.“DrillismorepopularintheUniversityjustnowthanithaseverbeenbefore,”an

editorialdeclared,owingthepopularitytothedepartmentmakingitsinstruction“ofreal

practicalvalue.”136Aspartofthemilitarydepartment’sefforts,itcreatedtwonewtypesof

companiesforstudentsoutsideofregulardrill.First,acompanyforadvancedstudents

formed,offering“broaderandmorethorough”instructionthantheothercompanies.

40

CompanyI,asitwascalled,wouldalloweverymembertoruntheunitatsomepointduring

theyearinordertofosterleadershipabilities.137Anewcompanyalsoformedforworking

students,who,inthepast,wereexcusedfromdrillastheyfulfilledalaborrequirement.138

Ontheotherhand,nationalnewspapersreportedthatmanyAmericanuniversitiesand

collegesremainedunpreparedforwar.AnarticleintheNewYorkSun–longanopponent

forcompulsorymilitarydrill–inaMarch1916issuerailedagainsttherequiredmilitary

drill,citingPrinceton’slecturesoranyschool’selectivedrillas“usefulinamilitarysense.”

Tobacktheirclaims,thearticlecitedPresidentFaunceofBrownUniversitywhoobserved

thatrequireddrilloftenleftadistasteformilitaryserviceamonghisstudents.139

ByNovember1916,itwasclearthatCornell’scadetswereincreasinglypreparedfor

war.TheCornellchapterofScabbardandBladedisbandedbecauseitsusefulnessasa

stepping‐stoneforofficersintheUnitedStatesmilitary

hadbeenoutweighedby“therecentpreparedness

propagandaandtheincreasedefficiencyoftheCornell

CadetCorps.”Asfarasthesocialaspectsofthe

organization,therewereplanstocreatetheCornell

Officer’sClub.140Thecadetsonthewholelearnedmore

practicalmaterial;“closeorderdrillandceremonies

wereminimizedinfavorofextendedorderandfield

practice,”writesBishop.Inaddition,theuniversityset

upaSignalCorpsunitandanEngineeringCorpsof50

men.141

WhiletheSunregularlyreportedonwar

developments,anoccasionalletterfromaprofessor

“OverThere”appearedinitspages,andayoungalumna

evenperishedatthehandsofaGermantorpedo,thewarreallydidnotmakeasignificant

EdwardI.Tinkham’16(Source:ChicagoSundayTribune)

41

impactonEastHilluntilEdwardI.Tinkhamreturnedtocampus.TinkhamenteredCornell

in1912andpursuedacourseintheCollegeofForestry.Hewasactiveoncampusasa

memberoftheSealandSerpentfraternity,Helios,thevarsitytrackandcrosscountry

teams.InFebruary1916herequestedaleaveofabsencetojointheAmericanAmbulance

FieldService,chargedwithtransportingwoundedAlliedsoldiersfromthefrontlinestothe

hospitals.InFrance,TinkhamdistinguishedhimselfduringtheviciousBattleofVerdun.His

experiencesfilledhim“withintenseenthusiasm.”142InDecember1916hereturnedto

Cornellwiththeintentionofre‐enrollingasastudent.“NowIamtryingtogetaccustomed

tonormallifeagainandbeginworkwhereitwasbrokenoff,”hewrote.“InthemeantimeI

amstillservingtheFieldServiceinthesearchformentocarryiton.”143

Searchhedid!InaninterviewwiththeSun,Tinkhamspokehighlyofhisadventures,

saying“[t]hetrainingandexperienceintheFieldServiceoftheAmericanAmbulanceCorps

iswellworththedangerinvolved.”Hedescribedtheexpressionlesscolumnsofveterans,

thedangerofdrivingamidstexplodingshells,thecomradeshipbetweentheFrenchand

Americans,andthehumanitarianaidgiventothewounded–“wemayhavestartedout

withmanyreasonsforjoining…butaftercarryingthefirstloadofwoundedbackfromthe

frontthereisonlyonereasonthatholdsus–itistohelpthesemen.”144Tinkhamheldoffice

hoursinBarnesHallforanyoneinterestinginjoiningtheambulanceservice.145Aprofessor

laterwrotethathe“spokeagainandagaintogroupsofstudents,talkinginthesimplestof

languageandbyhisunselfishfervorcarryingconvictiontoallwhoheardhim.”146On

January6,1917theSunpublishedalongcallforvolunteerstotheambulanceservicefor

six‐monthenlistments.147Thenewspaperfollowedupthenextmonthwithaneditorial

urgingundergraduatestoenlistwithTinkham:

ThusfarCornellhashadlittlepartinfurnishingtheambulancemenwhohavegoneovertoEuropetotakepartintheRedCrossworkthere.UpontheassumptionthatthelittleactivitiyinthisserviceatCornellisattributablemoretoalackofinformationonthesubjectthantoanyotherreason,adefiniteeffortwillbemadethisweektoenrollaCornellunitfortheambulanceworkinFrance.Thiscallforvolunteersintheworkof

42

humanityisacallwhichshouldchallengeranymanintheUniversitywhoiswillingtogiveseveralmonthsofhistimeandundergothenecessaryhardshipsofservicetobeencounteredinanundertakingofthiskind.ItisanopportunityforthecollegemenofAmericatoenterintothespiritofselfsacrificeofthewarwithoutbeingsubjectedtoitsdeephatreds.Thoseintheworkarebrave,generousAmericanswhohaveacceptedthiswayofshowingtheirsympathyforthemenwhoaredependentuponunselfishactsofthiskind.148

TinkhamalsowrotetotheSunthatdaygivingdetailsonqualificationsandthe

specificsoftheambulanceduties.ByMarch,theCornell‐Ithacaambulanceunitwas

formed.149UndergraduatesocietiesSphinxHead,QuillandDaggerandAlephSamachall

publiclyexpressedapprovaloftheunit.Theexecutivecommitteeandsupportersgavea

presentationtoalargegatheringinBaileyHalltostudents,facultyandtownspeople,

completewithmotionpicturesofFranceandthewar,which,accordingtotheSun,“which

haveneverbeenshownbeforeinIthaca.”150Aprofessorrememberedhowyoungmen

wouldrespondtoTinkham’simploring:“Eachtimeheended,therewasadeepsilence,and

thensomeonewouldsay‘Countmein,Tinkham,’or‘WouldIbegoodenoughforthe

job?’”151HiseffortsandthemeetinginBaileyweresuccessfulininspiring32youngmento

signupfortheservice.TheAmericanAmbulanceFieldServicereported“asplendid

response”fromthestudentbody.WillardStraight’01gaveanambulancetotheunit,“tobe

knownasCornellAmbulanceNo.1.”LocalIthacansandafraternityalsopledgedtoraise

fundsfortheirownrespectivegroups.152OtherbigdonorsincludedEdwinM.Sanderson

’87andtheCornellClubofMichigan.

EverythingchangedinIthacaandacrossthecountryonApril6,1917.Thatday,

PresidentWoodrowWilsonannouncedthatastateofwarexistedbetweentheUnited

StatesandGermany.Bishoprememberedhow“wethrewourselvesintothestrugglewith

characteristicenthusiasmand,ofcourse,effectiveness.”153OnApril14,1917,eightdays

aftertheUnitedStates’declarationofwaronGermany,theunitof33Cornellianssetsailon

theS.S.RochambeauforFrance.154AmonthlatertheSunreportedthatthedirectorof

AmericanAmbulanceServicepraisedtheCornellians.“Weneverhadafinergroupofmen

43

thantheCornellunitwhichhasjustarrivedwithE.I.Tinkham’17,andIamsurethatthe

Cornellsectionwilladdanewchaptertothetothestoryofourservice,”thedirectorwrote

toaCornellprofessor.155

TheCornellambulanceunitwasthefirstAmericanunittounfurltheAmericanflag

asanactivecombatantagainstGermany.TheAssociatedPress,reportingfromFrance,on

May24,1917gavetheCornellians’entryintothewaranalmostliteraryquality:

ItwasaproudmomentwhenthefirstdetachmentofAmericanfieldservice,consistingmainlyofCornellundergraduates,departedfortheAisnebattlefield.Theywerearmedwithcarbines,attiredinkhakiuniforms,anddroveAmericanfive‐tonmotorscars.Astheyleft,theStarsandStripes,floatingoverthecantonmentinanhistoricFrenchforst,spreadoutinthebreezeandothercontingentscheeredthemontheirway.ClarenceMackayheldthecampwiththeAmericanflag,whichnowfliesbesidesthetricolor.156

AparadeoftheCornellCadetCorpsbeforetheFirstWorldWar.(Source:RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity)

44

CHAPTERFIVEPREPAREDFORTHEFUTURE

“TodayPres.WilsonistoreadhisultimatumtoGermany.Iguessitwillmakequiteadifferencetome

thissummerandnextyear.IneversupposedthatthewarcouldexcitemesothatIcouldn’tconcentrateonmystudies,butthatwasthecaseintheLibrarytonight.”AdelheidZeller,April19,

1917.157 CornellUniversityplungedintotheGreatWarwithapatrioticfervorunmatchedin

itsfifty‐yearhistory.Thecampuswastransformedintoamilitarycamp.Fraternities

emptiedandbecamedormitoriesforservicemen.ThenewReserveOfficerTrainingCorps

foundawelcomehomeintheuniversitythatforfiftyyearshadproducedablemilitary

leaders.SchoellkopfField,oncethehometofootballvictories,gavewaytobayonet

practice.ThousandsofCornellians,rangingfromoldLouisLivingstonSeaman’72,tothe

youngestgraduate,volunteeredforserviceandwentacrosstheAtlanticOceanto“Over

There.”Thefacultygrantedimmediatedegreestodisappearingserviceandloosenedthe

rulesoverleavesofabsences.By1918,Cornellbecameamilitaryschool.158In1941the

universityagainbecameamajorcenterofmilitarytraining.Andthetraditionwenton

throughKorea,Vietnam,theGulf,Iraqandintothefuture.

Butcompulsorymilitarydrilllostitspopularity.Theuniversitykeptmilitary

instruction(orathletics)arequirementfortheinterwaryearsbutitfacedthreatsfromthe

studentsandfaculty.InMay1931thefacultyvotedtwotoonetomakedrilloptionalfor

students159andinNovember1933studentsvoted1532to481thesameway.160TheBoard

ofTrusteesdeclinedtochangethepolicythenandagainin1939,whiletheStudentCouncil

unanimouslysupportedtherequirementsin1947.161Bythe1950s,lettersandeditorials

regularlyappearedintheSunadvocatingforanoptionalmilitaryinstructioncourse.In

1955aneditorialsaid“wedon’tlikeit,butwesupposethereisn’tmuchthatcanbedone

aboutit.”162Thewritermerelyhadtowaitfiveyears.InJune1960theBoardofTrustees,

withsupportfromPresidentMallottandthefaculty,votedtoendtherequiredtwoyear

45

commitmentforallable‐bodiedmentojoinCornell’sROTCprogram.163Itwastheendof

nearlyacenturyoftradition,sometimescalledirksomeanddespisedbyafew,that

neverthelessproducedanumberofcapableandintelligentmilitaryleaders.

Theirlegacylivesonthroughoutcampus.Beyondthemodernincarnationofthe

CornellROTCprogram,therearenumeroustestamentstoCornell’sfallenwarheroes.From

theWarMemorialonWestCampustotheshrinesdedicatedtothosewhofellinWorldWar

Two,KoreaandVietnaminAnabelTaylorHall,Cornelldoesnotforgetitsyoungveterans.

Cornell’smilitaryhistorywasborninthedarkdaysoftheUnitedStatesin1862

whenitseemedasiftheSouthernstateswouldactuallysucceedintheirrebellion.Fromthe

university’sfoundingin1865itwasrequiredtooffercoursesonmilitarytactics,whichit

didwithaneffectivefervorunderthewatchfuleyesofCivilWarveterans.TheArtsQuad,

theArmoryandtheDrillHallrangwiththeordersofstudentofficersandthesteady

marchingofyoungcadets.Theboomingofartilleryandthesharpshotsofriflespunctuated

thecampusairoftheyounguniversity.WhentheUnitedStatesdeclaredwartwicein

twentyyears,Cornellwasconfidenttosenditsstudentsandyoungalumnitowar.There,

fromthePhilippinestoCuba,fromtheSommetotheArgonnes,theseyoungmenserved

bravelyandbroughtbackanimpressivearrayofdecorationsandpridefortheircountry

anduniversity.

Theyoungfreshmenoftheclassof1878“maybeseen,onalmostanypleasantday,

paradingabstractedlyupanddownthecampus,sighing,inimagination,forotherworldsto

conquer.”164Meanwhile,thehaggardveteranoftheclassof1872couldattesttothefirm

commandsofMajorArnold,“asnumerousachingbacksandwearymusclestestify.”165

PerhapstheyoungprofessorattheUniversityofMichiganintheearly1860shadsome

inklingofthecharacter‐buildingsuchmilitaryinstructionwouldimbueonsomeofhis

futurestudents.AndrewDicksonWhite’ssteadyadvocacyforthebenefitsofmilitary

instructionwasoneofhislastinglegaciesattheuniversity.Asthepresident’sreportfrom

46

1916relayed,“Thetrainingisoneofthebestthingsinthestudent’slifehere,significantin

itsinfluenceonobedience,punctuality,attention,andphysicalbearing,butmost

important…itforcesonhimconsiderationsofpatrioticserviceandtakeshimoutofthe

egoisticattitudewhichaneducationforindividualisticsuccessiswonttobeget.”166

47

APPENDIXAEXAMPLESOFEXAMINATIONSINTHE“COLLEGEOF

MILITARYSCIENCE”

CornellRegister187172Whatformationsareincludedunderthedenominationofsuccessiveformations?Givethecommandsandexplainthefollowingmaneuvers:

1. Toformcolumnoffoursrightfrontintoline.2. Toformlineofbattletotheleftwhenapartofthecolumnhaschangeddirectionto

theright.3. Tobreakthelineofbattletotherightorleftintocolumn.4. Thecolumnbeingbycompanyrightinfront,formlinetotheleft.5. I.ClosecolumnbydivisionII.Foursleftandright.III.March.

CornellRegister1874751.Drawadiagramillustratingacompanyinline.Notebysymbolsthepostsofofficersandnon‐commissionedofficers.12.Describeamannerofgivingcommands;prepatory;execution23.Beinginline,toformcolumnofplatoons;describedutiesofofficersandmannerofexecution.Drawillustrativediagram.14.Explaindutiesoffirstsergeantinformingcompany.Givecommandsandexecution.25.Whatisafile?Arank?Thelineoffileclosers?Whoareinthelineoffilecloserswhenthecompanyisinline?76.Fromline,toformcolumn,offourstothefront.Describeexecutionandillustratebydiagram.77.Beingincolumnoffourstoformlinetotherightorleft.202.Towheeltorightonmovablepivot.Givecommandsandexecution.185.Companybeingincolumnofplatoons,toformline.Illustratebydiagram;givecommandsindetail.

48

APPENDIXBDESCRIPTIONOFACADETPARADE

CornellSun,May15,1888

TherewasauniqueandprettysightontheCornellUniversitycampusadayortwoago.TheoccasionwasthereviewbythePresidentoftheUniversityofthecadetbattalion,underthecommandofLieut.VanNess,themilitarycommandant.Itisdoubtfulifanywhereinthecountry,barringWestPoint,abettercadetmilitarydisplaycouldbemade,oramorepicturesqueparadebeseen. Thedaywasperfect–warm,bright,delicious.ThehighplateauenclosedbytheUniversitybuildingswasvividlygreeninitsspringdressofyounggrass.Belowlaythesnuglittlevillage,andtothenorththewatersofthelakereflectedtheblueandwhiteofthesky.Theparadegroundwaswellfringedwithcarriagesandspectatorswhenthebattalionofsevencompanies,precededbythecadetband,drummajorandallmarchedoutfromthebigarmory.Theuniformofdarkblue,withwhitecrossbeltsandwhitehelmets,madetheboyslookextremelywell,andthebeardedcommandant,mountedonaseventeen‐hands‐highsorrelandovershadowedbythebrilliantredhorsehairplumeofhishelment,wasadecidedlymartialfigure.Asthebattaliondeployedupontheparadegroundthebrasscannonofthestationbangedawayspitefully,andPresidentAdamscamecanteringdowntheavenuemountedonaglossybay.Hisbluecoatwasbuttonedsnuglyaroundhisstrongfigureandhishatwastheglossiestoftheglossy.Hesathishorselikeatrooperandthehorsewasworthyoftherider.Asthebandplayedandthebattalionformedforreview,thehorsearchedhishandsomeneckandpawedtheturfinatrulymartialmannerthatleftnothingtobedesired.Thenwhentheofficershadsalutedandthecommandantreported,thePresident[rode]atahardcanterstraightatthebattalion,asiftorideovertheboys,butwithintwentyfeetoftheofficersheturnedsharplytotheleft,rodealongtheline,shweeledaroundtheguideontheleft,gallopeddownbehindthelonglineofbluecoats,circledthebandandthencanteredbacktohisfirstposition. Itwasagoodthingtoseeagray‐beardedcollegepresidentridelikethat,andthewholedisplayofreviewedandreviewerwasexcellent,andcarriedoutwithallthesnapandpompofregulararmyaffairs. Thenextdaythecadetsmarcheddowntown,wherethetrusteesreviewedthem.TheUniversityisproudofitscadets,andthemilitarydepartmentshowstheresultofthethoroughworkconstantlydoneinit.

49

APPENDIXCDESCRIPTIONSOFTWOMOCKBATTLES

CornellSun,May4,1914

ForthefirsttimeinthehistoryofshambattlesatCornell,thedefendingforcegainedthedecisionovertheattackintheannualmaneuversoftheCadetCorpsSaturdayafternoon.AboutfivehundredpeoplewitnessedthebattleandafewhundredothersweredisappointedwhentheywaitedabouttheCampus,asthefieldofactionwasneartheAg.barns. The“Blue”army,commandedbyCol.L.G.Meads,’14,consistingofthefirstandthirdbattalions,marchedundersealedorderstoVarnaearlyintheafternoon.Col.Meads’ordersstartedthatitwastobeconsideredthatat2:30p.m.hehadreceivedinformationatVarnathatanimportantpowderfactorywassituatedatthenewstockjudgingpavilionoftheAg.College. The“Red”armywascommandedbyMajorR.E.J.Summers,’14.Itconsistedofthesecondbattalionandthesignalcorpsdetachment.ItlefttheArmoryfifteenminuteslaterthanthe“Blues”andmarchedundersealedorderstotheAg.barns,whereMajorSummersreceivedorderstoprotectthepowderfactoryattheeastendofAlumniField.The“Reds”tookapositionontheridgeoverlookingtheriflerange,declaredimpregnablybytheumpires,andfromthisdefensewonthebattle. Thewirelessdetachmentofthesignalcorpsdidefficientwork,sendinglongmessagesingoodtime.Lieut.D.H.Finley’16,incommandofaportionofCompanyDofthe“Reds”succeededincapturingaplatoonofCompanyIofthe“Blues.”HehadtheirblankcartridgesconfiscatedandsentthemenunderguardtotheArmory. Dr.S.A.Munford,medicaladviser,accompaniedthedefenseassurgeonofficer.HeestablishedhypotheticalstationsforthewoundedattheHomeEconomicsBuildingandjustintherearofthedefenseline.Theumpiresforthe“Blues”wereLieut.H.T.Bull,U.S.A.,commandant,andCapt.E.C.White,oftheNationalGuardofVermont,aninstructorinCivilEngineering.Theumpiresforthe“Reds”wereLieutenantsR.S.A.DoughertyandJ.W.Stewart,U.S.A.oftheengineeringcorps.CornellSun,May26,1914 ForthefirsttimeinthehistoryofannualinspectionsoftheCornellCadetCorps,theUniversityregimentwasgivenmilitaryproblemstoworkout,consistingoftwoattacksontheCampus,attheinspectionyesterdayafternoon.CaptainS.J.BayardSchindel,oftheGeneralStaffoftheUnitedStatesArmy,theinspectingofficer,spokehighlyinpraiseoftheregimentatthecloseoftheinspection.HesaidthattheimprovementintheCorpswaswonderfulsincehisinspectionlastyear,andthatthespiritofthecadetsandoftheofficerswasmuchbetter.HewasgreatlypleasedwiththereviewandcomplimentedLieut.H.T.Bull,thecommandant,highlyontheshowingoftheCorps.

Theinspectionstartedshortlyafter2p.m.witharegimentalreviewwiththeceremonyofescorttothecolors.ThiswasfollowedbyaregimentalinspectionofeverymanbyCaptainSchindel.Abattalioncloseorderdrillandcompanyextendedorderdrill

50

wasfollowedbythetwoattacksontheCampus.ThefirstattackwasdirectedfromStewartavenueandconsistedofabattalionadvancetocapturetheStewartavenuebridgeoverFallCreek,allotherbridgesoverFallCreekbeingconsideredblownup.Thesecondbattalion,underMajorR.E.J.Summers’14,wasgiventhisproblemwithoutnoticeandsucceededintheirmission,accordingtothedecisionoftheinspector.ThesecondattackwasalsofromStewartAvenueandconsistedofaregimentalattack…onsixhypotheticalcompaniesontheQuadrangle.Thiswasalsohighlysuccessful.

Owingtothehotweatherseveralmenintheregimentfaintedduringtheexercises,butnoneofthecaseswereseriousandnocomplicationsareexpectedinanyofthecases.

51

APPENDIXD ROBERTRANKIN’04ONTHELUSITANIA

ArticlebyMichaelPoirier.OriginallyprintedinVoyageMagazine,aPublicationoftheTitanicHistoricalSociety,issue46,Winter2003‐2004andreprintedat:

http://www.rmslusitania.info/multimedia/articles/robert‐rankin/

[Rankin]finishedtheletterandtookaquickwalkalongtheboatdeckbeforelunch.HesawFredandMabelPearsontakingastrollaswell.By2:00P.M.hewasstandingonthestarboardsidewithThomasBloomfieldandRobertDearberghwhenoneofthemcaughtaglimpseofsomething.“There’sawhale,”heheard.Lookingoutontothedazzlingbluesea,heknewatoncewhattheblackridgewas.Instantly,awhite,foamystreakshotoutfromthesubmarine.“Itlookslikeatorpedo,”Dearberghexclaimed.“MyGod,itisatorpedo,”saidBloomfield.Thethreewatchedasitcutthroughthewater.Rankindescribedtheexcitementofthemomentingreatdetail,“Itcamestraightfortheship.Itwasobviousitcouldn’tmiss.Itwasaimedaheadofherandstruckunderthebridge[.]”Theystoodthereandforabriefmomentwaitingforittodetonate,therewasadelayandtheyallhopeditwouldnotexplode.Hethenwentontosaythat,“Theexplosioncamewithaterrificcrash,clearthroughthefivedecksdestroyingtheboilerroomandthemainsteampipe….Amassofglass,wood,etccamepouringonourheads,200feetaft.WeduckedintothesmokingroomshelterandIneversawmycompanionsagain[.]”

ThemanfeltthattheLusitaniawasdoomedfromthestartandcrossedthesmokingroomtotheportside.Heaidedsomemenwhoweretryingtopushalifeboatovertheside,butthoughtitwasauselesstaskastheshipwaslistingtoofartostarboard.Abandoningthiseffort,heenteredthecompanionwayandmadehiswaydownstairs,tryingnottobumpintopeoplewhowererushingupthestairs.Hegotasfaras“D”deckandheardthedisconcertingsoundofwaterveryclosetowherehestood.Lookingdown,hesawthat“E”deckwasalreadyflooding.Hecrossedthedarkenedpassagewayon“D”decktoaportholeandtohishorrorsawthatthewaterwaswithintwelveinchesoftheport!HecameacrossClintonBernardinthestairwellwhoaskedhim,”haveyoualifepreserver?”towhichRankinshookhishead.Theytriedafewcabinsandfoundthattheywereallgone.Thetwodecidedthatiftheyfoundonetheywouldshareit,“fifty‐fifty”.Asthefriendswalkedalong“B”decktheyfoundquiteafewpassengersmilllingaboutwaitingtobetoldwhattodo.Theymountedthestairsto“A”deckandwatchedtheboatsonthestarboardsidebeginloading.Totheirdismay,boatnumberonedriftedawaywithwhatappearedtobejustonepersonaboard.Rankincameacrossoneofthose”doughnutlifepreservers”attachedtotherailandpresentedittoBernard.Theypreparedtojumpoverboardwithitwhenastewardclaimedthattherewasanoldladywhoneededit.Thegentlemanunselfishlygaveitaway.

ThelastminuteswereablurtoRankin,ofwhichhesaidthefollowing,”BythistimetheboatwassinkingrapidlyandBernardsaid,‘Goodbyeoldchap’andgrabbedmebythehandatthesametimepullingouthismoneyandthrowingitaway.Thesixtyfootdeckwas,bynow,withinsixtotenfeetofthewaterandIpulledoffmycoatandjumped,feetfirst,asfarasIcouldandstartedtoswimonmyside.LookingstraightupIsawthefunnelscomingoverandthoughtthatIwouldcertainlybehitonthehead.Thenthefunnelswentbackandthebowplungedandtheshipwentdown.“.Hefoundthewatertobelikeiceandthathe

52

wascoveredwithalayerofsootfromthefunnels.Hecameacrossboatelevenpackedwithsixtyoddpeople,buttheassistantdeckstewardpulledhiminanyway.Theydriftedaboutatthemercyofthewindastheyhadnorudder.Finally,theWandererofPeelcametotherescueandpulledthemaboard.TheywerethentransferredtotheFlyingFishandtakentoQueenstown.Themomentwassurrealasthewetandwearysurvivorswalkedbetweenalineoftownspeople.Thecrowdcheeredandapplaudedastheymadetheirwayforward.Rankinfeltalumpinhisthroatasthemagnitudeofthetragedyhithim.A“jacky‐tar”gavehimadrinkofhotwhiskeyandputhimtobed.Thenextday,hemadehiswaythroughthetownlookingforfriends.HefoundClintonBernardwhohadswumtoacollapsibleandrescuedmanypeopleamongthemStanleyLinesandDorothyConner.RankinsawDr.Pearsonlyinginamakeshiftmorgueandarrangedforhisembalming.ThatSunday,heandanothershipboardacquaintanceRobertTimmismotoredovertoKinsaletohelpidentifybodies,butfoundnonethattheyknew.HealsogaveabriefdescriptionofhisexperiencestotheAmericanCounselwhichwassenttothestatedepartmentintheformofadeposition.

53

ENDNOTES

1AndrewDicksonWhite,AutobiographyofAndrewDicksonWhite,VolumeI,(NewYork:TheCenturyCo,1905),90.2MorrisBishop,AHistoryofCornell,(Ithaca,N.Y.:CornellUniversityPress,1962),89.3Ibid.,1254Ibid.,3885LetterfromEzraCornelltoAlonzoCornell.December20,1846.EzraCornellPapers.RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,N.Y.6LetterfromEzraCornelltoMaryAnnCornell,February21,1861.EzraCornellPapers.RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,N.Y.7LetterfromEzraCornelltoI.R.Elwood,January21,1861.EzraCornellPapers.RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,N.Y.8LetterfromPaulCornelltoEzraCornell,April22,1861.EzraCornellPapers.RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,N.Y.9LetterfromEzraCornelltoMaryAnnCornell,July231861.EzraCornellPapers.RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,N.Y.10Ibid.11PetitionbymembersofNewYorkStateSenatetoSecretaryofStateEdwinStanton,May131864.EzraCornellPapers.RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,N.Y.12LetterfromDanielB.CornelltoEzraCornell,January26,1861.EzraCornellPapers.RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,N.Y.13LetterfromJohnG.ApgartoEzraCornell,July24,1864.EzraCornellPapers.RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,N.Y.1437thCongress,SessionII,Ch.130,page504,emphasismine.15RichardM.Abrams,“TheU.S.MilitaryandHigherEducation:ABriefHistory,”AnnalsoftheAmericanAcademyofPoliticalandSocialScience,Vol.502,UniversitiesandtheMilitary(Mar.,1989),16.16JamesE.Pollard,MilitaryTrainingintheLand‐GrantCollegesandUniversities,WithSpecialReferencetotheR.O.T.C.Program.(Washington,D.C.:AssociationofStateUniversitiesandLand‐GrantColleges,1964),E.17Ibid.,57‐5818CongressionalGlobe,June10,1862,2633.19CongressionalGlobe,June17,1862,2770.20CornellRegister.1868‐69,14.21PresidentsReport,1916,appendix1,page822CornellEra,December5,186823Register,3124Ibid.,7625CornellRegister.1870‐71,6126CornellRegister.1869‐1870,10727Bishop,126.28MillardConklinPapers,RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity.

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29CornellUniversity.HistoryoftheClassof1872,CornellUniversity,"TheFirstThroughClass";HistoricalandBiographicalRecordswithChaptersonVariousAspectsofCornellHistoryandDevelopmentbyMembersoftheClass.”(S.l:s.n.],1925),119.30CornellEra,November28,186831CornellRegister,31‐3232Ibid.,4233CornellEra,December5,186834Bishop,12535CornellRegister,73‐7436Ibid.37WatermanThomasHewett,FrankR.Holmes,andLewisA.Williams.CornellUniversity,aHistory,VolumeI.(NewYork:TheUniversityPublishingSociety,1905),232.38Ibid.24139Ibid.,24240Ibid.,24541CornellRegister,75‐7642Carol.KammenFirstPersonCornell:Students'Diaries,Letters,EmailsandBlogs.(Ithaca,NY:CornellUniversityLibrary,2006),15.43CornellEra,November10,187144CornellEra,September29,186945CornellEra,November28,186946CornellEra,November3,186947CornellEra,September29,186948CornellEra,October6,187149CornellEra,December5,186850CornellEra,10/27/187151InformationgatheredfromtheHistoryoftheClassof187252Ibid.53Hewett,volume3,12354CornellDailySun,November8,1911551870Cornelian56CornellEra,November3,186957CornellEra,May25,187058CornellEra,June1,187059CornellEra,March20,186960Bishop,28061CornellUniversity.CentennialAnniversaryoftheBirthofEzraCornell:AddressesattheCelebrationHeldatCornellUniversity,April26,1907.(Ithaca,N.Y.:CornellUniversity,1907),37.62CornellDailySun,October19,188263CornellDailySun,November30,188564CornellDailySun,October19,188265CornellDailySun,September28,188566CornellUniversityFirstCenturyLandsandBuildings1867to1967,41.67CornellDailySun,November18,1887

55

68CornellDailySun,December8,188769CornellDailySun,February7,188870CornellDailySun,April6,189371Bishop,35072HistoryoftheClassof1872,5273CornellDailySun,February19,189874CornellDailySun,March5,189875CornellDailySun,April29,189876CornellDailySun,April21,189877Kammen,FirstPersonCornell,66‐67.78CornellDailySun,April29,189879CornellDailySun,October7,189880CornellDailySun,September28,189881CornellDailySun,October7,189882CornellDailySun,October21,189883CornellDailySun,November4,189884CornellDailySun,January20,190085CornellDailySun,January23,190086DeltaKappaEpsilonFraternity.“#7:Artifacts,Furnishings,andMemorials.”https://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/3313/5/%2307A%20Artifacts.pdf87CornellDailySun,3/7/189988CornellDailySun,10/21/189889HistoryoftheClassof1872,9/27/189890HistoryoftheClassof1872,,22491Bishop,351‐5292CornellCountryman.Vol.3,No.1,October1905.93CornellDailySun,November23,190694Ibid.95CornellDailySun,190796CornellDailySun,,190797CornellDailySun,November18,191398CornellDailySun,September26,191399AllinformationgatheredfromtheStuartMauriceFordPapers,RareandManuscriptCollections,CornellUniversity.100FirstPersonCornell,114101CornellDailySun,July17,1914102RolandHugins,"TheAttitudeofAmerica:Conclusion.,"TheOpenCourt:Vol.1916:Iss.4,Article5,240.103CornellDailySun,July10,1914104CornellDailySun,July13,1914105CornellDailySun,July14,1914106CornellDailySun,July21,1914107CornellDailySun,July28,1914108CornellDailySun,July27,1898109Bishop,425‐426

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110CornellDailySun,7/29/1914111CornellDailySun,August5,1914112CornellDailySun,August4,1914113CornellDailySun,August6,1914114CornellDailySun,August11,1914115CornellDailySun,September21,1914116CornellDailySun,October23,1914117CornellDailySun,October28,1914118CornellDailySun,November10,1914119CornellDailySun,January8,1915120CornellDailySun,December11,1915121CornellDailySun,1916122CornellDailySun,1917123CornellUniversity.MilitaryRecordsofCornellUniversityintheWorldWar.(Ithaca,N.Y.:TheUniversity,1930),84.124CornellDailySun,August10,1914125CornellDailySun,September23,1914126HarvardCrimson,September28,1914127CornellDailySun,September23,1914128CornellDailySun,December7,1914129Kammen,FirstPersonCornell,115130CornellDailySun,October21,1913131CornellDailySun,May10,1915132Kammen,FirstPersonCornell,103133http://www.rmslusitania.info/primary‐docs/mcc/robert‐rankin/134CornellDailySun,May13,1915135Bishop,426136CornellDailySun,May12,1915137CornellDailySun,September28,1914138CornellDailySun,September29,1914139CornellDailySun,March28,1916140CornellDailySun,November1,1916141Bishop,426142MilitaryRecordsofCornellUniversityintheWorldWar,123143CornellDailySun,December21,1916144CornellDailySun,January5,1917145Ibid.146MilitaryRecordsofCornellUniversityintheWorldWar,124147CornellDailySun,January6,1917148CornellDailySun,February26,1917149CornellDailySun,March12,1917150CornellDailySun,March19,1917151MilitaryRecordsofCornellUniversityintheWorldWar,124152CornellDailySun,April2,1917153Bishop,427

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154CornellDailySun,April14,1917155CornellDailySun,May16,1917156CornellDailySun,May24,1917157Kammen,FirstPersonCornell,105158Bishop,430159CornellDailySun,November16,1933160CornellDailySun,November17,1933161CornellDailySun,November5,1953162CornellDailySun,May13,1955163CornellDailySun,August1,1960.1641874Cornelian1651872Cornelian166“Twenty‐FourthAnnualReportbyPresidentSchurman,1915‐1916.”CornellUniversityOfficialPublication,Volume7,No.17.AppendixI,pageIX.

cornell at war and peace

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