Changes

==History==

==History==

On July 4, 1857, delegates from ten dioceses of the [[Episcopal Church]] — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas — were led up Lookout Mountain by Bishop Leonidas Polk for the founding of their denominational college for the region. The cornerstone, laid on October 10, 1860 and consecrated by Bishop Polk, was destroyed in 1863 by Union soldiers from an Illinois regiment; many of the pieces were collected and kept as keepsakes by the soldiers.  At least a few were donated back to the University, and a large fragment was eventually installed in a wall of All Saints' Chapel, where the relic can be visited by pilgrims. Several figures later prominent in the Confederacy, notably Bishop-General Leonidas Polk, Bishop Stephen Elliott, and Bishop James Hervey Otey, were prominent founders of the University.  Generals Josiah Gorgas and Edmund Kirby Smith were important to the University's postbellum revival and continuance.

On July 4, 1857, delegates from ten dioceses of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Episcopal_Church_in_the_United_States_of_America Episcopal Church] — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas — were led up Lookout Mountain by Bishop Leonidas Polk for the founding of their denominational college for the region. The cornerstone, laid on October 10, 1860 and consecrated by Bishop Polk, was destroyed in 1863 by Union soldiers from an Illinois regiment; many of the pieces were collected and kept as keepsakes by the soldiers.  At least a few were donated back to the University, and a large fragment was eventually installed in a wall of All Saints' Chapel, where the relic can be visited by pilgrims. Several figures later prominent in the Confederacy, notably Bishop-General Leonidas Polk, Bishop Stephen Elliott, and Bishop James Hervey Otey, were prominent founders of the University.  Generals Josiah Gorgas and Edmund Kirby Smith were important to the University's postbellum revival and continuance.

Due to the damage and disruptions of the Civil War, construction came to a temporary halt around that time.  In 1866 the process was resumed, and this date is sometimes given as the re-founding of the University and the point from which it has maintained continuous operations (though official materials and anniversary celebrations use 1857 as the founding year).  The University's first convocation was held on September 18, 1868, with nine students and four faculty members present. It is also recorded that after the Civil War, [[Robert E. Lee]] was offered the position of Vice-Chancellor but declined, choosing instead to work at [[Washington and Lee University|Washington College]] in his native Virginia.

Due to the damage and disruptions of the Civil War, construction came to a temporary halt around that time.  In 1866 the process was resumed, and this date is sometimes given as the re-founding of the University and the point from which it has maintained continuous operations (though official materials and anniversary celebrations use 1857 as the founding year).  The University's first convocation was held on September 18, 1868, with nine students and four faculty members present. It is also recorded that after the Civil War, [[Robert E. Lee]] was offered the position of Vice-Chancellor but declined, choosing instead to work at [[Washington and Lee University|Washington College]] in his native Virginia.