Alan J. Pitts
State military schools....
Tue Feb 27 09:36:37 2001


In the 1850's the State of Alabama established two military schools in addition to the University of Alabama. The were LaGrange Military Academy near Tuscumbia and Glennville Military Academy, just north of Eufaula. LaGrange was burned in April 1863, while Auburn University dates its origin to the establishment of a school at Glennville in 1856. [Please Don't hold me to exact dates; this is all from memory.]

Then there were the Pelham Cadets, a unit that served at Mobile from 1863-1865. The last marching orders issued by General Richard Taylor may be found in the Pelham Cadets file at the ADAH. Can't speak for various private academies which existed in Alabama at the time of the war; you're evidently aware of the Social Schedule of the 1860 census which lists schools and number of students and teachers for each school.

The Register of the University of Alabama that I've mentioned includes biographical info as well as any known Confederate service. Another interesting fact: when the University reorganized and opened for class about 1870, the board of directors declared that any student who attended during the war years would be considered a graduate of the University of Alabama.