8
THE BATTALION
Tkm MnEferj SysSenan
The United States government has
set aside a permanent appropriation
for the maintenance of a military de-
parement in the agricultural college of
each State. An army officer is detailed
as commandant of cadets in every
schocl of this character, and he has
direct control over the military de
partment, both with respect to milita
ry discipline and with respect to the
school of the soldier.
There are four companies, compris
ing one batallion, at A. & M. at pres
ent; but on account of the large size of
the companies, and on account of the
expected increase in attendance next
year, it is probable that there will be
two battalions. At this writing, the
companies have an average strength
of one hundred cadets, which is, of
course, considerably under the number
p^r company at the first of the year
Captain Andrew Moses, of the Unit
ed States Coast Artillery, is command
ant of cadets and professor of milita
ry science. The cadet officers receive
transmit, and obey all orders from the
commandant. The commissioned of
fleers (that is the major, the four cap
tains, and the lientenants) are chosen
from the senior class; the sergeants
are chcsen from the junior class, and
the corporals are chosen from the
sophomore class. The cadet major is
the highest ranking cadet officer. On
the staff of the major are the adjutant
and the quartermaster from the senior
class; sergeant major, the quarter
master sergeant, the color sergeant,
the trophy sergeant, and the chief
trumpeter, from the junior class. Bach
company has a captain, a first lieuten
ant, and three second lieutenants,
from the senior class. In addition to
these commissioned officers, each com
pany has a first sergeant, six second
sergeants, and ten corporals.
Military drill and discipline are com
pulsory in the Texas A. & M. College.
The following schedule will indicate
' the strenuous life of a cadet:
| 6:00 a. m. Reveille.
6:05 a.m. Assembly for setting up
exercises.
6:25 a.m. Breakfast, first call.
6:30 a.m. Assembly.
7:00 a.m. Sick call.
7:25 a.m. Guard mounting, first
call.
7:30 a.m. First call, recitations;
call to quarters.
7:30 a.m. Assembly.
7:55 a.m. First call, recitations;
8:00 a.m. Assembly.
8:55 a.m. Second period.
9:00 a. m. Assembly.
9:55 a. m. Third period.
10:00 a.m. Assembly.
10:55 a.m. Fourth period.
- 11:00 a. m. Assembly.
11:55 a.m. Fifth period.
12:00 m. Assembly.
12:50 p.m. Recall.
12:55 p.m. Dinner call.
1:00 p. m. Assembly.
1:35 p. m. First sergeant’s call and
sick call.
1:55 p.m. Sixth period, practice;
call to quarters.
2:00 p.m. Assembly.
4:30 p. m. Recall.
4:45 p.m. Drill, first call (Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays).
4:50 p. m. Assembly.
5:50 p. m. Recall.
6:00 p. m. Retreat, first call.
6:05 p.m. Assembly.
6:55 p.m. Call to quarters.
7:00 p. m. Assembly.
10:00 p. m. Tattoo.
10:15 p.m. Taps.
The day begins at six o’clock with
reveille. At five minutes after six,
each company assembles in front of
its dormitory, and is put through the
setting up exercises of the army for
five minutes. The rest of the day is
as indicated by the schedule; but, of
course, some of the periods are for
study.
There is great rivalry between the
four companies for the possession of
the Howell Flag, which is the trophy
for the best drilled company. At com
mencement each year, the four com
panies have a competitive drill for the
flag. Two army officers act as judges,
and they present the banner to the
winning company, to be kept by them
until the next year. Company “B,”
the present trophy company, has won
| the flag for three consecutive years.
As a rule, each captain presents a
! medal to the best drilled man, this be
ing decided at an individual competi-
; five drill, at which two army officers
: act as judges.
Besides the four companies of the
■ college, there is an organization
known as the Ross Volunteers, which
is a club composed of the best drilled
men in the college. This body of men
gives exhibition drills throughout the
year, and at commencement.
! The aim of the military department
is to prepare men for service in the
regular army, or at least to prepare
| men who will be able to handle troops
i in time of war. In addition to the reg-
i ular military drill, all members of the
j junior class are required to study mili-
! tary science, which includes both
j tactics and strategy. In the senior
; year, a further study of strategical prin-
| ciples is taken up. On graduation, the
i commissioned officers receive their
I commissions, which entitle them to
the rank of second lieutenant in the
army in case of war. By standing an
examination, these men may go into
the regular army at once. Several
members of the class of ’08 contem
plate taking these examinations.
The companies are put through an
hour’s drill three times a week. Mon
days and Wednesdays are usually com
pany drill days, while Friday is set
aside for battalion drill, inspections,
dress-parade, and other ceremonies.
During the winter term, dress-parade
is held on the cold days.
The college band is in charge of an
able instructor. There are two lieu
tenants, a drum major, a sergeant, and
three corporals as officers for this or
ganization. The present strength is
‘ about twenty. Besides playing at
I dress-parade, grand guard mounting,
: and on marching to meals, the band
; gives a concert evey Sunday in the
j spring term, and also plays at all en
tertainments. The college band is one
of the best organizations in the school.
I The trumpet corps is composed of
the trumpeters from the different com-
I panies. They take the place of the
' band at guard mount, and blow the
j calls at dress-parade and retreat.
The Texas A. & M. College ranks
high as a military school as well as
in other matters, and there is no
doubt but that it has a great future
in store.
1
Company Games Over.
The four games that resulted in the
championship going to “C” company
were all hard fought games, and no
one team had any advantage over the
others. “B” company was not in the
race, and this left the championship
resting between “A,” “D” and “C.”
The game Tuesday, the 26th, be
tween “C” and “D” company was well
played, though a good many errors
were made on both sides. The final
score stood 5 to 3 in favor of “D” com
pany. This gave “D” company a good
chance for the championship; but the
game with “A” company, on the 28th,
lessened their chances considerably.
The score was 2 to 0 in favor of com-
I pany “A.” This made the percentage
a tie for “A,” “D” and “C” companies.
A meeting was held by the captains
of the respective teams, and it was
decided that A and C should play the
first game, and then the winner was to
play “D” company. The game between
A and C was hard fought, but with all
of “A” company’s hard hitting, “C”
company put it over them. The score
stodd 2 to 0 in favor of “B,”
with three errors for “A”
and none for “C.” The de
ciding game resulted in a
victory for the Runts, with
a score of 3 to 0.
Though “C” company is
the smallest company in
point of stature, yet it puts
out good teams in all kinds
of athletics. This year’s
baseball team was a “fish”
team almost entirely, and
they deserve special credit
for their victory. This same
honor was won by the Runts
year before last. The fol
lowing men on the team are
entitled to the prize jerseys:
Du Bose, catcher, Lewis
and Whipkey, pitchers, J.
W. Smith, 1st base; J. B.
Shaaw, 2nd base; Stimson,
3rd baase and captain; Cog-
hill, short-stop; H. Wickes,
left field; Taber center field;
Kurkendall, right field; Bu
chanan, T. S. Mgr.
Ross Volunteers.
A Word of Thanks.
The members of the Jun
ior Battalion staff take this
means of expressing their
thanks to the people of Bry
an who have been so courte
ous and hospitable to them
during their stay in the
city.