Marching with Spartans, a Review
Dr. Franklin Annis’s book, Marching with Spartans: The Life and Works of Alden Partridge, Volume I: Controversial History & Educational Theories of Captain Alden Partridge, gives readers a much-needed addition to the empty shelf space between the American Revolution and the Civil War. In the first volume of a planned series, the author takes a little-known military officer from the early 19th century and reintroduces him to the forefront of the current Stoicism revival. Born into the infancy of a new nation, Captain Alden Partridge strove to contribute to the new way of life developing in America. His early career required him to navigate the ever changing social and economic changes brought about by the industrial revolution and the political upheavals of a government learning to govern.
As young man, Partridge attended Dartmouth College before transferring to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Such was his performance as a cadet, that upon graduation, he immediately began service as Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the Academy. He rose steadily through positions at the Academy and became permanent Superintendent in 1815, where his time can be viewed as equal parts tradition making and infamous. His commitment to training cadets across a variety of subjects produced solid army officers. Despite missing military action during the War of 1812, the author quotes Joseph Swift, USMA Superintendent from 1812-1814, who wrote that “it cannot be denied that many of the youthful officers of the army in the war of 1812 owed their success in the field to the patient training which they received from “Old Pewter””. “Old Pewter” being a nickname the cadets had given Partridge for his hard manner. Well groomed, calm, and patient, Partridge emphasized physical training and often took the cadets on long marches and showed physical drills and academic exercises equal attention.
Partridge’s troubles were a result of the same manner that made him an effective teacher of soldiers. His stern methods and personal philosophy, outlined in his American System of Education, drew contempt from the West Point Faculty, United States Army officials, and politicians alike. Dr. Annis points out that Partridge’s design of educating encompassed the entire scope of civic duties and “blended classical and practical methods”. Partridge prepared men to serve in the defense of their nation while also understanding the responsibilities they had to participate actively in “all other necessary industries and institutions of American Life”. However, his dedication to the ideal of the militia as the default military force in America flew in the face of the new political belief in a large standing army. The recent failures during the War of 1812 having led leaders to import the French military model. Equally, his commitment to military education rankled the West Point civilian staff who felt the academy should be a civilian institution.
These disagreements would be Partridge’s undoing as superintendent. A complicated series of accusations and petty infighting, Dr. Annis thoroughly covers the resistance and difficulties Partridge faced with the civilian staff of the academy and the series of Courts of Inquiry and Courts Martial that ended Partridges time at West point. As the civilian faculty flooded the Secretary of War’s office with letters of complaint, Partridge was the focus of his first Court of Inquiry as Superintendent in 1815. Though cleared, his reputation was stained, and the staff embolden. A June 1817, visit by President Monroe to West Point provided the staff with another opportunity to bare their grievances, as a result, the President called for a court martial. However, a former West Point Superintendent intervened and asked the charges to be dropped to a court of inquiry. At one point, to restore order, Partridge arrested several faculty members July 1817. Four days later, he was relieved as superintendent by Brevet Major
Thayer. When Partridge returned to West Point in August, he requested his old quarters, as was his lawful right as the senior officer. When Thayer refused, Partridge relieved him and reassumed command. Thayer relayed via letter that the relief was “forceful” and Partridge was charged with mutiny. Dr. Annis highlights this as the petty use of military decorum by Thayer and others to further alienate Partridge from the academy. The Court Martial found Partridge guilty, though his sentence to be “cashiered” was commuted, he would resign his commission in 1818.
Though focused on the early professional life of one man, this book is not a simple narrative or biography of Alden Partridge. It is a book written by a scholar for scholars. Intimately researched and supported by sources arranged throughout the narrative where they best serve. Dr. Annis takes the time in each chapter to dissect the importance of events as they occur. Equally, he devotes chapters to topics that explore Partridge’s place in the study of educational philosophy and American history at large. Of note he explores the Partridge as a classical educator, his Stoic methods and how they fit into the larger connections the founders had to Greek/Roman ideals, and his early contributions to the idea of Land Grant Colleges.
Dr. Franklin Annis has given one of America’s most impactful and genuine military officers and educator the exploration they have long deserved. He has given a detailed and deeply researched look at the captain’s early career and educational theories while also mentioning some of larger impacts Partridge’s later career as founder of Norwich University and trailblazer of other educational social issues. A true scholar, Dr. Annis included more than a dozen appendixes of complete historical documents for the reader to explore. As Dr. Annis mentions, “Historians should not hide events or people within history simply to avoid tough questions and philosophical arguments”. This book does just that. It puts Captain Alden Partridge front and center and discusses the complex man and events that gave the United States Military Academy both a legacy of building Military Officers while ruining the career of one of the most brilliant Officers to graduate from it. This book is a must read for any educational or Stoic philosopher, military officer, or someone intrigued by the complexities of early American politics and government. Hopefully, we won’t have long to wait for Volume II.
