AGKICULTURAL COLLEGE. 537 



MILITARY DEPARTMENT. 



James C. Greenough, 



President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 



Sir : — During the present year the work in this depart- 

 ment has followed the plan laid down in the last annual 

 report, with but slight changes. The discipline of the corps 

 has been transferred somewhat more than formerly to the 

 first class officers, and thus far with encouraging results. 

 The system adopted of placing certain divisions of the 

 dormitories under the control of the officers, and of holdino" 

 them responsible for their good order and quiet durino- 

 study hours, is likely to develop satisfactorily. At no time 

 since my coming has the interest been greater, or the result 

 of the instruction more apparent. It seems proper that I 

 should again urge that some plan be adopted which will 

 enable the corps to go into camp at Framingham for two 

 weeks, yearly, after the close of the summer term. There 

 are no fticilities here for giving practical instruction to the 

 cadets in the duties of sentinels and general camp work. 

 It is fundamental for the educated soldier, and none who 

 appreciate the wisdom of having a full supply of capable 

 company and field officers in case of need, could dissent 

 from such legislation as will incorporate this suggestion into 

 the State militia laws. Hereto is appended the theoretical 

 and practical course of the military department, with the 

 mimes and grades of those holding official positions in the 

 present battalion organization. 



I have the honor to be, your respectful servant, 



VICTOR H. BRIDG^ilAN, 



First Lieutenant 2d U. S Artillery. 



