steam ferry, and are possessed of even stronger attractions. From the
landing the road rises to the "Highland House," and from thence
southward as far as Anthony's Nose, the route is one of exquisite
beauty. Besides the numerous country seats, nowhere surpassed in
elegance, and the thriving farms along the way, the Robinson House,
situated at the base of Sugar Loaf Mountain, about one mile below,
presents an object of deep and attractive interest. Preserved with all
its original features, and as far as possible in the same condition as
when it was made the scene of Arnold's treachery--hallowed by the
footsteps of Washington and almost every general officer of the
Revolution, and rendered impressive from its antiquity and the absence
of all evidences of the progress of modern architecture and comfort,
the Robinson House has survived, with its umbrageous foliage, for
nearly a century, and remains at this day almost the only relic of its
former princely proprietor.
From the Highland House northward the road, remarkable for its
smoothness and delightful sheltering trees, extends to INDIAN FALLS,
some three miles distant. Passing a deep ravine, through which a
sequestered tributary of the Hudson flows deep in the forest glade--so
deep that, scarce even the Summer's noon-tide sun can force a single
ray through the dense shade--the mountain stream after meandering
through miles of untrodden woods, and chafing over its rocky bed,
suddenly leaps the rocks fifty feet in height into a deep and glassy
pool, forming a scene of surpassing beauty. Beyond, the road continues
to Cold Spring, passing the Foundry and affording landscape views
north and south, all capable of exciting the most pleasurable
emotions.
The MILITARY EXERCISES, everywhere an attractive spectacle to the
American public, are at West Point productive of the most lasting and
gratifying impressions, from the unrivaled excellence of the Band, the
uniform neatness of the Cadets, and the precision with which the most
difficult maneuvers are executed by them. The European traveler,
accustomed to schools of instruction separate and apart for the
education of Engineers, Artillery, Infantry, and Cavalry Officers,
witnesses here with astonishment the perfection and familiarity which
the Cadets exhibit in the performance of all the duties pertaining to
these four branches of military organization. Some of these exercises
are daily and continuous throughout the year, others, owing to the
severity of the climate, are restricted to the period between the 15th
of March and the 1st of November; and during the Encampment, which
includes a part of June and the months of July and August, all studies
are suspended, while daily practical instruction prevails as in actual
field service.
Commencing on the 1st of September and extending over a term of nine
months and a half, during which time the Cadets occupy the Barracks
and pursue their Academic studies, their military exercises are as
follows:
Reveille { April 1 to Sept. 30 5, A.M.
Roll-call. { March and Oct. 5:30, A.M.
{ Nov., Dec., Jan. and Feb. 6, A.M.
Breakfast Roll-call 7, A.M.
Guard-mounting 7:30, A.M.
Riding 11, A.M., to 1, P.M.
Dinner Roll-call 1, P.M.
Company Drill March 15 to April 1, 4:10, P.M.
Battalion Drill May 16 to May 31, 4:10, P.M.
Skirmish Drill Oct. 15 to Oct. 31, 4:10, P.M.
Light Artillery Drill, }
Heavy Artillery Drill, } April 1 to May 15, 4:10, P.M.
Mortar Practice, }
Evening Dress Parade Sunset.
Tattoo 9:30, P.M.
Taps 10, P.M.
During the Encampment the hours are changed, and are as follows:
Reveille 5, A.M.
Infantry Drill 5:30, A.M.
Infantry Drill Aug. 1 to Aug. 31, 5, P.M.
Breakfast Roll-call 7, A.M.
Morning Dress Parade 8, A.M.
Guard-mounting 8:30, A.M.
Artillery Drill 9, A.M.
Engineering Drill 10:30, A.M.
Band Practice 10, A.M.
Drill of New Cadets 11, A.M., and 5, P.M.
Evening Dress Parade Sunset.
Tattoo 9:30, P.M.
Tattoo on Party Evenings 9:50, P.M.
Taps 10, P.M.
For the purpose of military instruction, the Cadets are organized into
a battalion of four companies, called A, B, C, and D Companies. These
are arranged with reference to stature, and they contain the four
Academic or collegiate classes indiscriminately mingled. The companies
are officered in the usual way, by selecting the Captains and
Lieutenants from the class longest at the Academy; the Sergeants from
the next lowest class, and the Corporals from the next in order.
"Chevrons," or badges of gold lace, are worn on each arm by these
officers to denote their rank, as follows:
[Illustration:
Adjutant.
Quartermaster.
Serg't-Major.
Q'r-M'r-Serg't.
Captain.
Lieutenant.
1st Sergeant.
Sergeant.
Color-bearer.
Color Corporal. (Below the elbow.)
Corporal. (Below the elbow.)]
These appointments are conferred by the Superintendent as honorary
distinctions, and are continuous for one year unless forfeited by
misconduct. The discipline and spirit of the Corps is in a great
degree dependent upon the Cadet Officers, and while they promptly and
cheerfully obey their commands, "off duty" they are equals.
In the exercise of their appointments they are required to report to
the authorities infractions of the Regulations on the part of their
comrades, but all domineering and captious inclinations are
restrained, by what may be termed a popular opinion among the Cadets.
The Corps of Cadets usually numbers about 250, and they are organized
as already stated into four companies. Immediately intrusted with
their supervision and military instruction is the Commandant of
Cadets, who is a Lieutenant-Colonel, and he is assisted by six
officers, like himself detailed from the army. This organization
prevails for all infantry instruction, and for the maintenance of
discipline in camp and barracks. In other branches of military
instruction, special arrangements are ordered on the basis of class
standing in the several classes.
The ENCAMPMENT commences at the close of the Annual Examination, about
the 20th of June, and the camp is located on the Northeast portion of
the Plain. This period, affording as it does the only relaxation from
study during the year, and as the time for the realization of the
long-cherished expectations of the graduating and furlough classes, to
enjoy the pleasures of home and early friendships, is one of unusual
interest and hilarity. With the disappearance of these two classes,
orders are promulgated to pitch the tents, and march into camp at a
stated hour. The latter is preceded by a general stampedeing force of
Cadets, conveying from the barracks to the now unoccupied recitation
rooms all unnecessary articles of furniture. Gray forms are seen with
heads crowned with washstands, chairs, mattresses, and other
camp-prohibited articles, working with such vigor that, in two or
three hours, the barracks are cleared of all Cadet property save their
military accoutrements. Before breakfast the camp is laid out and the
tents pitched, and at the appointed hour the battalion, with the Band
and with colors unfurled, marches to its Summer home.
[Illustration: The Cadet's Encampment]
The Encampment consists of eight rows of tents, two to each company,
opening on four streets parallel to each other, and a broad avenue
runs through the centre of the camp. The tents of the Company Officers
and of the Army Instructors of Tactics, are situated opposite their
respective companies, while the tent of the Commandant of Cadets is
placed centrally at the East end of the broad avenue. The Guard tents,
five or six in number, are situated in a line a little distance in
front of the whole camp. A chain of six or eight sentinels surrounds
the camp day and night. The guard consists of three reliefs, which
walk post in turn, during the twenty-four hours for which each
guard is detailed. This detail is drawn as equitably as possible from
the four companies, and guard duty recurs once in from three to five
days, making the duty a real hardship to those not inured to it. The
subdivisions of the guard require each relief to walk two hours, and
then wait four hours before it is again posted. The operation of
changing is as follows: When the relief is duly formed and inspected
by the Officer of the Guard, it is marched by its Corporal around the
line of posts, and after "Taps," each sentinel challenges the
longed-for delegation with a fierce, "Who comes there?" as though the
enemy were upon him. The reply of the Corporal leads to a further
demand for a cabalistic word which, when whispered, so elevates the
party in the estimation of the sentinel, that he quickly abandons his
vigilant, defiant manner, and quietly yields his post to his
successor, whose place in the ranks of the relief is then most
cheerfully accepted.
The camp is governed by the same regulations that accompany an army
in the field, except in the preparation of meals, which are supplied
at the Cadets' Mess throughout the year.
The presence of visitors contributes much to enliven this period of
hardship in Cadet life, and the tri-weekly dancing parties on Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday evenings, notwithstanding their abrupt
termination at 10 P.M., affords never to be forgotten reminiscences in
after life, of social enjoyment and enlightened intercourse with the
fair daughters of America, not a few of whom date back their after
career to the bewitching influence which marks this season. The
Encampment usually terminates on the 29th of August, when the Cadets
return to Barrack-life, and recommence their studies. An illumination
of the camp usually takes place on the evening before it is broken up,
and the convolutions of a "stag dance" are performed on the
Parade-ground, with a fervor and vivacity worthy of imitation in a
Camanche war-dance. This curious cross in the terpsichorean art,
between the pigeon wing, double shuffle, hoe-down, and the quadrille,
is a frequent diversion in the Cadet camp. It is performed by twenty
or more Cadets, who gyrate between two rows of candles stuck in the
ground, cadencing their movements by the very uncertain sounds of a
plebeian fiddle and the low muffled rattle of a drum, accompanied by
whimsicalities and contortions unknown save at West Point.
The scene presented during the striking of the tents is quite lively
and picturesque. In the early hours of the day all the property of the
Cadets, such as blankets, clothing, etc., is carried by them to the
rooms they are assigned to in the barracks, leaving in camp only their
rifles and their accoutrements. At the appointed hour the "general"
beats,
"Don't you hear the General say,
Strike your tents and march away?"
when all spring to their posts, awaiting three taps on the bass drum.
At the first tap, all except the corner tent cords are cast loose and
the pins are withdrawn; at the second, the corner cords and pins are
cast loose, and the tent is gathered around the tent-poles and
steadied in an upright position, so that at the third tap all the
tents instantly go down in concert, and woe to the "gross" one who
fails to complete the prostration at the moment. While the tents are
folded and piled by one party, a group enliven the scene by songs
descriptive of their eagerness
"To join the army of the brave," etc.
Then the companies are formed, and taking their stacked arms march to
the front on the Parade; the Commandant then, with Band and colors
unfurled, marches the battalion to the general Parade, in front of the
Superintendent's quarters, and the Encampment is no more.
The ACADEMIC EXERCISES of the Cadets are not devoid of interest even
to those who are attracted to the spot by the glittering displays of
military life; while to those interested in the progress of
education, the peculiarities of the system pursued at West Point
seldom fails to increase their belief, that the method here followed
might be more generally introduced into the great American collegiate
system.
The Corps of Cadets, in accordance with the usual custom, is divided
into four classes, and the course of study extends through four years
in duration. The classes are numbered inversely according to their
entrance into the Academy, as the FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, and FOURTH
Classes, corresponding to the Senior, Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman
Classes in other institutions. Each class is divided into convenient
sections of from twelve to fifteen Cadets, for instruction in its
special branches of study, the first Cadet on each section roll being
its squad-marcher, and being responsible for its punctual attendance
and deportment. The recitation hours are sounded on a bugle, when the
sections for the hour are formed at the Barracks, their rolls are
called, and they are marched to the Recitation-rooms by their several
squad-marchers. The instructor is there waiting their attendance, and
after receiving the squad-marcher's report of the absentees, he sends
three or more Cadets to the black-board, to discuss the propositions
he announces to each; for which purpose they proceed to place their
diagrams or analyses on the board. Another is called up on the floor
and questioned on the lesson for the day, until one of those at the
board is ready. The latter being called on, first enunciates the
proposition to be discussed, then gives a condensed analysis of how it
should be solved, and then gives the full discussion, delineation, or
demonstration with reference to his diagram or analysis. Last of all,
and reaching the termination of his subject, the instructor proceeds
to question him on the parts slighted or omitted, and upon topics
connected with the subject-matter under consideration. It will be seen
that the recitation proceeds upon the supposition that the Cadet
understands his lesson beforehand, and that the instructor's province
is to make sure of the Cadet's thorough and accurate knowledge; to
amplify his conceptions, and supply his deficiencies, rather than
teach him the subject of the lesson. He also enforces that orderly and
lucid exposition and arrangement of the matter, which carries the
conviction that the Cadet not only knows his topic, but is able to
communicate it to others. He requires accuracy of language, the
observance of certain recitation forms, and proprieties in decorum, to
a degree far higher than is usually demanded in other institutions.
Three sides of the section-room are provided with wall slates or
black-boards, and a tray for chalk, wipers, and pointers, extends
across the bottom of each. Every Cadet writes his name over his work,
and when called upon to recite, assumes the "position of a soldier,"
until he wishes to refer to his work, when he does so with his
pointer. It is a matter of no small magnitude to secure a becoming
personal deportment and style in recitation, and to suppress the
unmeaning, nervous turnings, rockings, and fumblings, which too often
deform the manners of undisciplined students.
The instructor marks each recitation according to his estimate of its
quality as referred to a scale of valuation ranging from zero to
three, the maximum for a perfect and satisfactory exhibition of
knowledge. A weekly report of these daily marks is made to the
Superintendent, and exhibited to the Cadets who crowd the hall leading
to the Adjutant's office every Monday, to see the official estimate of
their performances during the past week. The recitation marks are
aggregated for the semi-annual examination in January, and for the
annual examination in June, and are mainly decisive of the numerical
standing of each Cadet in the different courses of study. Frequent and
thorough reviews occur, in which each individual's success is
critically observed and considered in making out the standing--a
greater weight justly belonging to the final and permanent conquest of
a course, than to the earlier recitations. The final examination on
the subject also has a material weight.
By combining all these elements, a definite order of arrangement of
the members of each class, in each branch of study, is obtained, and
from these combined special standings, a general class rank, or order
of arrangement according to each individual's merit, is deduced at the
close of each annual examination. In determining the standing of the
graduating class the special standing of each Cadet in all the
branches of study for the four years, including proficiency in
discipline, is considered, and possesses a relative weight in deciding
the position of each member.
The Annual Examination in June is conducted in the presence of a
"Board of Visitors," selected for the purpose by the Secretary of War,
and the reports of these Boards, composed of intelligent men of all
professions and all political parties, have, for more than forty
years, borne favorable testimony to the thoroughness and efficiency of
the system of instruction pursued at West Point. The assignment and
promotion of the graduating class to corps and regiments in the army,
is regulated by the recommendation of the Academic Board, based upon
class standing. The highest members only are recommended for the Corps
of Engineers, and as the recommendations are almost uniformly adhered
to, each Cadet becomes the arbiter of his own destiny, so far as his
capacity makes success practicable. He is thus stimulated to good
conduct, and the diligent employment of all his mental faculties, by
the hope of a choice in the assignments, and of securing after rank,
by commission, over his comrades.
How to become a Cadet, is a question not unlikely to arise in the
minds of some of the young readers of this volume. The martial
aspirant should consider well, before taking any steps toward securing
a Cadet appointment, that Cadet life is no mere holiday training--no
refined dandyism, but a four years' devotion of mind, body, and heart
to discipline and study; more severe, by far, than is required at any
other educational institution in the land. But if possessed of an
aptitude for mathematical study, of a vigorous realization of the
attributes of manhood, and the courage to endure patiently present
trials for future good, and finally, if possessed of an ardent desire
for intellectual culture, with a view to after usefulness, nowhere can
a youth become so well qualified by an educational course to be a man,
as by becoming a Cadet at the National Military Academy. The method of
procedure to secure an appointment is briefly as follows:
The District of Columbia, and each District of Country entitled to a
Member of the House of Representatives in Congress, may secure through
him one Cadet appointment. The Cadet so selected should remain four
years, but in case he fails to do so, a vacancy arises which the
Representative is called upon to fill with a new appointee. Of course,
the same thing occurs when the Cadet graduates, and thus the number of
Cadets is made equal to the number of Representatives and Delegates
in Congress. In addition, every year the President of the United
States appoints TEN Cadets, selected at his pleasure from any portion
of the country. The appointments by Districts are really made by the
Secretary of War, but only on the recommendation of the Member of
Congress. An application made to the latter will show whether a
vacancy exists--if so, the applicant must plead with him for it. The
only other alternative is to secure the favor of being one of the TEN
appointed by the President. The official qualifications are herewith
appended:
APPOINTMENT AND ADMISSION OF CADETS.
I.--As frequent inquiries are made in regard to the mode of procuring
admission into the Military Academy, persons interested in the subject
are hereby informed that application may be made at any time (by
letter to the Secretary of War) by the applicant himself, his parent,
guardian, or any of his friends, that his name may be placed on the
register in the office of the Inspector at Washington. The precise age
and permanent abode of the applicant, as, also, the number of the
Congressional District in which he resides, must be stated, and no
application will be considered wherein these instructions are not
complied with. No preference is given to applications on account of
priority, nor can any information be communicated as to the probable
success of an applicant before the appointments are made.
By an act of Congress, the appointment of a person who has served in
any capacity in the military or naval service of the so-called
Confederate States is prohibited, and, as a general rule, no person
will be appointed who has had a brother educated at the Academy.
By provision of law, each Congressional and Territorial District and
the District of Columbia is entitled to have one Cadet at the Military
Academy, and no more. In addition to these, the appointment _annually_
of a number, not exceeding _ten_, "at large," not confined to a
selection by Congressional Districts, is authorized. The District and
Territorial appointments are made upon the nomination of the member of
Congress or Delegate representing the District or Territory at the
date of appointment, and the law requires that the individual selected
shall be an _actual resident_ of the District or Territory, or
District of Columbia, from which the appointment purports to be made.
The selections "at large" and from the District of Columbia are made
by the President.
Appointments are required by law to be made one year in advance of the
date of admission--that is to say, about the 1st of July in each year,
except in instances where it may be impracticable, from any cause, so
to make them. Persons, therefore, receiving appointments have ample
time afforded them in which to prepare for a successful examination
prior to their admission.
II.--To prevent the disappointment, mortification, and useless expense
that might attend the acceptance of a Cadet appointment by a person
not possessing the necessary qualifications for admission, and for the
instruction and aid of others, the following information is
communicated:
Candidates must be over seventeen and under twenty-two years of age at
the time of entrance into the Military Academy; no modification of the
law in this respect can be made; but any person who has served
honorably and faithfully not less than one year as an officer or
enlisted man in the army of the United States, either as a Volunteer,
or in the Regular service, during the war for the suppression of the
Rebellion, shall be eligible for appointment up to the age of
twenty-four years. They must be at least five feet in height, and free
from any deformity, disease, or infirmity, which would render them
unfit for the military service, and from any disorder of an infectious
or immoral character. They must be able to read and write well, and
perform with facility and accuracy the various operations of the four
ground rules of Arithmetic, of reduction, of simple and compound
proportion, and of vulgar and decimal fractions. The Arithmetic is to
be studied understandingly, and not merely committed to memory. They
will also be required to have a knowledge of the elements of English
Grammar, of Descriptive Geography, particularly of our own country,
and of the history of the United States.
III.--It must be understood that a full compliance with the above
conditions will be insisted on; that is to say, the candidate must
write a fair and legible hand, and without any material mistakes in
spelling such sentences as shall be dictated by the examiners; and he
must answer promptly and without errors all their questions in the
above-mentioned rules of Arithmetic and in the other branches: failing
in any of these particulars, he will be rejected.
IV.--Every candidate will, soon after his arrival at West Point, be
subject to a rigid examination by an experienced Medical Board, and
should there be found to exist in him any of the following causes of
disqualification, to such a degree as will immediately, or in all
probability may, at no very distant period, impair his efficiency, he
will be rejected:
1. Feeble constitution and muscular tenuity; unsound health from
whatever cause; indications of former disease; glandular swellings, or
other symptoms of scrofula.