YEARLING CAMP.
IN this chapter I shall describe only those phases
of cadet life which are experienced by "yearlings"
in their "yearling camp."
Beginning July 5th, or as soon after as practicable,
the third class receive practical instruction in the
nomenclature and manual of the field-piece. This drill
continues till August 1st, when they begin the "School
of the Battery."
The class attend dancing daily. Attendance at dancing
is optional with that part of the third class called
"yearlings," and compulsory for the "Seps," who of
course do not become yearlings till the following
September. The third class also receive instruction
in the duties of a military laboratory, and "target
practice." These instructions are not always given
during camp. They may be given in the autumn or spring.
Another delight of the yearling is to "bone colors."
Immediately in front of camp proper is a narrow path
extending entirely across the ground, and known as the
"color line." On the 1st of August--sometimes before--
the "color line" is established, this name being
applied also to the purpose of the color line. This
ceremony consists in stacking arms just in rear of the
color line, and placing the colors on the two stacks
nearest the centre of the line.
From the privates of the guard three are chosen to
guard the stacks and to require every one who crosses
the color line or passes within fifteen paces of the
colors to salute them. These three sentinels are known
as the "colors," or "color men," and are numbered
"first," "second," and "third."
Those are chosen who are neatest and most soldierlike
in their appearance. Cadets prepare themselves
specially for this, and they toss up their guns to
the adjutant at guard-mounting. This signifies that
they intend competing for "colors." The adjutant falls
them out after the guard has marched to its post, and
inspects them. Absolute cleanliness is necessary. Any
spot of dirt, dust, or any thing unclean will often
defeat one. Yearlings "bone" their guns and accoutrements
for "colors," and sometimes get them every time they
toss up.
A "color man" must use only those equipments issued to
him. He cannot borrow those of a man who has "boned
them up" and expect to get colors. Sometimes-- but
rarely--plebes compete and win.
The inducement for this extra labor is simply this:
Instead of being on duty twenty-four hours, color men
are relieved from 4 P. M. till 8 A. M. the next day,
when they march off. They of course enjoy all other
privileges given the "Old Guard."
"Sentinels for the Color Line.--The sentinels for the
color line will be permitted to go to their tents from
the time the stacks are broken till 8 A.M. the following
morning, when they will rejoin the guard. They will be
excused from marching to meals, but will report to the
officer of the guard at the roll-call for each meal, and
also at tattoo and reveille."--(From Résumé of Existing
Orders, U. S. C. C.)
It is the yearling who does most of the hazing. Just
emerged from his chrysalis state, having the year
before received similar treatment at the hands of other
yearlings, he retaliates, so to speak, upon the now
plebe, and finds in such retaliation his share of
enjoyment.
The practice, however, is losing ground. The cadets
are more generous, and, with few exceptions, never
interfere with a plebe. This is certainly an advance
in the right direction; for although hazing does
comprise some good, it is, notwithstanding, a low
practice, one which manliness alone should condemn.
None need information and assistance more than plebes,
and it is unkind to refuse it ; nay, it is even not
humane to refuse it and also to haze the asker. Such
conduct, more than any thing else, discourages and
disheartens him. It takes from him all desire to do
and earn, to study or strive for success. At best it
can be defended only as being effective where
regulations are not, viz., in the cases of rough
specimens who now not infrequently manage to win
their appointments.
Formerly in yearling camp the corporals were all
"acting sergeants." They were so acting in the
absence of the de facto sergeants. These corporals
got the idea into their heads that to retain their
appointments they had to do a certain amount of
"skinning," and often "skins" were more fancied
than real. This was a rather sad condition of
affairs. Plebes would find their demerits
accumulating and become disheartened. It was all
due to this unnecessary rigor, and "being military,"
which some of the yearling corporals affected. No
one bears, or rather did bear, such a reputation
as the yearling corporal. As such he was disliked
by everybody, and plebes have frequently fought
them for their unmanly treatment. This, however,
was. It is no more. We have no yearling corporals,
and plebes fare better generally than ever before.
Not because all yearling corporals thus subserved
their ambition by reporting men for little things
that might as well have been overlooked, did they
get this bad reputation, but rather because with it
they coupled the severest hazing, and sometimes even
insults. That was unmanly as well as mean. Hazing
could be endured, but not always insults.
Whether for this reason or not I cannot say, the
authorities now appoint the corporals from the
second class, men who are more dignified and courteous
in their conduct toward all, and especially toward
plebes. The advantages of this system are evident.
One scarcely appreciates cadet life--if such
appreciation is possible--till he becomes a
yearling. It is not till in yearling camp that
a cadet begins to "spoon." Not till then is he
permitted to attend the hops, and of course he
has but little opportunity to cultivate female
society, nor is he expected to do so till then,
for to assume any familiarity with the upper
classes would be considered rather in advance of
his "plebeship's" rights. How then can he--he is
little more than a stranger--become acquainted
with the fair ones who either dwell at or are
visiting West Point. Indeed, knowing "femmes" are
quite as prone to haze as the cadets, and most
unmercifully cut the unfortunate plebe. Some are
also so very haughty: they will admit only first-
classmen to their acquaintance and favor.
But Mr. Plebe, having become a yearling finds that
the "Mr." is dropped, and that he is allowed all
necessary familiarity. He then begins to enjoy his
cadetship, a position which for pleasure and happiness
has untold advantages, for what woman can resist those
glorious buttons? A yearling has another advantage. The
furlough class is absent, and the plebes--well, they
are "plebes." Sufficient, isn't it? The spooneying
must all be done, then, by the first and third classes.
Often a great number of the first class are bachelors,
or not inclined to be spooney; and that duty then of
course devolves on the more gallant part of that class
and the yearlings.
The hop managers of the third class have been mentioned
elsewhere. They enjoy peculiar facilities for pleasure,
and, where a good selection has been made, do much to
dispel the monotony of academic military life. Indeed,
they do very much toward inducing others to cultivate a
high sense of gallantry and respect for women. The
refining influence of female society has greater play,
and its good results are inevitable.
But what a wretched existence was mine when all this
was denied me! One would be unwilling to believe I had
not, from October, 1875, till May, 1876, spoken to a
female of any age, and yet it was so. There was no
society for me to enjoy--no friends, male or female,
for me to visit, or with whom I could have any social
intercourse, so absolute was my isolation.* Indeed, I
had friends who often visited me, but they did so only
when the weather was favorable. In the winter season,
when nature, usually so attractive, presented nothing
to amuse or dispel one's gloom, and when, therefore,
something or some one suited for that purpose was so
desirable, no one of course visited me. But I will not
murmur. I suppose this was but another constituent of
that mechanical mixture of ills and anxieties and
suspense that characterized my cadet life. At any rate
I can console myself in my victory over prejudice,
whether that victory be admitted or not. I know I have
so lived that they could find in me no fault different
from those at least common to themselves, and have
thus forced upon their consciences a just and merited
recognition whether or not they are disposed to follow
conscience and openly accept my claim to their brotherly
love.
*I could and did have a pleasant chat every day, more
or less, with "Bentz the bugler," the tailor, barber,
commissary clerk, the policeman who scrubbed out my
room and brought around the mail, the treasurer's
clerk, cadets occasionally, and others. The statement
made in some of the newspapers, that from one year's
end to another I never heard the sound of my own voice,
except in the recitation room, is thus seen to be
untrue.