Oregon State University Army ROTC is an ROTC Battalion assigned to Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Its mission is to train Cadets in basic military leadership and commission them as 2nd Lieutenants upon the completion of a bachelor's degree. Founded in 1873, the ROTC Battalion has continued to serve the nation and US Army Cadet Command and was given the nickname, "The West Point of the West" after it produced more commissioned officers than any other ROTC Battalion in the USA during World War II.
Pre-Civil War
Prior to the American Civil War, the small number of officers the Army needed was provided by the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and a few other colleges, such as Norwich University. With the expansion of the Army to unprecedented size for the Civil War, the need for trained officers quickly exceeded the number available. As a result, Congress passed the Land Grant Act of 1862, which specified that courses in military tactics should be offered at colleges established as a result of the Act. Corvallis College (now Oregon State University) was founded in 1858 as an academy supported by the Methodist Church.
1868–1906; educating the citizen soldier
Corvallis College was named a Land-Grant institution in 1868, and thus was required to begin teaching military science. The first students were described as "being fine of muscle and brain but had to be taught to read and do simple arithmetic," perhaps explaining why military training did not begin immediately.
A new college president, Benjamin Lee Arnold, a Confederate veteran, arrived in the spring of 1872 "prepared to take charge of neglected military tactics as soon as arms arrived." Captain Benjamin D. Boswell of the 11th Infantry Regiment (and had served with the 4th West Virginia Infantry during the Civil War) was on extended leave and had been voluntarily helping with the Cadets. In September 1873, he was "regularly retained as Professor of Military Science." CPT Boswell wrote about three difficulties: "There was sometimes no suitable room for drilling, there were no books on military science in the city, and that the boys were farmer's sons they went home on good days to help with the planting and harvesting when the weather was best for drilling."
For about four years a varied collection of blue uniforms were worn until 1876, when President Arnold arranged for a local tailor to have the first official Cadet uniforms made. Gray, with caps of the Civil War type, it has long been speculated that they were inspired by Arnold's Confederate background, or perhaps from the "long gray line" of the US Military Academy at West Point. Each Cadet purchased his own for $16 to $18, depending on size.
Education in military tactics continued until 1877 when all guns were taken for the Nez Perce Wars, so "drill was not among the college activities of the time." In 1884, college president Arnold made a passionate plea to the legislature for 60 to 70 guns to replace those taken and never returned. Finally, in 1886, guns and a cannon were sent from Fort Vancouver and drill and military tournaments began again. A Cadet band was organized in 1891 consisting of 13 pieces obtained by private subscription. The new band, together with two companies of Cadets, marched down the railroad station to perform when President William Henry Harrison arrived on the Presidential train.
The second Regular Army officer, 1LT C. F. Dentler, was detailed by the War Department as Professor of Military Science in 1894. When he arrived, he was put in charge of Cauthorn Hall (now Kidder Hall), a dormitory known for the unruly behavior of its occupants. It is reported that "he put in operation War Department rules for behavior. In a short time Cauthorn was an orderly place, and every student was getting better grades in his classwork." That summer (1894), the Cadets marched in the Portland, Oregon parade and were very popular with the 1st Oregon soldiers who "swarmed them to get all manner of drinks," since they were they only military unit carrying canteens. Uniforms returned to 'army blue' in 1896 after a vote of the Cadets.