24 Facts About Scott Shipp

Scott Shipp was an American military figure, Confederate States Army officer, educator and educational administrator born in Warrenton, Virginia.

Scott Shipp was the second superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, briefly the president of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and led the VMI Cadets at the Battle of New Market during the American Civil War.

Scott Shipp's father died in 1849, and his mother moved the family to Boone County, Missouri, in 1852 where he entered Westminster College in Fulton.

From 1855 to 1856, Scott Shipp was employed on the North Missouri Railroad as an assistant engineer and rodman.

In 1856, Shipp returned to Fauquier County, Virginia, and entered VMI at the encouragement of Robert E Rodes who he worked with on the North Missouri Railroad, and his stepfather, Dr Henry M Clarkson.

Scott Shipp graduated 4th in his class of 29 on July 4,1859, with the rank of first lieutenant of Company B Scott Shipp accompanied the cadets to Charles Town, Virginia, for the execution of John Brown in December 1859.

Scott Shipp married Anne "Nannie" Alexander Morson, a longtime friend, on August 19,1869, and they had three children: Elizabeth Scott, Lucy Scott, and Arthur Morson Shipp.

Scott Shipp changed the spelling of his name to Shipp sometime around 1883.

Scott Shipp studied law at Washington College before the Civil War and earned his degree and was admitted to the bar in 1866, though he never practiced.

Scott Shipp served VMI as a faculty member from 1859 to 1889, succeeding Stonewall Jackson as Commandant of Cadets in 1861 and teaching Latin, Mathematics, Military History and Strategy, and Military Tactics.

Scott Shipp was elected president and appointed professor of mental and moral philosophy at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, and served from August 12- August 25,1880, resigning because of a dispute over the organizational authority of the faculty for the college.

Scott Shipp was a member of the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy in 1890 and President of the Board of Visitor's for the United States Naval Academy in 1894.

Scott Shipp was detached to Rockbridge County, Virginia, to recruit a company of soldiers.

Scott Shipp was appointed a major with the 21st Virginia Infantry in June, 1861.

Scott Shipp was with the cadets, serving under William W Loring during Jackson's Romney Expedition in the winter of 1861.

Scott Shipp was detailed to VMI on January 20,1862, where he served as commandant of cadets from 1862 to 1864 and gained the rank of lieutenant colonel.

In November 1863, Scott Shipp attempted to resign from VMI because he felt guilty for having taken one alcoholic drink, but he was discouraged from doing so.

Scott Shipp was well liked and respected by his cadets because of his strait-laced, solemn, yet amiable disposition.

Scott Shipp's cadets called him "Old Billy" as in billy goat for the goatee he wore.

Scott Shipp commanded the VMI Cadet Battalion at the Battle of New Market under the command of Maj.

Just as the cadets moved past the Bushong Farmhouse and into the Bushong Orchard, Scott Shipp was struck in the shoulder and face by a spent artillery shell, briefly knocking him unconscious, his cadets fearing him mortally wounded.

Scott Shipp was then sent to Lynchburg, Virginia, to aid Maj.

Scott Shipp devoted his retirement to spending time with his family and travelled to Europe.

Scott Shipp died at his home in Lexington, Virginia and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington.