History
Maryland Military and Naval Academy opened on September 6, 1885, in Oxford, Maryland.[4] Col. Oswald Tilghman, a Confederate veteran and alumni of the similarly named Maryland Military Academy, led its founders.[5] Tilghman's father, West Point-educated General Tench Tilghman, founded the Maryland Military Academy in 1847, a preparatory school in Oxford that closed in 1855 after a fire destroyed the student's facilities.[5][1] The new academy was a revival of the former school but was not considered the same institution.[6]
Maryland Military and Naval Academy advertised that it offered instruction, lifestyle, and discipline of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis or the United States Military Academy in West Point.[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.[8][9] Appointed students did not pay for boarding but were charged $125 each term for tuition and around $10 for washing and incidentals.[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.[11][12] The cost per term was $500 for students without appointments.[13] The General Assembly of Maryland passed an act to incorporate the academy in January 1886.[14][15]
Financial struggles
On Saturday, September 24, 1886, the academy's head cooks and other servants quit their positions, claiming they had not been paid.[16][17] This resulted in 180 cadets going without dinner.[16][17] Four cadets, hungry and intoxicated on pear cider, went to the quarters of associate superintendent J. C. M. Johnston.[16][17] The cadets assaulted Johnston and cut off his beard with shears.[16][17] The next day, fifty cadets left campus, going to River View House where they paid fifty cents for a meal.[16][17] Johnston left the academy; however, the cooks and servants did return to work.[16][17]
Embezzlement scheme uncovered
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.[18][19][20][21] Once Armes received his commission to serve as the academy's superintendent and took over, Burges left town and disappeared.[20][19][21] After about a month, Armes learned Burges had embezzled more than $50,000.[20][19] Burges' scheme involved ordering goods for the academy from small cities across the east.[20] Once the goods were received at the academy, Burges reshipped the items to his brother in a nearby city and later disposed of the stolen goods.[20][19] Burge had paid creditors for the goods with more than 100 bad checks written against the academy's account.[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.[20][19]
Soon, the students and teachers began to complain about poor accommodations.[19] Armes discharged teachers that he felt were lacking and expelled some students for insubordination; this resulted in other students leaving the academy.[22] By March 4, 1887, the academy only had seven out of thirteen teachers and around 150 students, down the 184 cadets at the start of the term.[22][18] In March 1887, cadet Frank Abell withdrew from the academy, citing poor food, bedding, and drinking water.[23]
Investigation
The state of Maryland had an interest in the academy because it was incorporated by the legislature and had styled itself as a Maryland institution.[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.[25][24] The board conducted its one-day investigation on March 22, 1887.[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.[23] In addition, only two or three small rooms were being heated in the entire facility, and the fuel on hand was predicted to last for a few more days.[23] Hygiene was poor, and the interior water was not "fit for any purpose".[23]
Closure
The Maryland Military and Naval Academy closed on April 6, 1887.[27] Before closing the academy, Armes paid its legitimate debts, excluding those illegally caused by Burges that totaled around $20,000.[4][19] Armes also hired two detectives to search for Burges.[19] The academy's students were transferred to St. John's College in Annapolis.[27][28] The United States government detailed naval and army officers to St. John's to continue the cadet's preparatory education.[27] The Maryland legislature revoked the Maryland Military and Naval Academy's incorporation in 1890.[15]
After the academy closed, the property was offered for sale or lease.[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."[1] Eastford Hall reopened as a hotel sometime after June 1891.[11] A former cadet, James F. Fry purchased it.[12] However, a fire destroyed most of the building in 1894.[11] Ten years after the closing of the Maryland Military and Naval Academy, Oswald Tilghman founded the Maryland Nautical Academy of Talbot County.[1]
