56 DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



REPORT OF PROFESSOR OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS. 



To the President Michigan Agricultural College: 



Sir — I have the honor to submit the following report of the work done 

 in the Military Department during the college year of 1888-9, and of the 

 condition of the department at the present time. 



At the beginning of the fall term of 1888 the military drill became, by previ- 

 ous action of the Faculty, a required exercise for all students in the agricultural 

 course, during the freshmen, sophomore and junior years. During the winter 

 a new work scheme was prepared for students of the mechanical course, and 

 at the beginning of the spring term of 1889, students of this course were 

 enabled to take the drill, and were required to participate in the military 

 training under the same conditions as were prescribed for the agricultural 

 students. These changes brought to the department a large number of 

 undrilled students, and the fall and spring terms were devoted chiefly to 

 the training of these students in the elementary work. 



Before the close of the spring term four companies were fully organized 

 and officered, and all partly instructed in the school of the company. A 

 band was organized, several dress parades were held, and work in the school 

 of the battalion commenced. 



Since the beginning of the summer term the school of the battalion has 

 been continued, alternating in the regular drills with a continuation and 

 review of work in the school of the company. Dress parade is held at the 

 close of each drill, and training in reviews, inspections and guard mount is 

 in progress. This work will continue until the close of this term, i 



According to the schedule of the catalogue about to be issued, drill is pro- 

 vided of an hour's duration, for three days per week throughout the college 

 year. 



Since my last report there have been introduced into the curriculum of 

 the course, one term's work elective in the senior year, in military science, 

 and one-half term's work required in the sophomore year, in tactics. 



A fair idea of the number of students being instructed in the military 

 drill may be obtainod from the following extracts from quarterly returns 

 rendered to the Adjutant General of the U. S. Army: 



Quarter Ending March St, 1889. 



Total number of students enrolled --. 175 



Average number of students at drill 9? 



Number of students in college well instructed 103 



" partially instructed. 137 



" " " " " uninstructed... 16 



Quarter Ending June SO, 1889. 



Total number of students enrolled.. - 180 



Average number of students at drill 142 



Number of students in college well instructed 102 



" " " " " partially instructed 103 



" " " " " uninstructed 11 



