Though Dr. Garland's institution of the military school system at the University of Alabama in 1860 was for the regulation of a particularly unruly student body, and not especially for military instruction, nevertheless the University did, during its short time as a military school, produce some outstanding soldiers. One which instantly comes to mind is John C. C. Sanders, of the 11th Alabama Infantry, though he did not graduate and was under the military system there for but one year.

With a cadet corps equal in size to that of VMI (four companies-the Citidel and Georgia Military Institute corps were two companies), and graduating four classes under the military system from 1860 to 1864, some considerable number of officers should have entered Confederate service from the University. Can we identify the officers in Confederate or Alabama service who attended this institution? Are the rolls of the Cadet Corps availible for those years? What about those who defended Tuscaloosa against General Croxton's invaders?