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Birth of The Citadel

There were several incidents that highlighted a need for citizen-soldier leaders in the state. During the 1830s, many of South Carolina's citizen soldier volunteers fought in the Seminole War and the Texas War of Independence against Mexico. The State of South Carolina nearly seceded from the United States during the Nullification Crisis of 1832. South Carolina declared some federal taxes on the state "null and void." Ironically, President Andrew Jackson, born and raised in South Carolina, warned the state that he would send troops to enforce the federal tax laws if necessary.

In 1836, a citizen soldier from South Carolina served as Commander of the Alamo. Lt Colonel William B. Travis, born in Edgefield County, South Carolina led the small detachment of volunteers at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas and died heroically fighting for Texas independence. The battle cry "Remember the Alamo" reminded South Carolinians of their struggle for independence and the War of 1812 with Britain, highlighting the need for a West Point type military college for the citizen soldiers of the state. A letter written by Lt Col Travis asking for help at the Alamo highlighted the need for citizen soldiers that are ready at a moment's notice.

In 1836, shortly after the Alamo tragedy, South Carolina Governor George McDuffie was one of the first to suggest that a military college be established in the state. Lt Col Travis and many South Carolinians perished in the Alamo and other battles fighting for Texas Independence. The heroic adjutant and messenger of the Alamo, James Butler Bonham, another South Carolinian, was the brother of Gen Milledge Luke Bonham, Adjutant General of the South Carolina Militia, and member of The Citadel Board of Visitors during the Civil War. Several other notable South Carolinians that settled in Texas include Thomas S. Lubbock and Francis R. Lubbock two brothers from Charleston. Thomas became one of the early founders of the Texas Rangers and fought in both the Texas War for Independence and the Civil War. His brother, Francis Lubbock became Governor of Texas during the Civil War.

Tensions between the North and South, South Carolina's Nullification Crisis of 1832, wars with the Indians and Mexico and the tragedy of the Alamo highlighted the need for citizen-soldier leaders, ready at a moment's notice, in times of peace and war. These events and the efforts of many supporters of a military college in South Carolina led to the establishment of the South Carolina Military Academy (later renamed The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina) in 1842. Governor John P. Richardson and Maj Gen David F. Jamison proposed the bill that was passed in the South Carolina Legislature on Dec 20, 1842. The South Carolina State Arsenal, also known as the "Old Citadel" became the home of the new military college of the citizen soldier.

Modeled after the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, The Citadel was a small, tough, and elite, military college that graduated its first class in 1846. During the first decade, most of The Citadel's faculty and staff were educated at West Point including the first two superintendents of the college. The Citadel at the time consisted of 2 schools, The Citadel Academy in Charleston, and The Arsenal Academy in Columbia, SC of which the latter served as a preparatory school and provided instruction for freshmen. Of the 34 who entered the old walls of The Citadel and The Arsenal when operations began, only six would graduate four years later. The year of 1846 was an exciting one for The Citadel. It was the first year that all four classes filled the barracks and the first class graduated. The year began with a proclamation from U.S. President, James K. Polk, who made a commitment to helping the new state of Texas end their border disputes with Mexico. The United States would eventually get involved in this border dispute with Mexico. After the Mexican Army crossed the border at the Rio Grande and attacked the U.S Army soldiers stationed near the border, the United States declared war on Mexico.

Citizen Soldier Origins      Mexican War