Recent discussion of 'School Rifles' got me interested in the history of the Michigan Military Academy, which ceased operating in 1908.

"Make it like West Point" was supposedly the advice given by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman to the Founders of the Michigan Military Academy in 1877. The institution, on the shores of Orchard Lake, flourished at times. However, after 31 years, probably due to over-building and social changes, the M.M.A. went bankrupt in 1908, and was sold. (Many buildings still survive as St. Mary's Prep. School).

The M.M.A. is known as a place where Gen. Sherman delivered a version of his "War is Hell" speech to the Class of 1879 and an audience of 10,000 people.  (Cadet John C. Lodge, an eventual Detroit Mayor, later recalled: "He was not very eloquent and his voice was unpleasant and shrill"). 

In the 1880s, M.M.A. Cadets provided the 'Artillery' in Mock Battles that were part of the Michigan State Troops' annual encampments at Island Lake.

Probably, the most famous graduate was a rebellious Chicago student named Edgar Rice Burroughs. The 'Tarzan Author' ran away from the school, but, was returned by his family as punishment. He attended for five years. After graduating in 1895, he was for a time employed as Assistant Commandant and Professor of 'Geology', 'Cavalry' and 'Gatling Gun'.

I am sure many of our Country's Military Academies, existing and gone, have a rich tradition of such stories.  In terms of 'Arms', from my observation of photographs, it appears the M.M.A. utilized Cadet Model 'trapdoor' Springfields and never modernized to Krags.

MMA Cadets circa 1887 detail: