Bethel Military Academy
Warrenton, Virginia
Vol.18, No. 1 Warrenton, Virginia Winter & Spring 1996
This record was typed by Jacqueline Sprague
Part 1: An Institution Fondly Remembered
BETHEL MILITARY ACADEMY, 1867 - 1911
By John T. Toler, Newsletter Editor
The barracks, assembly hall and other buildings of Bethel Military Academy north of Warrenton are long gone: in their place now stand single-family homes.
The 1960's development along Rt. 628 (Blantyre Rd.) and Rt. 605 (Airlie Rd.) is known as "Bethel Academy Sub-division." Some of the street names there recall the old institution.
BMA was operated by dedicated, prominent Fauquier County educators, particularly the Blackwell and Smith families, from 1867 to 1911.
Bethel United Methodist Academy built in 1834 and used as the Academy Chapel, is the only physical evidence of the school that survives. Even through Bethel Military Academy closed 85 years ago, the institution is remembered with great fondness and respect by many both near and far. Graduates of BMS left the academy "Prepared to enter business, college, or military careers."
As might be expected, the majority of the BMA cadets were Virginians, with a large number of boarders and day students from Fauquier. Many others came from Maryland and the Carolinas, but nearly every state in the Union and several foreign countries sent cadets to BMA. It can be argued that bethel Military Academy was the most significant endeavor undertaken in Fauquier County in the he years between the end of the Civil War and 1900.
Certainly, no other local institution of the day attracted more interest from the outside world, or presented Fauquier County in a more positive way, than BMA. It is surprising that little has been written about this important institution; most of what we know is drawn from surviving school catalogues and student publications.
Another source is the 1945 Master's thesis written by esteemed Fauquier educator Peter Bartow (P.B.) Smith, Jr.
Completed less than a generation after the closing of the school, Mr. Smith's thesis advances logical theories about the rise and decline of BMA. Unfortunately, it does not include any interviews with surviving BMA faculty or students, which would have added to the historical aspect of the study. The fact that Fauquier County was the home of an educational institution like Bethel Military Academy should not be surprising. Education has always been an important issue in Fauquier, and BMA played a significant role in the evolution of our current education system, which started here with the "Classical Schools" in he late 1700's.
It is surprising that little has been written about this important institution; most of what we know is drawn from surviving school catalogues and student publications.
The first Classical School in Fauquier was started by Hezekiah Balch, a graduate of Princeton College, on "Academy Hill" in Warrenton in 1777. Students were taught ancient languages, composition, mathematics and other subjects in the "classical" manner at Prof. Balch's school, which was incorporated as the "Warren Academy" in November, 1788. In the early 1800's, a second classical academy for boys and young men was operated in Warrenton by Capt. George Ball, and in the 1850's, Miss Harriett Swift established a "High School for Young Ladies" in the present-day Oddfellow's Hall on Main Street.
The Warren Green Academy, operated by Gen. G.C. Wharton in the 1840's specialized in preparing students for Virginia Military Institute. The demand for "classical" education continued to grow in the years before the Civil War, and private schools were established in other parts of the county. These included the Armstrong Military and Classical Academy at Upperville; John Ogilvie's New Baltimore Academy; Gray Carrol's Academy at Markham; Maj. J.A. Jones' Academy at Morrisville; and T. Blackwell Smith's Bethel Boarding School, which was started in the mid-1820's.
Members of the Blackwell and Smith families lived in the Bethel area for generations, and were involved in the he establishment and operation of this early school. In 1841, James B. Moorehead was appointed principal; he was assisted by Robert Utterback, who later succeeded him.
Among Mr. Moorehead's students were Estate Jeffrey, AD Smith, Joe Blackwell, and Moore Carter Blackwell. The school was operated until the out-break of the Civil War.
Also attending Bethel Boarding School in the 1840's was Albert Gallatin Smith, the son of Col. William Rowley Smith and his wife, Lucy Steptoe Blackwell Smith of ALTON FARM, at Bethel. One of 19 children born to the family, Albert G. Smith was destined to make his mark as an educator in Fauquier County and Virginia. Albert G. Smith, Soldier and Teacher After completing his early education at Bethel Boarding School, Albert G. Smith attended the Warren Green Academy, at the time presided over by his older brother, R.M. Smith. At the academy, he became proficient in Latin, French, and mathematics.
Later, Albert G. Smith worked at the White & Smith mercantile in Warrenton. In 1857, he decided to move west, settling in Kansas where he worked as a surveyor for about a year. He then returned to Fauquier, and married Elizabeth Carter Blackwell (1837-1925), a sister of his old classmate, Moore Carter Blackwell. Soon afterward, he attended the University of Virginia School of Law. He completed the course there, but never practiced law, instead, he went to work on the editorial staff of the Alexandria Sentinel, serving as co-editor with R.M. Smith, who had left the Warren Green Academy.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Albert G. Smith returned home and joined the Warrenton Rifles, serving as a private under Capt. John Quincy Marr. He was later transferred to the adjutant of the 38th Virginia Regiment, CSA. At the Battle of Gettysburg, Pvt. Smith participated in Pickett's Charge against the fortified Union position on Cemetery Ridge. Leaping over the breastworks, his sword was shattered in his hand by a bullet. with his comrades falling around him, Pvt. Smith succeeded in recovering the regimental colors. This act of bravery earned him a battlefield promotion to the rank of Major. After the war, Maj. Smith returned to Bethel, where he tried farming for a year on property owned by his father-in-law, James Blackwell. When this effort failed, he turned his attention back to education, where he felt he had a true calling.
Bethel Boarding School was gone, but the Evergreen Academy, northeast of Bethel, was being operated successfully by another older brother, Capt. J. Blackwell Smith. Albert G. Smith realized that additional schools were needed, as Fauquier slowly recovered from the effects of the War. His dream of starting his own school began to take form.
BMA: The Early Years
In the spring of 1867, Maj. Smith began renovation of an old log building near the Bethel Church. Used as a hog shelter during the War, the 14-ft. by 16-ft. shed had no windows cases or doors, and was wide open at one end. Materials and labor were donated by the neighbors of the school, and lumber to enclose the structure was scavenged from a burned barn. Once made marginally comfortable, the schoolhouse opened for its first session. Twelve young scholars quickly signed up for classes in the rough little cabin, nicknamed the "Hawk's Nest." Tuition was a mere $10.00 for the entire session.
(2)
After only one year, the reputation of the new school spread throughout the county, and 35 students, including some girls, were enrolled. Together, Maj. Smith and his students decided to name the school Bethel Academy.
In the early years, Maj. Smith's nephew, William Waugh Smith, assisted him with teaching responsibilities (W.W. Smith later became the president of Randolph-Macon College.) A 12 ft. by 14 ft. addition was built onto the original "Hawk's Nest" to accomodate the second class. A fireplace and chimney were added on the north end of the building, and a latticed belfry placed on top. Trying to serve as both a teacher and school administrator, Maj. Smith over-extended himself, and his health suffered. For the third year of operation, he was forced to limit enrollment to 15 students, and tuition was raised to $50.00 per session.
In 1869, Evergreen Academy merged with Bethel Academy, greatly increasing the number of students enrolled. It was obvious to Maj. Smith that even with the help of "Willie Waugh" and Capt. Smith, he needed to begin building a larger staff.
Next to join the staff was Prof. J. DeRuyter Blackwell (1828-1901) of Warrenton, a serious scholar and poet, who brought many important new ideas to the school. The number of students in the academy was allowed to grow, and a 12 ft. by 14 ft. building was added to provide an additional classroom.
It was Prof. Blackwell who convinced Maj. Smith to adopt a military school approach to education, effectively creating Bethel Military Academy. After three years of intense involvement with the school, failing health forced Prof. Blackwell to resign.
Years of Growth
By this time, the excellent reputation of Bethel Military Academy was firmly established. The 1870's saw huge growth in the number of cadets enrolled. Maj. Smith accomplished this by increasing the physical size of the academy and adding to the teaching staff. A minimum age of 12 years for enrollment was established, but females were no longer offered admission.
The building program included construction of seven four-room barracks-cottages, each housing eight cadets, arranged in a semi-circle north of the Bethel Chapel. The superintendent's house, where the cadets took their meals, was in the center or "keystone" of the semi-circle.
Other buildings, consisting of an assembly hall, recitation rooms, armory, society hall, baths and toilets, were placed across the opening of the semi-circle. Later improvements included a gymnasium with skating pond, and a 3000-sq. ft. pavilion, used for drills during bad weather and for student activities and dances. The new buildings cost around $16,000, and much of the money for construction was provided through gifts. Col., John Walden, a supporter of the school whose son, Gilbert, was a cadet there, made a significant contribution.
3 After completing his staffing plans, Maj. Smith became Superintendent of the academy, and continued teaching Political Science and Law. William W. Smith was appointed Senior Principal and instructor in Latin, Greek, and German; Capt. J. Blackwell Smith continued to serve as Instructor of Elocution. New staff members were Maj. T. Towson Smith, who served as Associate Principal and Instructor in English, Natural Science, and Bookkeeping; Edward S. Blackwell, Asst. in English, Mathematics, and German; and Richard M. Smith, Tutor in Latin Greek, and German. Col. C.E. Lighfoot, a graduate of VMI who served as an artillery officer of the War, was appointed Associate Principal and Commandant of Cadets. He also taught Mathematics, French, and English. Starting in 1876-1877, a new pre-medical course was offered. Instructor for this course was Dr. Thomas William Smith, (1855-1907), a native of Fauquier County who had attended BMA in the early 1870's.
Dr.. Smith was a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, and completed postgraduate work at Bellevue Hospital in New York before coming to BMA. Another important development at this time was the adoption of the Bethel Military Academy uniform. After looking at several styles, Maj. Smith decided on a modified version of the uniform worn by cadets at Virginia Military Institute. Both the dress and fatigue uniforms were made of "Charlottesville gray" cloth with black trim; the dress uniform had a coatee, additional black braid trim, and bright brass buttons. the 1871-72 session saw an enrollment of 48 students, with 40 from Virginia.
Enrollment for the 1872-73 session, with staff in place and all major construction completed, was at the highest level the school would ever attain: 131 cadets, with 96 from Virginia. This number included students living at the academy, boarders who stayed in homes in the community, and day students living in the area. Education at BMA Maj. Smith's vision for Bethel Military Academy was clearly spelled out in each of the school catalogues sent to parents of prospective cadets. Over the years, the message never varied: It is the objective of this Institution to afford the opportunities for a superior education on terms adapted to the times and circumstances of our people.
To meet the necessities of those who wish to enter directly upon business life, or prepare such as desired to prosecute their studies further for the higher classes of our colleges or universities. To secure as teachers competent and experienced Christian gentlemen, endorsed by the highest educational authorities of our State.
4 In describing the "character" of the academy and its expectation of the students, the BMA catalogue further stated: Bethel Military Academy, though offering extended course of instruction is a preparatory boarding school - not a college. It is true that we have many students who are men in stature, age, and independence of character, but the following features distinguish us from collegiate institutions, as usually conducted:
1) Regular hours are prescribed for rising, retiring, and for study, and attendance at stated roll-calls is required.
2 Students are not at liberty to leave their rooms at night, or remain in them during study hours.
3) Instruction is chiefly by text-books; lectures are expository, rather than formal.
4) An instructor is always present and accessible to the student when preparing his recitation, to secure diligence and to render needed assistance.5 Although the curriculum was modified over the years, instruction was focused in ten specific areas. The course of study at BMA was designed to cover a period of five years, with the first year spent in preparation for academy-level work. Cadets were required to demonstrate proficiency in the courses taught in one year, before moving on to the next, and reports detailing the cadet's progress were sent to his parents at least monthly. According to the catalogue: Instruction will be given in the following subjects, constituting a complete business course for those who do not propose to persecute their studies further, and a full preparation for the ACADEMIC, LEGAL and MEDICAL courses of the University of Virginia, with the addition of a MILITARY department for all:
I. The English Language and Literature
II. The German and French Languages
IV. Mathematics - Pure and Applied
V. The Natural Sciences
VI. Moral and Mental Science
VII. Penmanship and Bookkeeping
VIII. Anatomy and Physiology
IX. Political Science and Common Law
X. Military Tactics
The Catalogue further explained the military school concept at BMA: We use the military school system for discipline and exercise, dispensing with every part that would interrupt study.
We are convinced that the military system fulfills, better than any other mode of school discipline, the condition of being to character what study is to the mind, and exercise is to the physique.
The esprit de corps promotes a high sense of honor among our students, while the demand of the various official positions imbue them with the spirit of prompt obedience to authority, and decision and firmness in the discharge of duty.6 Later catalogues stressed the importance of military drills as a form of uniform exercise, which built up the cadets' physiques in a regular, moderate, and systematic way." Further, it was stated that "absolutely no other plan by which manliness is cultivate" was better than the military training offered by BMA. "No man looks noble unless there be something of the Military in his carriage and the slovenly swagger of neglected youth too often settles a bent and crooked figure on one who would otherwise be a noble specimen of manhood."7 Providing this education at affordable cost was always a goal of Maj. Smith, who claimed that the cost of a session at BMA was one-half of the rate charged by similar, or even lesser institutions. Published tuition and living costs bear this out. In 1876-77, tuition, board, fuel and washing cost only $92.50 per half-session. Medical fee and book deposit amounted to $7.50, for a total of $100.00. By 1903-04, the rate had risen to $125.00 per half-session, with Stenography and Typing available for an additional $25.00. A refundable $5.00 contingency fee was charged to cover "damages" to school property. Dress uniforms cost the cadets $17.00 a set, and fatigue uniforms, $16.00 per set. A set of uniforms was expected to last one year. It is important to note that even by the final session in 1910-11, costs had increased only slightly. Basic tuition for boarding students enrolled in the final session was $300 per full-session; day students were charged $60.00. All were required to pay the Athletic, Physicians, and Contingent fees ($5.00 each). Music classes were offered for $40.00 additional (including instrument) and Drawing classes for $20.00. Parents were advised that the financial success of BMA - and the effort to control costs - relied on three principles: 1) The advantage of its location in the Virginia countryside, which afforded cheap markets and abundant home production; 2) The generous support of the public; and 3) a strict adherence to sound business practices. "It is our intention to have no dead- heads - no delinquents," according to the catalog. "Our school is cheap to all - free to none."8 Cadet Life at BMA The vast majority of young men accepted at BMA were serious students, committed to make the most of the educational and social offerings of the academy. Entering students could be placed in advanced classes, if they passed pertinent examinations administered by the faculty. "We shall examine him closely, and place him in whatever class the result dictates," according to the school catalogue. The faculty-to-student ration was consistently maintained at 6-to-1, and with the numerous regulations and the cadet military hierarchy, very little of what was expected of a student was left in doubt. The normal school day began with reveille at :00 a.m., followed by breakfast at 7:30. Chapel exercises were held at 8:30 a.m., and the first classes of the day were held from 8:40 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Mid-morning drill took place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., followed by study and recitation from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dinner was served from 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., when students returned to study and recitation, which lasted until 3:30 p.m. Organized recreation was offered from 3:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., when supper was served. Study hours were 7:00 p.m. until Tatoo at 9:30. The day ended with Taps at 10:00 p.m. Strict Standards for Cadets According to a description of the Moral Department in the 1899-1900 catalogue, a distinguishing feature of BMA was its location in the country, where students were not only "removed from the temptation to spend money, but are free from the immoral surroundings of city life." "Even under the strictest discipline in city schools, boys often outwit the authorities, and are ruined."9
Cadets were expected to live up to standards set at BM, or be prepared to deal with the consequences. Insubordination, card playing, or the use or possession of intoxicating liquors were grounds for immediate dismissal. In fact, all cadets were required to sign a pledge promising not to participate in any behavior that would bring dishonor upon themselves, or to BMA. Demerits were issued for less serious infractions, but the accumulation 25 demerits in one month was grounds for dismissal.
If a student were found to be "persistently idle... or if his influence is felt for evil in the school," he could be dismissed, and a portion of his fees and tuition refunded. Pistols were strictly prohibited, but shotguns could be brought to BMA if they were "deposited with the Superintendent." No student could keep a dog at the academy. Cadets were allowed to visit Warrenton on Saturdays, but only upon "the written application previously made through the Commandant of Cadets, and approved by the General Superintendent."
10
But if any misconduct occurred while the cadet was in town, or if he failed to return to the academy by sunset, the privilege could be withdrawn. Hazing of younger cadets (called "fish" by the older boys), in any form was prohibited after the 1880 session, much to the relief of their parents. Explaining the reasons for strict discipline at BMA, the 1899-1900 catalogue expressed what is either an ageless truth, or the recurrent complaint between generations:
"In these degenerate days, any school that can retrain those vicious practices that have come almost to be considered in society...has much to commend it to the favor of all thoughtful parents."
The cadets' religious needs were not overlooked. BMA was a nonsectarian, but "thoroughly Christian in influence," and cadets and faculty were required to attend chapel together at the start of each school day. Every Sunday, the cadets were marched to services at the Bethel Chapel. If their parents gave them permission, cadets could attend services at churches in Warrenton. The social life of the cadets at BMA was limited.
The school year featured seasonal formal dances and informal "hops," attended by the young ladies of the Bethel area and Warrenton. many of the ladies were daughters of old Fauguier families, or of faculty members, so proper behavior by all parties was assured. The boys liked to write about the beauty and fine character of their lady friends in their student publications.
Among those so immortalized in 1897 were Miss Eva Ashton Blackwell, daughter of Moore C. Blackwell; Miss May Fletcher, daughter of T.N. Fletcher; Miss Nannie Leavell Blackwell, daughter of E.S. Blackwell; and the Misses Florence Yates, Rose Tongue, Jannett and Georgie Gree, of Warrenton.
Top Cadets Honored
Many incentives were offered to inspire cadets to work hard at BMA. There was a monthly honor roll that recognized diligent study and performance of duty without demerits. Commissions in Cadet Companies A and B were awarded to the individuals exhibiting strongest leadership characteristics and best grasp of military subjects. Each company was let by a Captain, with a First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant, and First Sergeant. Students who excelled on written examinations earned Certificates of Distinction, and no fewer than 27 silver and eight gold medals were awarded each year to the top students representing each course of instruction.
Special awards included the Gen. William H. Payne Medal, awarded for the highest overall grade point average; the Superintendent's Medals, awarded to two cadets for having kept the neatest quarters; and the Gen. Eppa Hunton Medal, awarded to the top soldier in the Cadet Corps. The Commonwealth of Virginia, by special act of the legislature, commissioned two captains and
four lieutenants in the state volunteer military force from the graduating class at BMA each year. Three outstanding BMA cadets received scholarships to Virginia colleges each year. One-year scholarships were given to the University of Virginia for the high grades in the Intermediate Greek course; to Virginia Military Institute for top performance in Senior Latin, French, German or English; and to Washington and Lee University. Expanded Opportunities for Students at BMA
In addition to the military and scholastic pursuits required for graduation, BMA cadets could participate in many school-sponsored clubs and specialized activities. The bi-monthly Bethel Cadet, a literary magazine, was published by the students for many years;
The Youngster,, a humorous, less formal newspaper published three times a month, competed with the Cadet for a brief time. The hardbound B.M.A. Rifle served as the school yearbook. Surviving copies of these publications demonstrate the humor, spirit, and intelligence of the BMA cadets that produced them.<.P>
The academy sponsored the Washington and Lee Society, which promoted the development of debating and oratory skills. It cost $2.50 per year to join, and gold medals were given to those who won declamation, debate, and oratorical contests. There was a Young Men's Christian Association, two Greek Fraternities, and a Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Club at BMA.
Student athletics became prominent after 1900, with BMA fielding football and baseball teams that competed with schools from Warrenton and other areas. The second Friday in May each year was designated Founder's Day, and nearly all the cadets participated in team and individual athletic contests. Around 1902, a Calvary Department was added to the military curriculum. It was formed after sixteen cadets who kept horses expressed an interest in forming a cavalry platoon what would drill together. The cadets' horses were kept at nearby farms. Other horses were offered for hire if a cadet wished to join the platoon, but did not own a horse.
Cadets in the Cavalry Department wore the standard-issue government uniforms, with campaign hat and leggins, which cost $12.00.
BMA's Reputation Grows
BMA cadets were invited to march and perform drills at local parades and festivals, and to participate in military functions in Richmond, Washington, D.C., and other places. In November, 1878, the BMA Cadet Corps visited the White House, passing in review before Pres Rutherford B. Hayes, Gen. William Tecunseh Sherman, and Col. John S. Mosby. Pres. Hayes received the BMA cadets in the East Room, where each cadet was introduced individually, and received a handshake from the President and Gen. Sherman. In May, 1883, the 80 member BMA Cadet Corps was invited to march in a parade in Richmond
before Gov.. William E. Cameron. They performed drills in the Manual of Arms on the Square in front of the Jackson statue. After completing the exercises, the cadets were inspected by the governor and Col. Lighfoot.
On their way back to Warrenton, the BMA cadets visited Charlottesville. They were met at the train depot by the Monticello Guard, and entertained at the Central hotel. They stopped at the University of Virginia, where they were welcomed by Prof. Holmes, acting Chairman of UVA faculty, who praised the educational contribution of Bethel Military Academy in the highest terms.
The cadets returned to the White House again in May, 1885, where they were presented to Pres.
Grover Cleveland by Maj. Smith and Col. Lightfoot.
Following introductions and informal remarks, the cadets invited Pres. Cleveland to visit BMA
during final exercises at the academy on June 17.
Unfortunately, he was unable to accept.
Footnotes
1. Catalogue of Bethel Military Academy, 1877-78, p. 10.
2. The BMA Rifle, 1897, p.6.
3. Ibid., Letter to Prof. Crawley from Gilbert Walden, p. 27.
4. Catalogue of Bethel Military Academy, 1883-84, p.7.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid., p. 8
7. Catalogue of Bethel Military Academy, 1896-97, p. 8.
8. Catalogue of Bethel Military Academy, 1877-78, p.22-23.
Fauquier Historical Society News SOCIETY MEMBERS ENJOY TRADITIONAL TWELFTH NIGHT By definition, Twelfth night, a traditional happening observed by the
Fauquier Historical Society, must be celebrated on January 6. This year, our Twelfth Night celebration fell on the evening that the "historic snowstorm" hit our area.
Although attendance was down and the onset of bad weather was on everyone's mind, the 1996 observance of Twelfth Night, held at Napoleon's was one of the best ever. Members of the Society who were responsible for planning and executing the evening are to be commended for their energy, imagination, and hard work. A good diner and an interesting program were put together, and all who ventured out on the eve of the big storm were rewarded for their courage. The fellowship. Twelfth Night cake, carols, and burning of the greens were enjoyed, as in years past. New this year was a dramatic reading of William Carlos Willims' "The Burning of the Greens" by John Marshall Cheatwood, and the musical program by the New Day Singers, under the direction of Mrs. Helen Dill. The New Day Singers, a local madrical group, performs at various functions around the county, most recently at First Night Warrenton. A dedicated group, no members were absent due to the threatening weather.
They gave a flawless performance. Trumpet fanfares announcing the serving of the cake, the crowning of the king and queen, the burning of the greens procession, and the Toast to the New Year were played by Helen's husband, Richard, who also performed at First Night. This too, was a nice touch, adding to the traditional feeling of the festivities. Long-time society member and former director Fred Grohgan found the bean, earning him the crown as Twelfth Night King; Helen Dill was similarly fortunate, finding the pea that made her queen. Again, many thanks for a job well done. This year's Twelfth Night has set new standards for the ones to come
After completing Chronicles of a Virginia Family, the history of the Pickett/Helm/Kloman family, author and society member Erasmus H. ("Ras") Kloman has donated the extensive files and papers used in compiling the book to the Fauguier Historical Society. This large family was very prominent in the 19th Century Fauquier County, and includes members who served in the Confederate Army and with Col. Mosby's partisans during the Civil War.
In a letter to the Family Branch Coordinators and others who helped him, Mr. Kloman noted that the Farquier Historical Society already has various Pickett/Helm/Kloman artifacts as part of a permanent display. Among the items to be donated are an album of family photos assembled for the project, and personal correspondence dated as early as 1828. Chronicles of a Virginia Family, published in 1993, is almost out of print. Persons wishing a copy, or more information, may call Mr. Kloman at (202) 244-6142.
Society Seeks New Directors
Due to recent resignations and the fulfillment of several terms, vacancies exist on the Fauquier Historical Society's Board of Directors. Any member of the society is eligible to serve on the board. Terms are for three years, with re-election to a second three-year term possible.
What is required is an interest in local history, the desire to help, and attendance at monthly meetings, where the projects and goals of the society are formulated. If you are interested in serving on the board yourself, or would like to recommend someone else for nomination, please contact pres. Jackie Lee (347-0607), or any other member of the board.
Mr. Jack Alcock To Speak March 20 Fauquier Historical Society director Jack Alcock, of Marshall, who published Fauquier Families 1759-1799 a few years ago, will be the speaker at the Society lecture Series on March 20. Mr. Alcock's presentation is entitled "A Glimpse into Daily Life in 18th Century Fauquier." The program, to be held in the John Barton Payne Building Warrenton, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served at the Old Jail Museum following the presentation. The public is invited, and there is no admission charge.
News And Notes from The Fauquier Historical Society
Vol. 18, No. 1 WARRENTON, VIRGINIA Winter & Spring,1996
Part I. An Institution Fondly Remembered
Bethel Military Academy, 1867-1911
By JOHN T TOLER, Newsletter Editor
The barracks, assembly hall and other buildings of Bethel Military Academy north of Warrenton are long gone: in their place now stand single-family homes.
The 1960s development along Rt. 628 (Blantyre Rd.) and Rt. 605 (Airlie Rd.) is known as Bethel Academy Subdivision." Some of the street names there recall the old institution.
BMA was operated by dedicated, prominent Fauquier County educators, particularly the Blackwell and Smith families, from 1867 to 1911.
Bethel United Methodist Church, built in 1834 and used as the Academy Chapel, is the only physical evidence of the school that survives.
Even though Bethel Military Academy closed 85 years ago, the institution is remembered with great fondness and respect by many, both near and far. Graduates of BMA left the academy "Prepared to enter business, college, or military careers."1
As might be expected, the majority of the BMA cadets were Virginians, with a large number of boarders and day students from Fauquier. Many others came from Maryland and the Carolinas, but nearly every state in the Union and several foreign countries sent cadets to BMA.
It can be argued that Bethel Military Academy was the most significant endeavor undertaken in Fauquier County in the years between the end of the Civil War and 1900.
Certainly, no other local institution of the day attracted more interest from the outside world, or presented Fauquier County in a more positive way, than BMA.
It
is surprising that little has been written about this important
institution; most of what we know is drawn from surviving school
catalogues and student publications.Another source is the 1945 Master's thesis written by esteemed Fauquier educator Peter Bartow (P.B.) Smith, Jr.
Completed less than a generation after the closing of the school, Mr. Smith's thesis advances logical theories about the rise and decline of BMA. Unfortunately, it does not include any interviews with surviving BMA faculty or students, which would have added to the historical aspect of the study.
The fact that Fauquier County was the home of an educational institution like Bethel Military Academy should not be surprising.
Education has always been an important issue in Fauquier, and BMA played a significant role in the evolution of our current education system, which started here with the "Classical Schools" in the late 1700s.
The first Classical School in Fauquier was started by Hezekiah Balch, a graduate of Princeton College, on "Academy Hill" in Warrenton in 1777.
Students were taught ancient languages, composition, mathematics and other subjects in the "classical" manner at Prof Balch's school, which was incorporated as the "Warren Academy" in November, 1788.
In the early 1800s, a second classical academy for boys and young men was operated in Warrenton by Capt. George Ball, and in the 1850s, Miss Harriett Swift established a "High School for Young Ladies" in the present-day Oddfellow's Hall on Main Street
Vol. 20, No.1, WARRENTON, VIRGINIA, Spring & Summer 1998
Fauquier's William H.F Payne
A Confederate Hero in an Heroic Age
By Brig. Gen. Lewis Marshall Heim, AUS, Retired
During a dinner meeting in Warrenton with John Scott and others in 1858, William Henry Fitzhugh Payne suggested organizing a local militia, because he felt dissolution of the Union was inevitable.
He said, "as far back as '56 we used to confer over approaching dissolution, which we then considered certain." On the next court day the militia was formed and named the Black Horse Cavalry, electing John Scott as captain.
Fifty enlistments were signed, "all young gentlemen of the first respectability, and were either themselves planters or sons of planters," Scott later wrote.
When Abolitionist John Brown tried to capture Harper's Ferry arsenal in 1859, Virginia Governor Henry Wise called the Black Horse and other militia companies to duty.
A detachment of the Black Horse escorted Brown to his execution, and was praised by Brown for their kindness and courtesy
When the troop returned to Warrenton, the town's women gave the "Black Horse Ball" at the Warren Green Hotel. One person said the now famous party made "a strong and lasting covenant between the women and soldiers of the South!"
When war came, Payne enlisted in the Black Horse on April 17, 1861 as a private, even though he could have received a much higher rank because of his service on the governor's staff.
That was the day the Black Horse again was sent by the governor to Harper's Ferry, this time to occupy the gun works. Payne raced from Richmond to join his friends there.
Capt. Scott, fearing the militia would not be called to Confederate service early enough to suit him, transferred to the Confederate Army. On April 27, 1861, Payne was unanimously elected as captain of the troop.
In July, 1861, the Black Horse was held in reserve until the last day of the First Battle of Manassas. Capt. Payne then led the troop in one of the war's most famous cavalry charges, racing "a full mile" in front of other Southern units, and pushing to within six miles of Washington.
Newspapers called them “The Terrible Black Horse." Harpers Weekly ran a full page drawing which showed the horsemen swinging their sabres, locked in fierce struggle with New York infantry.
A Southerner reported, "This attack threw the federals, already in confusion, into greater terror, caused them to abandon pieces of artillery, many wagons and carriages in which congressmen and others had come out from Washington to see the promised Federal walk over."
After the troop pushed their attack beyond Centreville, Capt. Payne wheeled 16 captured cannons back to the Confederate Army headquarters and presented them to President Jefferson Davis.
The Black Horse won high praise from the president, and Payne was told to spend the night and join Davis for breakfast the next morning.
Confederate Commanding General Joseph E. Johnston also honored the troop by assigning them to be his personal bodyguard. The Black Horse later were guards and couriers for Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Unit Organized
On September 4, 186 1, the 4th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry was formed and the Black Horse and other local troops were joined into a unit that has been called "the backbone of the Army of Northern Virginia."
The 4th fought in every major battle in Virginia from then until the surrender at Appomattox. On September 11.
Capt. Payne was promoted to major and assigned to the 4th Virginia.
The next spring the Union army attacked in the Northern Neck of Virginia, and the 4th fought a rear guard action near Williamsburg as a part of Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry.
While repulsing an attack, the 4th Regimental Commander, Col. Williams C. Wickham, was seriously wounded by a sabre thrust through his side. Maj. Payne took command.
Then, as he was riding along a path near the battle, Payne noticed some Union troops dressed in gray and carrying a Confederate flag. He attacked and was shot through his jaw.
Confederate surgeon E.S. Pendleton saved Payne's life. As the battle swirled around, he lay on the ground with Payne squeezing shut a bleeding artery his mouth. Bullets whizzed overhead for what seemed like an eternity.
Payne later wrote: "I was left between the lines and almost drowning in my own blood."
When the firing stopped, Payne and Pendleton were taken prisoner. A Union surgeon closed the artery and strapped Payne's jaw closed. It had been shattered by a bullet that passed near his jugular vein and knocked out eight teeth.
Pendleton's finger muscles were so stiff from compressing the artery, they had to be pried open so the surgeon could do his work.
Gen. Stuart reported Maj. Payne was apparently dead and had been left on the field when the 4th withdrew. Payne's wife, Mary, not believing the report, got permission to cross the Union lines.
After a long search she finally found him in the hospital at Old Point She persuaded the Union surgeon that Payne could never be fit for duty again and he was released.
His wound was near a salivary gland and continuously oozed fluid. Only after the war was the wound closed by another operation. Mary tried to nurse him back to health in their Warrenton home, but food was scarce and Payne could only suck liquids through his fractured, bandaged jaw
He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel June 7, 1862. While recovering at home, Payne and another man, armed with a knife and hatchet, captured two Union scouts who were in Warrenton seeking information about Gen. Stuart.
Payne weighed only 100 pounds then and fainted from exhaustion after the scouts were taken to a Confederate unit at Fauquier Springs.
The Second Battle of Manassas sent more than two thousand Confederate casualties to Warrenton, and Payne feared that they'd be captured by Union troops. He persuaded Gen. G.W. Smith, commander of the Southern forces in Richmond, to assign the 2nd North Carolina Cavalry to protect the town.
Payne led them in several skirmishes, holding Warrenton until the main federal force under Gen. McClellan fought its way into town in September. The 2nd North Carolina went to Lynchburg for the winter with Lt. Col. Payne as its commander. He moved the unit but still could not move his jaw.
In February, 1863 Payne became acting commander of the 4th Virginia. 'Men on March 20 he again assumed command of the 2nd North Carolina, which fought fiercely during the Battle of Kelly's Ford.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee wrote, "Lt. Col. Payne, unmindful of his former dreadful wound, used his sabre with effect in hand to hand conflict."
He continued in command of the 2nd North Carolina, fighting at the Battle of Brandy Station, then rode into Pennsylvania under Gen. Stuart.
Near Disaster
Near Gettysburg, Payne wrote later, the 2nd was ordered to drive the Yankee cavalry out of the town of Hanover and we encountered ... a force of about 5,000, to our surprise. The result was disastrous to us. Our regiment was almost cut to pieces."
On June 30, he was sliced by a sabre, captured and sent to prison at Johnston's Island. There he remained for what seemed like an eternity.
Finally exchanged, he resumed command of the 4th Virginia and took part in the Valley Campaign under Gen. Jubal Early.
In January, 1864, the Confederate Congress officially promoted Payne to colonel and he became a brigade commander.
That was a terrible time for the Southern cavalry. Food supplies for the troops 'and horses were almost non-existent.
Following orders of the U.S. Secretary of War, Union forces in Virginia were seizing or burning all crops, wood and other supplies. But the Army of Northern Virginia's backbone was its cavalry, and they fought on.
Col. Payne's Brigade and the 4th Virginia had major roles in many battles the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor. He commanded the 4th at Trevilian Station and his brigade fought at Winchester and Cedar Creek.
He and his men had left Warrenton as shining knights, riding to conquer the invaders at the First Manassas. Now, they dropped - killed, wounded, diseased, and were replaced by small numbers of youngsters and old men.
One of the original cavaliers wrote in December, 1864: "No corn for our horses for eight days." There was even less food for the troops. But they marched through bitter cold across the North Mountains the next day.
Brigadier General Payne
On November 1, 1864, Col. Payne was promoted to Brigadier General and shortly thereafter he attacked the federal post at New Creek in Hampshire County near Cumberland.
His brigade by then numbered only 500 men, half of its normal strength. But they attacked a much larger Union force, capturing 829 prisoners and many horses and supplies. Gen. Thomas L. Rosser presented Payne with a sword that was engraved, "For distinguished gallantry and skill at New Creek."
In March, 1865, Gen. U.S. Grant opened his final campaign. Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee's division now had only 5,000 troops and they raced to Five Forks to be the screen for the remnants of Gen. Robert. E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
The brigade labored through swampy ground, like quicksand, and advanced into a pine forest against murderous fire. Gen. Payne was seriously wounded again and evacuated to a hospital in Richmond.
With Gen. Payne out of action, command of the Black Horse was passed to Capt. Alexander D. Payne. As Confederate casualties mounted and the situation became desperate, one last offensive was launched.
The Black Horse Troop, mobilized during the first moments of the war, was a lead unit in the Army of Northern Virginia's final charge.
With Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, the Black Horse broke through Union lines in an effort to join Southerners who were still fighting. But Union infantry quickly filled in behind them and Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army was locked in its fate.
No one from the Black Horse surrendered that day. Instead, they waited for the darkness of night and silently rode back to the homes they had left four years earlier.
While Gen. Payne was recovering in Richmond, Union troops entered the city. He was able to evade capture and escaped to Warrenton. Ironically,
Payne's promotion to Major General and Division! Commander was lost as the Confederate government fled Richmond.
On the night of April 14, Gen. Payne of April 14, Gen. Payne’s home was surrounded by Union troops.
He was taken prisoner and sent to Washington.
As he and several other prisoners ere being marched near the Capitol, mobs attacked and tried to hang them. The word was out that someone named Payne was a party to the assassination of President Lincoln.
This put suspicion on “the Payne from Warrenton,” and he was quickly locked in the Old Capitol Prison, where he remained until finally getting his parole the first week in June, two months after the South surrendered.
Thirty-five had died in service, 41 were wounded, and 67 captured.
Gen. Payne was the last Black Horse member to be paroled.
In 1880, Gen. Payne said: “I rejoiced that I lived in the heroic age of the South and that my early life was spent in games of chivalry, romance. I can say from my heart I loved Virginia. Beyond her map, my heart travels not, but fills that Emit to the utmost verge."
Among. Gen. Payne's papers was a poem that perhaps expresses even more eloquently his thoughts, those' of his Black Horse and the women who suffered beside them. It's called "A Good Old Rebel".
"I am a good old rebel and that's just what I am,
For this so called land of freedom' I do not care a damn,
I'm glad I fit agin it, I only wish we'd won,
And I ant gwine ax no sardine, for anything I've done!"
After the war, Gen. Payne became Legal Counsel for the Southern Railroad and was recognized as a distinguished orator.
He rejected an opportunity to become governor of Virginia. He and Mary had 10 children, seven of whom were living and with him at the time of his death at home in Washington, D.C. on March 29, 1904.
One daughter married the son of Gen. Eppa Hunton, also of Warrenton, and Payne became a grandfather of the only granddaughter of two Confederate general officers. Gen. Payne's love of his country carried on the tradition of his family who had landed on Virginia's' shores in 1609.
Upon his death, The Richmond TimesDispatch headlined a front page article, "A Noble Virginian Crosses the River."
It called Payne "perhaps the most celebrated general officer of the Confederate army living in Virginia, with the exception of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee."
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee said, "Billy Payne was one of the greatest men I have known."
Black Horse survivors formed the honor guard for his funeral, just as they had for Stonewall Jackson's funeral 41 years before.
One trooper, William R. Helm, who served in the Black Horse with three brothers who died in the war, wrote a eulogy in behalf of the unit:
"Oh death thou are indeed a thief
To steal away from us so great a man;
Our idolized, beloved leader,
The pride and boast of our command.
He was a man, take him for all in all.
We ne'er shall look upon his like again.
Peaceful be thy slumbers and happy thy eternity. "
Retyped with permission of John T. Toler, author and editor, as it appears in Vol 18, No. 2 of the News and Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Warrenton, Virginia. Spring & Fall 1996 issue.
Sandy Onbey typed this section.
Part II: Years of Change at BMA
Life at "The Springs" and Return to Old Bethel
By JOHN T. TOLER
Newsletter Editor
The passing of Maj. Albert G. Smith on May 4, 1892 marked the beginning of great changes at Bethel Military Academy. Maj. Robert McIntyre (1862-1952), a BMA graduate who had gone on to earn a law degree, married Maj. Smith's daughter, Elizabeth Blackwell Smith in 1881. Shortly after their marriage, the couple moved to Maj. McIntyre's home state of South Carolina, where he began a law practice.
In 1886, Maj. Smith invited Maj. McIntyre to return to BMA as Associate Principal and Commandant of Cadets, following Col. Lightfoot's resignation. During the last two years of his life, Maj. Smith was less and less involved with the academy, allowing Maj. McIntyre to gradually assume control.
Maj. Smith also appointed his son-in-law executor of his will, and in effect, his successor as Superintendent of BMA. By the time of Maj. Smith's death, enrollment at BMA had slipped to 50 students, and only six faculty members remained, including Maj. McIntyre.
Soon after taking over, Maj. McIntyre made sweeping changes in the faculty, retaining only Dr. Thomas W. Smith and Prof. E. S. Blackwell, New members added to the staff were Rev. J. W. Grubbs, R. I. Hicks, M.D., and his brother, Douglas McIntyre, as Cadet Tutor.
The following year, he hired two more instructors and Micah J. Jenkins, a West Point graduate, who served as the Commandant of Cadets. To reverse the falling enrollment, Maj. McIntyre worked hard to attract new students from other states. For the 1893-94 session, enrollment at BMA grew to 73 cadets, with 32 from Virginia, 40 from 13 other states, and one from Panama. Confident that he had solved the enrollment problem, Maj. McIntyre turned his attention to the buildings and grounds at Bethel.
By the mid-1890s, most of the buildings were more than 20 years old, and in need of modernization and repair. As reported in the 1897 BMA Rifle, Maj. McIntyre sought a new location nearby that offered a more progressive atmosphere, and room to grow.
Also at issue were two lawsuits brought by the Blackwell family to clear up inheritance obligations and the ownership of the Bethel Military Academy property. In Blackwell vs Blackwell, it was established Maj. Smith had never finished paying the late James Blackwell for the land that BMA had been built on. The property was still owned in part by his heirs, including Maj. Smith's wife.
In Blackwell vs Smith's Executor, it was determined that if Maj. McIntyre wanted clear title to the property, it could be purchased from the remaining heirs for $10,000.
Maj. McIntyre agreed, and the money was paid to Special Commissioner C. M. White, who acted on their behalf.(1) As far as the academy was considered, the issues of replacing the old BMA buildings and the court fight over the land became moot when Maj. McIntyre entered into an agreement with Mr. John F. Adams, of Baltimore, to lease the Fauquier White Sulphur Springs property southwest of Warrenton.
The contract gave Maj. McIntyre a five-year lease on the former resort property, with the option to by, beginnings in May, 1896. The lease rate for Fauquier Springs was a mere $2400 per year, paid in three installments: $1200 on Sept. 15, 1896 and two payments of $600 each on March 15 and June 15, 1897.
Cadets returning for the 1896-97session were greeted with a totally new environment. The 200-acre Fauquier Springs property offered Blue Ridge views and landscaped gardens, "designed by F. H. Cobb, landscape gardener for the Capitol grounds in Washington, D. C. ," according to the 1896-97 catalogue. Instead of the old wooden barracks, cadets stayed in eleven slate-roofed brick cottages, formerly used by guest families at the Springs. The five-story, brick resort hotel served as the main classroom building.
Cadets were given the "privilege of using the water from the sulphur spring, which is wonderfully curative of all stomach troubles and dropsy and diseases of the nervous system," according to the 1896-97 catalogue. Maj. McIntyre was justly proud of his new facility, which he advertised extensively throughout the South and East. Since he did not want to pass the higher costs of operating the academy at Fauquier Springs directly on to the students, Maj. McIntyre sought instead to cover the difference through increased enrollment, which could be easily accommodated at the new facility. Bethel Military Academy was well-suited to its new location, which should have offered the opportunity for dramatic growth.
All that was good about the old school - the taditions, the academic standards and the careful involvement of the faculty - remained intact while the school was operated at Fauquier Springs. Enrollment for the 1895-96 session at "Old Bethel" was 85 cadets; for 1896-97 and 1897-98 at Fauquier Springs, enrollment grew only slightly, never more than 100 cadets either session.
After two years, enrollment was still only about half what the facility could physically or financially accommodate, and the "experiment" at Fauquier Springs was ended. The public reason given was that the facility was "not entirely satisfactory" as a site for the school.
The lease was cancelled and the property was returned to its owners, who soon reopened the resort.
Perhaps, enrollment of BMA while at Fauquier Springs could have been increased if the school had been marketed differently; or perhaps, if a different curriculum had been offered; or perhaps, if expenses could have been reduced… Or perhaps if new dynamics in education, which Maj. McIntyre and his staff did not anticipate, were not causing sweeping changes across America. Two years after BMA departed Fauquier Springs, a familiar tragedy was repeated there. After the close of the 1901 resort season, the huge brick hotel caught fire, and was completely destroyed.
BMA Returns to "Old Bethel"
The extensive renovations at Old Bethel that were postponed by the move to Fauquier Springs were finished the summer before the start of the 1898-99 session. According to the 1898-99 catalogue, D. P. Wood & Co. of Warrenton was hired to do the construction work. The contract called for the remodeling of all the cottages, classrooms, and accessory buildings. Of particular interest was the new water system, which brought in "a copious supply of crystal water" piped in from the hills above BMA.
In spite of the improvements and other changes, enrollment for the 1898-99 session fell to only 44 students, with13 from Virginia. At the end of the school year, Maj. McIntyre resigned as Superintendent and went on to pursue other interests. Maj. McIntyre retained ownership of the academy property, but was no longer involved with the school. He began a second career as an attorney in Warrenton, where he would later enjoy great success. For the 1900-01 session, Prof. E. S. Blackwell, Dr. Thomas W. Smith, and Maj. Micah Jenkins served as co-principals of the academy. Enrollment increased to 66 students as BMA entered its final decade.
Following two years of stewardship by the co-principals, BMA was reorganized under new leadership. Beginning with the 1902-03 session, William Mauzy Kemper (1881-1954), son of an old Fauquier County family, leased the academy from Maj. McIntyre. A former Bethel cadet and honor graduate of Hampden-Sidney College, W. M. Kemper assumed the position of Superintendent and Colonel at BMA, Young Col. Kemper brought extensive educational and administrative experience with him, having also served as an instructor, professor, and counselor after completing his undergraduate studies at Hampden-Sidney. Upon taking command, Col. Kemper worked hard to increase enrollment and strengthen the financial position of the academy. Creating a smaller, more versatile teaching staff was essential.
In addition to his duties as Superintendent, Col. Kemper taught Latin, French, and German. His wife served as matron of the academy. Maj. Ray W. Richardson, a graduate of Kentucky Military Institute, was hired to serve as Commandant of Cadets, and professor of Science and Mathematics. Capt. Cahrles L. Kemper, also a graduate of Hampden-Sidney, taught English and Business, and Capt. J. W. Firor, a recent graduate of Maryland Agricultural College, served as an instructor in History and taught Drawing. Long-time Prof. E. S. Blackwel was given the rank of Captain, and continued to teach mathematics; Dr. Thomas W. Smith continued with the school until he died in 1907. His son-in-law, Dr. George W. Davis, succeeded him as School Physician. Along with the smaller teaching staff, costs were cut in other areas.
No attempt was made to portray BMA as the stylish institution it was while at Fauquier Springs. Catalogues sent out during Col. Kemper's regime emphasized the quiality of education and the opportunities for personal development parents could expect for their sons at BMA. By counting the years before the War that the Bethel Boarding School operated there, Col. Kemper could claim, by 1907, that BMA was "The Oldest Preparatory School in Virginia." As for the facilities at Old Bethel, the 1907-08 catalogue stated that:
"Improvements have been made, and will be made, from time to time, in order to keep the school equal to the best…and the entire place is as a simple, substantial military post, comfortable and sufficient in every detail for a training school." During the years that Col. Kemper operated the school, it maintained its many old traditions, it closeness with its students, and its high educational standards.
Military drills continued as before, but with additional emphasis on athletics. BMA cadets fielded teams for many sports during its final years, including football, baseball, and tennis. BMA athletes competed with local high schools and other private schools. No figures from 1902-03 to 1909-10 are available, but it appears that enrollment never exceeded 60 cadets in the early years of the decade, and had declined to only 44 (17 from Virginia) for the final session in 1910-11. BMA continued to enjoy strong support from college educators, former cadets, parents and others until the final session. The catalogue sent out for the 1909-10 session included testimonials from the presidents of Hampden-Sidney College and Washington and Lee University, the president of Tredegar Iron Works of Richmond, and others. Also quoted were well-known Fauquier residents, including Warrenton druggist Joseph A, Jeffries, and Prof. George B. Butler, principal of the Fauquier Institute for Young Ladies. Former Superintendent Maj. Robert A. McIntyre strongly endorsed Col. Kemper's efforts at BMA, expressing his "unbounded confidence in (Col. Kemper's) ability to carry "Old Bethel" forward in her noble career." The catalogue also carried an 1898 editorial from the True Index, in Warrenton, which pointed out that: "Any disaster to Bethel would almost paralyze this county, especially our locality. It has brought nearly a million dollars into our midst, the most of which has been left here… Have we been doing our part in return for these benefits? What the University is to Charlottesville, Bethel is to Fauquier." Scant information about the closing of Bethel Military Academy has been uncovered. Certainly, the school continued to suffer from financial difficulties and a falling enrollment, but even in the final 1910-11 catalogue, Col.. Kemper wrote optimistically of the future. But he did not include any of the customary testimonials, perhaps because he knew that they would not be needed. With the celebration of "Finals" on June 7, 1911, Bethel Military Academy passed into history.
BMA Evaluated
In his 1945 thesis on Bethel Military Academy, P. B. Smith examines the rise and decline of the school in terms of the evolution of education in Virginia. The years 1875 to 1885, which were marked by high enrollments and a stable teaching staff, were perhaps the best years of the academy's existence. But it was also at the end of that period that the demand for universal educational opportunities provided by state-supported school facilities in Virginia had reached the point where something had to be done. By 1900, public interest in education was very high. Mrs. Smith wrote that:
"The people were beginning to become conscious of the value of education fot the general populace as well as the chosen few. "The academies had come into existence very largely to meet the demand that was being expressed now. But even if they had diversified their offerings tot he extent that they could offer the type of training that was needed, they could reach only the rich, the ones who could afford the price."(2)
Quite possibly, competition for private school students brought on by the opening of the Stuyvesant School in Warrenton in 1912 helped hasten the decision to close BMA. Rather than strict military schooling, Stuyvesant offered a protected, exclusive environment for its students. Instead of drill and ceremonies, activities at Stuyvesant included horse shows and polo, more inline with emerging trends in private schools. Mr. Smith concluded that:
"All evidence points to the definite trend in education at the time; the academies were destined to follow the same course the Latin Grammar Schools had been forced to take at the time the academies came into prominence."(3) Bethel Military Academy flourished as long as it did because it was an exceptional institution. Costs were much lower than other academies, which kept it within reach of more families for a longer period of time. The dedication of the teaching staff and the quality of education offered there was outstanding, and the school was supported by its alumni and the local community until the end.
Epilogue
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/va/photo/
Little is remembered of any activity at Old Bethel after the academy closed in 1911. Maj. McIntyre kept the 90-acre property for many years, selling to Charles T. Grant in August, 1948. As improvements are not mentioned in the transfer, it can be assumed that during the intervening years, the old academy buildings sat idle, and were lost over time to fire, termites, and deterioration. Watched over by the old stone chapel, the oak grove and grasses of the field reclaimed the old campus and parade ground. Charles Grant kept the property for less than two years, selling it to Robert M. and Frances S. Bartenstein in July, 1950. They kept the property for about nine years, until it was sold to a young developer, A. "Buddy" Yurgaitis, in November, 1959. Mr. Yurgaitis subdivided the property into 155 lots, and sought approval from the county to begin selling the lots and building homes at the new "Bethel Academy Subdivision." As soon as approval was granted, a storm of protest began, led by Bethel Valley residents and others who wished to preserve the site. Meetings and public hearings were held, at which the approval process and the actions of the County were bitterly attacked as providing too little protection for rural land and historic sites.
The opponents' strategy was to stall, and eventually stop, the development of the property.
An article written in The Fauquier Democrat in 1960 analyzed the passion felt by those wishing to preserve the grounds of Old Bethel. "Few sites in Fauquier are identified more closely than Bethel with the charm of the past… Bethel has a tradition of gallantry and an historical significance almost unmatched elsewhere. "If change must come, Bethel is the last place those who remember would want to see it."(4) At the end of the article, Brig. Gen. John B. Rose, U.S. Army (Ret.), of Bethel, explained that opponents of the subdivision were "Fighting to preserve some of the character of the County."
Gen. Rose was a descendent of the original Blackwell family, and a graduate of BMA, where he received the Gen. William H. Payne Medal in 1898. The manner in which the subdivision plats were approved, and the planning commission vote itself (2-1 in favor) gave opponents grounds for a legal challenge. A temporary injunction against the development was issued by Judge Rayner V. Snead on March 8, 1960. The injunction stood until early June, after which the opponents took the case to the State Court of Appeals. After hearing the case, the high court ruled in favor of the County and the developer. The first lots at the academy were sold by the end of the month. Unwilling to concede defeat, opponents continued the fight by trying to disrupt Mr. Yurgaitis; efforts to sell the lots. In August, Dr. Murdock Head, of nearby Arlie Farm, built the 'Bethel Valley Hog Farm," complete with feed troughs and old school buses used as hog sheds, on agricultural property directly across from the entrance to the subdivision. As more lots were sold, the possibility of saving the grounds of Old Bethel diminished. In early 1962, the hog farm was moved to a different part of Arlie, and an uneasy truce prevailed. Having seen what happened at Old Bethel, opponents of the development and others concerned with the future of the county demanded new, more carefully constructed regulations to protect historic sites and open land in Fauquier. Shortly afterward, Fauquier County began work on its first Comprehensive Plan, created to control and direct the growth that would follow.
Footnotes
1. Deed Book 89, Page 20 (1896), Fauquier County Clerk's Office
2. Smith, Peter Bartow, Bethel Military Academy, Master Thesis, prepared for the faculty of the University of Virginia, 1945, P. 45
3. Ibid., p. 121
4. The Fauquier Democrat, "History Holds Key to Battle of Bethel," April 28, 1960, P. 3.
Additional Reference Sources
Fauquier County, Virginia Tombstone Inscriptions, Vol. 1, by Nancy C. Baird and Carol Jordan, 1994. The Beverly Family of Virginia, by John McGill. Reprinted 1995 by the Thomas Turner Assn.
Sandy Onbey typed this record for us.
Bethel Military Academy Superintendents Kept Traditions
The goals and traditions of Bethel Military Academy established by its founder, Maj. Albert G. Smith, were maintained by the two Superintendents who followed him.
Succeeding Maj. Smith was his son-in-law, Maj. Robert Augustus McIntyre, who joined the BMA staff in 1886 and served as Superintendent from 1892 to 1901.
Following the interim period during which the academy was run by three co-principals, Col. William Mauzy Kemper assumed the duties of Superintendent in 1902, and served until BMA closed in 1911.
ROBERT A. McINTYRE
Robert A, McIntyre had a long and interesting life, and his involvement with Bethel Military Academy was an important part of his early years.
Born at Marion, South Carolina, in 1862, Robert A. McIntyre was the first generation of his family born in America. His father, Col. Robert Charles McIntyre, CSA, was born in Scotland and had immigrated to this country at age ten.
Young Robert came to Fauquier as a student at Bethel Military Academy in the late 1870s. He studied law under Maj. Albert G. Smith at BMA, and later earned a law degree.
After he passed the bar, Robert McIntyre married Maj. Smith's daughter, Elizabeth Blackwell Smith. The couple moved to South Carolina, where he practiced law until returning to teach, and later become Superintendent of BMA.
After leaving BMA, Maj. McIntyre resumed his career in law in Fauquier that would span nearly a half-century. Specializing in criminal cases, Maj. McIntyre served as defense attorney in 79 murder trials. Also, as anyone who has researched Fauquier County deeds and property transfers can attest, Maj. McIntyre represented clients in hundreds of real estate transactions. He served for many years as the president of the Fauquier Bar Association, was a vestryman at St. James Episcopal Church, and a member of the Mt. Carmel Lodge in Warrenton.
Involved in state and local politics, Maj. McIntyre was elected to represent Fauquier in the Virginia House of Delegates for two terms, beginning in 1929.
While serving in the House, he was responsible for the design and adoption of the official State Seal of Virginia, and wrote the bill by which the State Legislature accepted it as the official seal.
A Crafty Attorney
Maj. McIntyre was known as a clever, effective attorney, and on occasion, ended up representing both parties in a dispute. Fauquier Historian John K. Gott recalls an incident where this "talent" for working on both sides caused Maj. McIntyre an embarrassing problem.
While negotiating a property dispute between Mr. Gott's grandfather, Henry Glascock, and an uncle, Henry V. Glascock, Maj. McIntyre erroneously mailed his strategy and determination to the "wrong" Glascocks. He had a lot of explaining to do. Maj. McIntyre stopped practicing law in 1949, He died at Argyle, his home in Warrenton on Alexandria Pike, in 1952. (Argyle is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Philip Harway.)
Maj. McIntyre was survived by two daughters, Mrs. A. Ludlow Clarke and Miss Elizabeth Carter Blackwell McIntyre, and a son, Robert Charles McIntyre, of Richmond. (Col. And Mrs. Clarke and Miss McIntyre lived at Argyle for a number of years following Maj. McIntyre's death.)
Other survivors included two brothers, Dr. Douglas McIntyre, of St. John, Washington, and Capt. Wayne McIntyre, of Bennettsvile, S. C.
Following a service conducted by Rev. F. N. Hinkel, rector of Leeds Episcopal Church, Maj. McIntyre was buried in the Warrenton Cemetery.
COL. WILLIAM M. KEMPER
William Mauzy Kemper was born in 1881 at Cedar Grove, ancestral home of the Kemper family, near Warrenton. After completing his studies at Bethel Military Academy in the late 1890s, Mr. Kemper attended Hampden-Sidney College, receiving his degree in 1901. He stayed on at the college for about a year, working as an instructor and administrator.
In 1902, Mr. Kemper returned to Fauquier to take over the operation of Bethel Military Academy. Shortly after assuming the responsibilities of Superintendent and Colonel at BMA, he married Miss Lucy Allen, who assisted him by serving as the school matron. After the closing of BMA, Col. Kemper was appointed headmaster of Darlington School in Rome, Georgia. After several years at Darlington, Col. Kemper was appointed president of Palmer College, DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He returned to Virginia in the 1930s, and accepted the position of Superintendent of Danville Military Institute.
In 1938, Col. Kemper was appointed Executive Assistant to Gov. James H. Price, and in 1941, he was selected to serve on the State Unemployment Commission. When the General Assembly abolished the commission in 1942, Col. Kemper left Richmond and joined the faculty of Randolph-Macon Academy, Front Royal, where he served as a professor of history and counselor. Col. Kemper died August 19, 1954, at age 73. He was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery at Front Royal. Members of the Randolph-Macon Academy faculty served as pallbearers.
He was survived by his daughter Mrs. Richard P. Alvey, of Richmond, and his son, Cdr. Allen M. Kemper, USN, of Charlottesville.
Sandy Onbey typed this record for us.
The "Old Bethel" Bell Still Rings
In addition to the beautiful old chapel at Bethel, another tangible reminder of BMA remains.
For many years, cadets at Old Bethel were called to class by bugle call, or the ringing of the school bell. Following the demolition of several academy buildings, possible in the 1920s, the Old Bethel bell was removed and taken to the Stuyvesant School on Winchester Street in Warrenton.
Opened scarcely a year after the closing of BMA, the Stuyvesant School represented a new direction in private education. It catered mainly to wealthy local people, diplomats stationed in Washington, D.C., and others seeking an exclusive environment for their sons.
The heavy bronze BMA bell, cast in 1880 by the Henry McShane Co., of Baltimore, was placed beside the
Stuyvesant classroom building, and put to use once again.
After several years, Stuyvesant School, too, would face its day of reckoning. Beset by legal and financial problems, the school closed with virtually no notice just before the session was to begin in early September, 1954.
While creditors and lawyers argued over the debts and ownership of the property, the school buildings quickly slipped into disrepair.
In late 1958, the Catholic Archdiocese of Richmond and St. John's Parish purchased the abandoned property, which had become a nuisance and an eyesore.
After repairing the damage done by neglect and vandals, the Parish opened a Catholic elementary school in the refurbished classroom building. Later, a new parish church, rectory, and convent were added.
Somehow spared by the vandals, the old BMA bell once again returned to service. For over 30 years, i
t was used to summon two generations of St. John's students to class.
When the school moved into its new building "down the hill," the old bell fell silent, once again. It survives today as a silent witness to the many changes that have taken place in private education in Fauquier over the past 115 years.
If you are curious to know what it sounded like to hear the call to class at Old Bethel many years ago, you may wish to stop by St. John's, and ring the old bell.
The sound you will hear is truly a message from the past; and like its history, the peal of the BMA bell is rich and beautiful.
This page was typed by Sandy Onbey.
Outstanding Graduates of BMA Remembered
Virtually every cadet who completed his studies at Bethel Military Academy left "prepared to enter business college, or military careers."
BMA produced two graduates whose accomplishments set them apart from all others: Edwin Anderson Alderman (1861-1931), who rose through the ranks of higher education to become the first president of the University of Virginia; and Judge Howard Worth Smith (1883-1976), who represented Virginia's 8th Congressional District in the U.S. Congress for 18 consecutive terms.
Dr. Edwin Alderman Edwin A. Alderman, Ph.B., D.C.L., LL.D. (and BMA '79), was a native of North Carolina.
He earned his undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina in 1882, and began a career that would include serving as president of three universities: North Carolina (1896-1900); Tulane (1900-1904); and the University of Virginia (1904-1931).
A serious scholar and prolific author, Dr. Alderman served on the Board of Visitors of both the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy.
His published writings included many books on social responsibility and education in America, particularly in the South; several biographies; and numerous articles examining historical events.
Under Dr. Alderman's guidance, the University grew rapidly in size and stature, earning a reputation as one of the best schools in America. The love of learning nurtured at BMA many years ago served Dr. Alderman, and Virginia, very well.
Judge Howard W. Smith
Howard W. Smith was born and raised on a farm in Broad Run. He graduated from BMA in 1901, and was offered an appointment to West Point.
Preferring instead to pursue a career in law, he entered the University of Virginia, where he earned a law degree.
He began practicing law in Alexandria in 1904, and entered politics when he was elected to the Alexandria City Council. In 1918, he was elected City Commonwealth's Attorney, and in 1923, he was appointed judge of the Alexandria Corporate Court.
Judge Smith was elected to represent the 8th Congressional District for the first time in 1930; he was re-elected 17 times. In 1955, he was appointed chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee.
In July, 1966, Judge Smith was defeated in the Democratic Primary by George Rawlings of Fredericksburg, thus ending a long life of public service.
Ironically, Rawlings was defeated in the general election by Republican William L. Scott, who went on to earn the reputation as the "Dumbest Man in Congress."
At a testimonial dinner held in his honor in Warrenton on Sept. 24, 1966, Judge Smith was hailed by Sen. Harry F. Byrd as "The Greatest Living Virginian."
Always mindful of his roots, Judge Smith was proud that he was a "Bethel Boy," one of a small but distinguished fraternity.
Other BMA Grads Remembered
In his 1945 master's thesis, P. B. Smith lists other famous BMA graduates. Among those listed were:
Dave Blackwell, who operated Blackwell Engineering and Construction Co., of Warrenton, a large firm that operated throughout the state until the 1950s.
James Blackwell, a civil engineer who was involved in the construction of the great dock facilities of Seattle.
William Shepherd Bryan, Jr. (BMA '79), a UVA graduate who earned a law degree and later served as Baltimore City Attorney General of Maryland.
William H. Gaines (BMA '79), who served as Justice of the Peace in Warrenton for many years.
John S. Harwood, an early graduate of BMA, was active in Richmond politics. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor, but was later appointed Richmond Fire Commissioner.
Saxon Holt, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
Jack Mason, who completed law school after BMA and became Commonwealth's Attorney for King and Queen County, Va.
James Payne Jeffries, one of the first graduates of BMA, who later graduated from VMI and went on to become Commonwealth's Attorney for Fauquier County.
Channing Pollock, (BMA '79), was a famous author, lecturer, dramatist, and publicist.
Samuel Riggs served as the U. S. Government's Commissioner to the Phillipines.
James F. Rose studied engineering, and later moved to Canada, where he was involved in the building of the Canadian Railway.
His brother, John B. Rose, entered West Point after graduating from BMA. He retired at the rank of Brigadier General, and returned to the family homeplace next to the academy grounds (see related story).
E. Albert Smith earned a degree from UVA, and taught in Bedford County before returning to Fauquier. He served as Superintendent of Schools and taught at Warrenton High School before joining the faculty at the Stuyvesant School.
E. Sumpter Smith attended BMA from 1871-79, and graduated from UVA in 1882. After serving as a teacher at Augusta Military Academy and Orancock Academy, he returned to BMA in 1884 as Associate Principal, where he stayed until 1890. From BMA he moved to Randolph-Macon Academy in Bedford, where he served until 1921.
Richard M. Smith graduated from BMA, and then completed degree requirements at UVA in one year on the "Green Ticket." He later earned a master's degree, and then a doctorate from a university in Germany.
Dr. Francis A. Winters attended college and medical school after completing studies at BMA. He went on to become a surgeon in the U. S. Army, and became the Commandant of the Army Medical School in 1918.
BMA Superintendents Kept Traditions
This record was typed by Sandy Onbey
The goals and traditions of Bethel Military Academy established by its founder, Maj. Albert G. Smith, were maintained by the two Superintendents who followed him.
Succeeding Maj. Smith was his son-in-law, Maj. Robert Augustus McIntyre, who joined the BMA staff in 1886 and served as Superintendent from 1892 to 1901.
Following the interim period during which the academy was run by three co-principals, Col. William Mauzy Kemper assumed the duties of Superintendent in 1902, and served until BMA closed in 1911.
ROBERT A. McINTYRE
Robert A, McIntyre had a long and interesting life, and his involvement with Bethel Military Academy was an important part of his early years.
Born at Marion, South Carolina, in 1862, Robert A. McIntyre was the first generation of his family born in America. His father, Col. Robert Charles McIntyre, CSA, was born in Scotland and had immigrated to this country at age ten.
Young Robert came to Fauquier as a student at Bethel Military Academy in the late 1870s. He studied law under Maj. Albert G. Smith at BMA, and later earned a law degree.
After he passed the bar, Robert McIntyre married Maj. Smith’s daughter, Elizabeth Blackwell Smith. The couple moved to South Carolina, where he practiced law until returning to teach, and later become Superintendent of BMA.
After leaving BMA, Maj. McIntyre resumed his career in law in Fauquier that would span nearly a half-century.
Specializing in criminal cases, Maj. McIntyre served as defense attorney in 79 murder trials. Also, as anyone who has researched Fauquier County deeds and property transfers can attest, Maj. McIntyre represented clients in hundreds of real estate transactions.
He served for many years as the president of the Fauquier Bar Association, was a vestryman at St. James Episcopal Church, and a member of the Mt. Carmel Lodge in Warrenton.
Involved in state and local politics, Maj. McIntyre was elected to represent Fauquier in the Virginia House of Delegates for two terms, beginning in 1929.
While serving in the House, he was responsible for the design and adoption of the official State Seal of Virginia, and wrote the bill by which the State Legislature accepted it as the official seal.
A Crafty Attorney
Maj. McIntyre was known as a clever, effective attorney, and on occasion, ended up representing both parties in a dispute.
Fauquier Historian John K. Gott recalls an incident where this "talent" for working on both sides caused Maj. McIntyre an embarrassing problem.
While negotiating a property dispute between Mr. Gott’s grandfather, Henry Glascock, and an uncle, Henry V. Glascock, Maj. McIntyre erroneously mailed his strategy and determination to the "wrong" Glascocks. He had a lot of explaining to do.
Maj. McIntyre stopped practicing law in 1949, He died at Argyle, his home in Warrenton on Alexandria Pike, in 1952. (Argyle is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Philip Harway.)
Maj. McIntyre was survived by two daughters, Mrs. A. Ludlow Clarke and Miss Elizabeth Carter Blackwell McIntyre, and a son, Robert Charles McIntyre, of Richmond. (Col. And Mrs. Clarke and Miss McIntyre lived at Argyle for a number of years following Maj. McIntyre’s death.)
Other survivors included two brothers, Dr. Douglas McIntyre, of St. John, Washington, and Capt. Wayne McIntyre, of Bennettsvile, S. C.
Following a service conducted by Rev. F. N. Hinkel, rector of Leeds Episcopal Church, Maj. McIntyre was buried in the Warrenton Cemetery.
COL. WILLIAM M. KEMPER
William Mauzy Kemper was born in 1881 at Cedar Grove, ancestral home of the Kemper family, near Warrenton.
After completing his studies at Bethel Military Academy in the late 1890s, Mr. Kemper attended Hampden-Sidney College, receiving his degree in 1901. He stayed on at the college for about a year, working as an instructor and administrator.
In 1902, Mr. Kemper returned to Fauquier to take over the operation of Bethel Military Academy.
Shortly after assuming the responsibilities of Superintendent and Colonel at BMA, he married Miss Lucy Allen, who assisted him by serving as the school matron.
After the closing of BMA, Col. Kemper was appointed headmaster of Darlington School in Rome, Georgia.
After several years at Darlington, Col. Kemper was appointed president of Palmer College, DeFuniak Springs, Florida.
He returned to Virginia in the 1930s, and accepted the position of Superintendent of Danville Military Institute.
In 1938, Col. Kemper was appointed Executive Assistant to Gov. James H. Price, and in 1941, he was selected to serve on the State Unemployment Commission.
When the General Assembly abolished the commission in 1942, Col. Kemper left Richmond and joined the faculty of Randolph-Macon Academy, Front Royal, where he served as a professor of history and counselor.
Col. Kemper died August 19, 1954, at age 73. He was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery at Front Royal. Members of the Randolph-Macon Academy faculty served as pallbearers.
He was survived by his daughter Mrs. Richard P. Alvey, of Richmond, and his son, Cdr. Allen M. Kemper, USN, of Charlottesville.
Last Updated: April 2020