Maryland Military and Naval Academy
[4] Col. Oswald Tilghman, a Confederate veteran and alumni of the similarly named Maryland Military Academy, led its founders.
[7] In November 1885, The Elyria Republican noted that the school provided "a chance for a young man from this district to be educated, cheaply..." through a Congressional appointment to a one-year cadetship.
[7][10] Their uniform cost an additional $37 a year and was identical to those of West Point, in grey with a tight jacket, cap, and a black stripe on the trouser legs.
[16][17] In January 1887, superintendent B. J. Burges convinced George A. Armes, a retired U.S. Army major from Alexandria, to purchase the academy for around $25,000.
[20][19] Later, it was learned that Burges had a history of starting schools and military academies, leaving them with thousands of dollars of debt.
[22][18] In March 1887, cadet Frank Abell withdrew from the academy, citing poor food, bedding, and drinking water.
[23] Governor Henry Lloyd appointed a Board of Inspectors for the Maryland Military and Naval Academy on March 2, 1887.
[24][25] The Board of Inspectors consisted of Dr. James L. Bryan of Cambridge, Thomas C. Bruff of Baltimore County, the Rev.
William Dale of Snow Hill, and chairman General James Howard of Baltimore, P. A. Witmer of Washington County.
[24] The Board of Inspectors reported its findings of "the grossest mismanagement of [the academy's] affairs" and "that a great wrong and injustice had been imposed on the Professors and Cadets..."[26][4] The committee also found that Armes had no funds on hands and was either unwilling or unable, due to lack of credit, to purchase needed supplies.
[23] For example, students who had paid their full tuition had insufficient clothing for the current winter season, and their meals were low in quality and quantity.
[27] Before closing the academy, Armes paid its legitimate debts, excluding those illegally caused by Burges that totaled around $20,000.
[27][28] The United States government detailed naval and army officers to St. John's to continue the cadet's preparatory education.
[29] A United States Marshall sold the academy's furniture and the ship Winifred to cover a court judgment against Burges as the school's superintendent.
[28] Oswald Tilghman purchased many of the academy's assets, including "desks...queens ware...washbowls, philosophical apparatus and instruments, muskets, one organ...together with the buildings.
[7][33] Some cadets came from wealthy families in New York or were the sons of congressmen Charles M. Anderson of Ohio, John G. Ballentine of Tennessee, Edwin S. Osborne of Pennsylvania, Samuel R. Peters of Kansas, Joseph Wheeler of Alabama, and others.
[36][37] The News of Frederick, Maryland wrote an editorial saying, "We cannot help thinking the Professors of the school were remiss in permitting Gavagan...possess a pistol.
[48] On February 19, 1886, the academy held an Intermediate Hop that featured a band and female guests from Baltimore, Cambridge, and Easton, Maryland.
[49] In April 1886, 100 cadets went on a ten-day Easter break cruise along the Potomac River and down the Chesapeake Bay to Old Point Comfort.
[50] In August 1886, 75 cadets went on a summer cruise on the academy's clipper ship, Amazon, sailing along the Chesapeake Bay and up to Newport, Rhode Island.
