{"id":1806,"date":"2026-07-13T13:24:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T13:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/?page_id=1806"},"modified":"2026-07-13T14:12:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T14:12:18","slug":"roller-biography","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/roller-biography\/","title":{"rendered":"Roller Biography"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1806\" class=\"elementor elementor-1806\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2d0fe5fb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2d0fe5fb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-34 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ecb0528\" data-id=\"ecb0528\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40323c26 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"40323c26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/History-CharlesSummervilleRoller-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1822\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/History-CharlesSummervilleRoller-1.jpg 225w, https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/History-CharlesSummervilleRoller-1-198x300.jpg 198w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41afd5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41afd5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom a painting that hung in the Reception Room of Main Barracks\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e2e60c2\" data-id=\"7e2e60c2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-319a6a3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"319a6a3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Founder<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10158557 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"10158557\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Charles Summerville Roller<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28d1c843 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"28d1c843\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1839 \u2014 1907 \u00b7 Founder, Augusta Military Academy<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f6e6356 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2f6e6356\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSoldier, legislator, and one of the most successful teachers of his day.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b7a697a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7b7a697a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73de2c70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73de2c70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResearched &amp; written by <b>Duke Fancher, &#8217;58<\/b>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2492076a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2492076a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a9b508a\" data-id=\"2a9b508a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc9cea5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fc9cea5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1839<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46f91986 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"46f91986\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Born \u00b7 Mount Sidney<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b7e9814\" data-id=\"1b7e9814\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34ca4a9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34ca4a9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1861<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21d6bfd0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"21d6bfd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enlists \u00b7 C.S.A.<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-45523d27\" data-id=\"45523d27\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54dc2733 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"54dc2733\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1865<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5089f592 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5089f592\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Begins Teaching<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-40d7d360\" data-id=\"40d7d360\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35e754ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"35e754ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1874<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e02852 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5e02852\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Augusta Male Academy<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2cc99583\" data-id=\"2cc99583\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-628df5c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"628df5c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1890<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10328da2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"10328da2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Renamed A.M.A.<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2bcac34e\" data-id=\"2bcac34e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f36b4a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6f36b4a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1907<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12c06453 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"12c06453\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Death \u00b7 Ft. Defiance<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1b72e52d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1b72e52d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-db626e1\" data-id=\"db626e1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-778cdf38 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"778cdf38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen Charles Summerville Roller died in August of 1907, he was known as one of the most successful teachers of his day. <em>His legacy is ours \u2014 the Augusta Military Academy and all that it stands for.<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a5f5ef9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a5f5ef9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn addition to his scholastic qualifications, he possessed rare abilities as an administrator and had few equals as a disciplinarian. His success was based in part on his genial disposition and his high estimate of his profession as a teacher, and he was always an active contributor in his community. For more than fifteen years he served as a justice of the peace in his magisterial district of Augusta County; he served in the State Legislature, worshipped at the Old Stone Church, and took part in local civic and social organizations. His legacy was one of service \u2014 and the founding of a school that achieved an international reputation for excellence in secondary-level military education.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3783f83e elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3783f83e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch. I<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-389329f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"389329f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Origins &amp; Education<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2dcf28c0 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2dcf28c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e71af6d elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e71af6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCharles S. Roller was born 8 May 1839 in Mount Sidney, Virginia, the oldest of seven children of Jacob and Margaret Roller. Four of his siblings died before their fifth birthday, so he grew up with two brothers \u2014 one two years younger, the other fifteen. Jacob Roller was a farmer and merchant, and both he and his father, Peter, were postmasters at Mount Sidney.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d7ff9b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3d7ff9b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThere were no public schools in Augusta County before the Civil War, and Charles received his early education at local private schools, including the Mossy Creek Academy during the time Jed Hotchkiss was its principal. He worked most summers as a farmhand for his father, and as a youth he was known for his athletic abilities, his horsemanship, and his devotion to his books. He attended the University of Virginia for two years, 1859\u20131861.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3104647e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3104647e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-21e28522\" data-id=\"21e28522\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65572108 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"65572108\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Stonewall Jackson's aide<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cd9dd35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2cd9dd35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The mapmaker who shaped a friendship<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e3cec74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e3cec74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJed Hotchkiss was principal of the Mossy Creek Academy when Roller attended classes there before entering the University of Virginia in 1859. Hotchkiss went on to serve as General Thomas J. Jackson&#8217;s Civil War topographical engineer, mapping the Shenandoah Valley on Jackson&#8217;s orders in 1862 \u2014 an assignment that brought him celebrity and honors during and after the war.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5411ed83 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5411ed83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA friend of the Roller family, his diary records nights spent in the Roller home at Mount Sidney during Jackson&#8217;s 1862 Valley Campaign. He and Charles Roller maintained a lifelong friendship, and Hotchkiss delivered the commencement address at AMA on June 1, 1898.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fef449a elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6fef449a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch. II<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3ae224 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f3ae224\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The War Years<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d62eb35 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6d62eb35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31850578 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"31850578\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn 24 July 1861, three days after the First Battle of Bull Run, Roller enlisted as a private in the Confederate forces at Fairfax Court House. He joined General J. E. B. Stuart&#8217;s 1st Virginia Cavalry Regiment, serving four years with Company E \u2014 organized in Waynesboro and composed almost exclusively of men from Augusta County. The company was known as the Valley Rangers.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b19f47e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b19f47e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Valley Rangers fought in skirmishes and battles throughout the war, suffering casualties at Port Republic, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, Cedar Creek and many other places. On 8 April 1865, riding as a courier for General Fitzhugh Lee&#8217;s command near Appomattox Court House, Roller was thrown by his horse, captured, and made a prisoner of war. The following day Lee surrendered to Grant, ending the war in Virginia and prompting Roller&#8217;s release.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-466f1c54 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"466f1c54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">War came to the very doorstep of the land that would one day become the Academy.<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2b3d21d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2b3d21d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7b3bb525\" data-id=\"7b3bb525\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11eb4797 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"11eb4797\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The war at the doorstep<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3dc93678 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3dc93678\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">VMI cadets marched past<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b4a1556 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6b4a1556\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThough no battles were fought in Mt. Sidney or Ft. Defiance, residents along the Valley Pike witnessed the constant movement of troops, artillery and supply wagons. On 11 May 1864, over 250 cadets from the Virginia Military Institute began their historic march from Lexington toward their engagement with fame at New Market \u2014 passing through Ft. Defiance on 13 May, just a few feet from the land eventually to become the home of Augusta Military Academy.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-585f326c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"585f326c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn 5 June 1864, the Battle of Piedmont \u2014 barely four miles east of Ft. Defiance \u2014 brought the carnage of war to the doorsteps of area residents. Over 7,700 Union troops under General Hunter fought 5,600 Confederates for more than nine hours in the fields north of New Hope. One in ten soldiers on each side was killed or wounded.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0b6596 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d0b6596\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch. III<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cfb5e33 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6cfb5e33\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Homecoming &amp; the First Classrooms<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65a30a47 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"65a30a47\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23030eff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"23030eff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tParts of the Shenandoah Valley had been devastated. Homes, barns, livestock and crops were destroyed; lives were lost; and there had been no educational opportunities for the area&#8217;s young people for four years. It was to this scene, at the age of twenty-five, that Charles Roller returned home. He intended to go back to the University of Virginia to study law \u2014 but tradition suggests he was asked by Confederate veterans to begin teaching and resume the education of young men who had not seen blackboards or textbooks for years.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21315742 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21315742\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn September of 1865, five months after the war&#8217;s end, Roller joined C. M. Packer as a teacher in the school at the Augusta Church. Beginning in September of 1866 he became Principal of the Old Fort Academy, arranging boarding for students in nearby homes; the cost for a five-month term of &#8220;Advanced English&#8221; and &#8220;Languages&#8221; was $45.00, payable at the end of each term.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0e445d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f0e445d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn 7 November 1871, Roller was elected to the Virginia State Legislature as a member of the Conservative Party. In the House of Delegates he served on the committees of education, schools and colleges, and public appropriations. His time in the Legislature ended in April of 1873, and it is believed he continued to manage the school during his brief absences.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68b403a1 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"68b403a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch. IV<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d0c0eba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2d0c0eba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Academy Takes Root<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ea7a105 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7ea7a105\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-573be345 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"573be345\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn 1874 he moved his school from the immediate area of the Augusta Church to a newly erected frame building a short distance to the south, and the name became <strong>Augusta Male Academy<\/strong>. That same year, on 26 October 1874, Charles Roller married Rosabelle Moorman. The couple had four children \u2014 Margaret Belle, William C., Thomas J., and Charles S. Jr. \u2014 two of whom would follow their father into lifelong commitments to secondary education.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6852359e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6852359e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn 1 December 1879, Roller purchased the land south of the Augusta Church that became the eventual site of every building of the academy, as well as the Roller Home. By the 1879\u201380 session, half of the thirty students came from outside the local community. A program of military instruction \u2014 uniforms and Civil War\u2013style muskets for drill \u2014 was adopted by 1880. The only precedent in Virginia was VMI, making Roller&#8217;s the first of several military preparatory schools in the state.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21ae96df elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"21ae96df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1880-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1823\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1880-1.jpg 525w, https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1880-1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5431fb43 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5431fb43\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta Male Academy Corps of Cadets, 1880. The figure at far right is believed to be Professor Roller.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56217e35 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56217e35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch. V<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51d69698 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"51d69698\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Life in the Frame Barracks<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b89f1af elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4b89f1af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12560909 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"12560909\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn the 1880s, life in the original frame barracks lacked the conveniences of later years. Rooms held two boys and a single small wood-burning stove; each cadet took a turn carrying kindling from the academy woodpile. Beds were wooden frames with rope springs and corn-shuck mattresses, and after-dark study depended on a coal-oil lamp. Since coal oil also lit the little stoves on cold mornings, there was much sport in &#8220;borrowing&#8221; a roommate&#8217;s precious supply.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-680720be elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"680720be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSaturday was woodchopping day: the boarding students split and stacked a week&#8217;s worth of logs, and the sooner the pile reached the required size, the sooner they escaped for recreation. So long as there was neither snow nor a temperature low enough to cramp the fingers, marbles was reportedly <em>the<\/em> game. Saturday nights belonged to the Literary Society, devoted to debate, elocution and declamation \u2014 for Roller believed no man was truly educated until he could stand on his own two feet and convey his ideas by his own voice.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-52b52095 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"52b52095\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-550333fa\" data-id=\"550333fa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-293d4974 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"293d4974\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">AMA &amp; the Augusta Church<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f56d553 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f56d553\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Beginnings among the old, tall trees<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e0ff81e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e0ff81e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAMA began in a building that once stood in the churchyard of the Old Stone Church, one of the most historic structures in the Shenandoah Valley. The congregation dates from about 1737, and the stone building cadets came to love held its first worship service on 22 January 1749.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1cb3c851 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1cb3c851\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA 1921 expansion of the church was required in part by the increased enrollment of Augusta Military Academy. At the church&#8217;s 150th anniversary in 1899, a company of AMA cadets stood in line beside a crowd of some two thousand, contributing to a most imposing and touching scene.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63202792 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"63202792\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch. VI<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c2d4f96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5c2d4f96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Professor<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-331d2587 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"331d2587\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f476c9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f476c9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe 1880s curriculum spanned Greek, Latin, French, German, English, U.S. History, geometry, algebra, elocution, physics, word-analysis, literature and surveying. Roller taught daily. An imposing figure, he was also very nearsighted: his bifocals obliged him to sit bolt upright so his line of sight passed through the lower lenses.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36ddaf1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36ddaf1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTobacco chewing was an accepted custom, and the Professor enjoyed it \u2014 as did many of his students, sometimes in class. His favorite retreat was his study, lined with bookcases and centered on a large upholstered swivel chair. Boys behind in their studies spent evenings there under his instruction. Because his high-backed chair required a half-turn to face the door, it was considered quite an accomplishment for a cadet to transfer a pinch of the Professor&#8217;s tobacco from the mantle box to his own pocket before the Professor had completed his turn.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37c825f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"37c825f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRoller and his family worshipped at the Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, and he insisted his students attend services too. He briefly suspended the academy for 1883\u201384 after his political appointment as Principal of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, resuming operations of Augusta Male Academy on 24 September 1884.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a852b81 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5a852b81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"522\" height=\"293\" src=\"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1895-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1824\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1895-1.jpg 522w, https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1895-1-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-747b51b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"747b51b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCadet officers from the academy&#8217;s catalog for 1895\u201396. The first Recall was published around 1913.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ffbee29 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3ffbee29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch. VII<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-524a7cc8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"524a7cc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Augusta Military Academy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d281b7a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2d281b7a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cb95ab5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7cb95ab5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDuring 1888\u201389 the Professor renamed the school the Augusta Classical and Military Academy, and by 1890 it had become simply <strong>Augusta Military Academy<\/strong>. The founding date has long been discussed: the cornerstone of the 1910 academic building reads AMA 1874, while the 1905\u201306 catalog identifies the session beginning September 1906 as the school&#8217;s thirty-second.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5aff62e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5aff62e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRoller&#8217;s Civil War service had been that of an enlisted man, but he was later a Colonel in the Virginia militia and was frequently given a military title in print. To his students he was &#8220;The Professor&#8221; or &#8220;The Old Boss.&#8221; He was Deputy Grand Master in Virginia of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and several times commander of the Staunton-based Stonewall Jackson Camp of Confederate veterans.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-142fdce4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"142fdce4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Academy celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1965, dated to the beginning of the Professor&#8217;s teaching career in Ft. Defiance in 1865. After his funeral on 28 August 1907, a newspaper reported that the cortege passed over the spot in the churchyard where Roller first taught when he established Augusta Military Academy. That was indeed the seed from which grew that beloved school.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-34752c87 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"34752c87\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3b389438\" data-id=\"3b389438\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-240eaf6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"240eaf6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">His Legacy<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1100fa9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1100fa9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u201cThe seed from which grew that beloved school.\u201d<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5f5e432b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5f5e432b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-narrow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5bffbe92\" data-id=\"5bffbe92\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25ab011 elementor-align-left elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"25ab011\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/augustamilitaryacademy.org\/history\/roller-school-history\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-arrow-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Roller School History<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4ad3a215\" data-id=\"4ad3a215\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-575c5db7 elementor-align-left elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"575c5db7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/augustamilitaryacademy.org\/history\/rhoades-history-of-ama\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-arrow-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Rhoades History of AMA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From a painting that hung in the Reception Room of Main Barracks The Founder Charles Summerville Roller 1839 \u2014 1907 \u00b7 Founder, Augusta Military Academy Soldier, legislator, and one of the most successful teachers of his day. Researched &amp; written by Duke Fancher, &#8217;58 1839 Born \u00b7 Mount Sidney 1861 Enlists \u00b7 C.S.A. 1865 Begins [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1806","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1806"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1830,"href":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1806\/revisions\/1830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techvirgo.online\/augustamilitaryacademy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}