CHAPTER XVII.

JAMES WEBSTER SMITH, a native of South Carolina, was

appointed to a cadetship at the United States Military

Academy at West Point, New York, in 1870, by the Hon.

S. L. Hoge. He reported, as instructed, at the Military

Academy in the early summer of 1870, and succeeded in

passing the physical and intellectual examination

prescribed, and was received as a "conditional cadet."

At the same time one Howard reported, but unfortunately

did not succeed in "getting in."

In complexion Smith was rather light, possibly an

octoroon. Howard, on the contrary, was black. Howard

had been a student at Howard University, as also had

been Smith. Smith, before entering the Academy, had

graduated at the Hartford High School, and was well

prepared to enter upon the new course of studies at

West Point.

In studies he went through the first year's course

without any difficulty, but unfortunately an affaire

d'honneur--a "dipper fight"--caused him to be put back

one year in his studies. In going over this course

again he stood very high in his class, but when it

was finished he began going down gradually until he

became a member of the last section of his class, an

"immortal," as we say, and in constant danger of being

"found."

He continued his course in this part of his class

till the end of his second class year, when he was

declared deficient in natural and experimental

philosophy, and dismissed. At this time he had been

in the Academy four years, but had been over only a

three-years' course, and would not have graduated

until the end of the next year, June, 1875.

As to his trials and experiences while a cadet, I

shall permit him to speak. The following articles

embrace a series of letters written by him, after his

dismissal, to the New National Era and Citizen, the

political organ of the colored people, published at

Washington, D. C.:

THE COLORED CADET AGAIN.

PERTINENT OR IMPERTINENT CARD FROM CADET SMITH.

"COLUMBIA, S.C., July 27,1874.

To the Editor of the National Republican:

"SIR: I saw an article yesterday in one of our local

papers, copied from the Brooklyn Argus, concerning

my dismissal from the Military Academy. The article

referred to closes as follows: 'Though he has written

letters to his friends, and is quite sanguine about

returning and finally graduating, the professors and

cadets say there is not the slightest chance. Said a

professor to a friend, the other day: "It will be a

long time before any one belonging to the colored race

can graduate at West Point."'

"Now, Sir, I would like to ask a few questions

through the columns of your paper concerning these

statements, and would be glad to have them answered

by some of the knowing ones.

"In the first place, what do the professors and

cadets know of my chances for getting back, and

if they know any thing, how did they find it out?

At an interview which I had with the Secretary of

War, on the 17th instant, he stated that he went

to West Point this year for a purpose, and that he

was there both before and after my examination, and

conversed with some of the professors concerning me.

Now, did that visit and those conversations have any

thing to do with the finding of the Academic Board?

Did they have any thing to do with that wonderful

wisdom and foresight displayed by the professors and

cadets in commenting upon my chances for getting back?

Why should the Secretary of War go to West Point this

year 'for a purpose,' and converse with the professors

about me both before and after the examination? Besides,

he spoke of an interview he had had with Colonel Ruger,

Superintendent of the Academy, in New York, on Sunday,

the 12th instant, in reference to me; during which

Colonel Ruger had said that the Academic Board would

not recommend me to return. Is it very wonderful that

the Academic Board should refuse such recommendation

after those very interesting conversations which were

held 'both before and after the recommendation?' Why

was the secretary away from West Point at the time of

the examination.

"In the next place, by what divine power does that

learned oracle, a professor, prophesy that it will

be a long time before any one belonging to the

colored race can graduate at West Point? It seems

that he must have a wonderful knowledge of the negro

that he can tell the abilities of all the colored

boys in America. But it is possible that he is one

of the younger professors, perhaps the professor of

philosophy, and therefore expects to live and preside

over that department for a long time, though to the

unsophisticated mind it looks very much as though he

would examine a colored cadet on the color of his face.

"I think he could express himself better and come much

nearer the truth by substituting shall for can in that

sentence. Of course, while affairs remain at West Point

as they have always been, and are now, no colored boy

will graduate there; but there are some of us who are

sanguine about seeing a change, even if we can't get

back.

"J. W. SMITH,

"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."

THE DIPPER DIFFICULTY.

"COLUMBIA, S.C., July 30, 1874.

To the Editor of the New National Era:

As I told you in my last communication, I shall now

proceed to give you an account of my four years' stay

at West Point.

"I reported there on the 31st of May, 1870, and had

not been there an hour before I had been reminded by

several thoughtful cadets that I was 'nothing but a

d--d nigger.' Another colored boy, Howard, of

Mississippi, reported on the same day, and we were

put in the same room, where we stayed until the

preliminary examination was over, and Howard was sent

away, as he failed to pass.

"While we were there we could not meet a cadet

anywhere without having the most opprobrious

epithets applied to us; but after complaining two

or three times, we concluded to pay no attention

to such things, for, as we did not know these

cadets, we could get no satisfaction.

"One night about twelve o'clock some one came into

our room, and threw the contents of his slop-pail

over us while we were asleep. We got to our door

just in time to hear the 'gentleman' go into his

room on the floor above us. This affair reported

itself the next morning at 'Police Inspection,' and

the inspector ordered us to search among the tobacco

quids, and other rubbish on the floor, for something

by which we might identify the perpetrator of the

affair. The search resulted in the finding of an old

envelope, addressed to one McCord, of Kentucky. That

young 'gentleman' was questioned in reference, but

succeeded in convincing the authorities that he had

nothing to do with the affair and knew nothing of it.

"A few days after that, Howard was struck in the

face by that young 'gentleman,' 'because,' as he

says, 'the d--d nigger didn't get out of the way

when I was going into the boot-black's shop.' For

that offence Mr. McCord was confined to his room,

but was never punished, as in a few days thereafter

he failed at the preliminary examination, and was

sent away with all the other unfortunates, including

Howard.

"On the 28th of June, 1870, those of us who had

succeeded in passing the preliminary examination

were taken in 'plebe camp,' and there I got my taste

of 'military discipline,' as the petty persecutions

of about two hundred cadets were called. Left alone

as I was, by Howard's failure, I had to take every

insult that was offered, without saying any thing,

for I had complained several times to the Commandant

of Cadets, and, after 'investigating the matter,' he

invariably came to the conclusion, 'from the evidence

deduced,' that I was in the wrong, and I was cautioned

that I had better be very particular about any statements

that I might make, as the regulations were very strict

on the subject of veracity.

"Whenever the 'plebes' (new cadets) were turned out to

'police' camp, as they were each day at 5 A.M. and 4

P.M., certain cadets would come into the company street

and spit out quids of tobacco which they would call for

me to pick up. I would get a broom and shovel for the

purpose, but they would immediately begin swearing at

and abusing me for not using my fingers, and then the

corporal of police would order me to put down that broom

and shovel, 'and not to try to play the gentleman here,'

for my fingers were 'made for that purpose.' Finding

there was no redress to be had there, I wrote my friend

Mr. David Clark, of Hartford, Ct., to do something for

me. He had my letter published, and that drew the

attention of Congress to the matter, and a board was

sent to West Point to inquire into the matter and

report thereon. That board found out that several

cadets were guilty of conduct unbecoming a cadet and

a gentleman and recommended that they be court-

martialled, but the Secretary of War thought a

reprimand would be sufficient. Among those reprimanded

were Q. O'M. Gillmore, son of General Gillmore; Alex. B.

Dyer, son of General Dyer; and James H. Reid, nephew of

the Secretary of War (it is said). I was also reprimanded

for writing letters for publication.

"Instead of doing good, these reprimands seemed

only to increase the enmity of the cadets, and they

redoubled their energies to get me into difficulty,

and they went on from bad to worse, until from words

they came to blows, and then occurred that 'little

onpleasantness' known as the 'dipper fight.' On the

13th of August, 1870, I, being on guard, was sent to

the tank for a pail of water. I had to go a distance

of about one hundred and fifty yards, fill the pail by

drawing water from the faucet in a dipper (the faucet

was too low to permit the pail to stand under it), and

return to the guard tent in ten minutes. When I reached

the tank, one of my classmates, J. W. Wilson, was standing

in front of the faucet drinking water from a dipper. He

didn't seem inclined to move, so I asked him to stand

aside as I wanted to get water for the guard. He said:

'I'd like to see any d--d nigger get water before I get

through.' I said: 'I'm on duty, and I've got no time to

fool with you,' and I pushed the pail toward the faucet.

He kicked the pail over, and I set it up and stooped

down to draw the water, and then he struck at me with

his dipper, but hit the brass plate on the front of my

hat and broke his dipper. I was stooping down at the

time, but I stood up and struck him in the face with

my left fist; but in getting up I did not think of a

tent fly that was spread over the tank, and that pulled

my hat down over my eyes. He then struck me in the face

with the handle of his dipper (he broke his dipper at

the first blow), and then I struck him two or three

times with my dipper, battering it, and cutting him

very severely on the left side of 'his head near the

temple. He bled very profusely, and fell on the ground

near the tank.

"The alarm soon spread through the camp, and all the

cadets came running to the tank and swearing vengeance

on the 'd--d nigger.'

"An officer who was in his tent near by came out and

ordered me to be put under guard in one of the guard

tents, where I was kept until next morning, when I

was put 'in arrest.' Wilson was taken to the hospital,

where he stayed two or three weeks, and as soon as he

returned to duty he was also placed in arrest. This

was made the subject for a court-martial, and that

court-martial will form the subject of my next

communication.

Yours respectfully,

"J. W. SMITH,

"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."

THE INJUSTICE AT WEST POINT.

"COLUMBIA, S.C., August 7, 1874.

To the Editor of the New National Era:

"SIR: In my last communication I related the

circumstances of the 'dipper fight,' and now we

come to the court-martial which resulted therefrom.

"But there was another charge upon which I was tried

at the same time, the circumstances of which I will

detail.

"On the 15th of August, 1870, just two days after the

'dipper fight,' Cadet Corporal Beacom made a report

against me for 'replying in a disrespectful manner to

a file-closer when spoken to at drill, P.M. For this

alleged offence I wrote an explanation denying the

charge; but Cadet Beacom found three cadets who swore

that they heard me make a disrespectful reply in ranks

when Cadet Beacom, as a file-closer on duty, spoke to

me, and the Commandant of Cadets, Lieutenant Colonel

Upton, preferred charges against me for making false

statements.

"The court to try me sat in September, with General O.

O. Howard as President. I plead 'not guilty' to the

charge of assault on Cadet Wilson, and also to the

charge of making false statements.

"The court found both Cadet Wilson and myself 'guilty'

of assault, and sentenced us to be confined for two or

three weeks, with some other light punishment in the

form of 'extra duty.'

The finding of the court was approved by President

Grant in the case of Cadet Wilson, but disapproved

in my case, on the ground that the punishment was

not severe enough. Therefore, Cadet W. served his

punishment and I did not serve mine, as there was

no authority vested in the President to increase it.

"On the second charge I was acquitted, for I proved,

by means of the order book of the Academy that there

was no company drill on that day--the 15th of August

--that there was skirmish drill, and by the guard

reports of the same date, that Cadet Beacom and two

of his three witnesses were on guard that day, and

could not have been at drill, even if there had been

one. To some it might appear that the slight

inconsistencies existing between the sworn testimony

of those cadets and the official record of the Academy,

savored somewhat of perjury, but they succeeded in

explaining the matter by saying that 'Cadet Beacom

only made a mistake in date.' Of course he did; how

could it be otherwise? It was necessary to explain it

in some way so that I might be proved a liar to the

corps of cadets, even if they failed to accomplish

that object to the satisfaction of the court.

"I was released in November, after the proceedings

and findings of the court had been returned from

Washington, where they had been sent for the approval

of the President, having been in arrest for three

months. But I was not destined to enjoy my liberty

for any length of time, for on the 13th of December,

same year, I was in the ranks of the guard, and was

stepped on two or three times by Cadet Anderson, one

of my classmates, who was marching beside me.

"As I had had some trouble with the same cadet some

time before, on account of the same thing I believed

that he was doing it intentionally, and as it was very

annoying, I spoke to him about it, saying: "I wish you

would not tread on my toes.' He answered: 'Keep your

d--d toes out of the way.' Cadet Birney, who was

standing near by, then made some invidious remarks

about me, to which I did not condescend to reply. One

of the Cadet Corporals, Bailey, reported me for

'inattention in ranks,' and in my written explanation

of the offence, I detailed the circumstances, but both

Birney and Anderson denied them, and the Commandant of

Cadets took their statement in preference to mine, and

preferred charges against me for falsehood.

"I was court martialled in January, 1871, Captain

Piper, Third Artillery, being President of the court.

By this court I was found I 'guilty,' as I had no

witnesses, and had nothing to expect from the

testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution. Cadet

Corporal Bailey, who made the report, Cadets Birney

and Anderson were the witnesses who convicted me; in

fact they were the only witnesses summoned to testify

in the case. The sentence of the court was that I

should be dismissed, but it was changed to one year's

suspension, or, since the year was almost gone before

the finding of the court was returned from Washington,

where it was sent for the approval of President Grant,

I was put back one year.

"I had no counsel at this trial, as I knew it would be

useless, considering the one-sided condition of affairs.

I was allowed to make the following written statement

of the affair to be placed among the records of the

proceedings of the court:

"'May it please the court: I stand here to-day

charged with a most disgraceful act--one which

not only affects my character, but will, if I am

found guilty, affect it during my whole life--and

I shall attempt, in as few words as possible, to

show that I am as innocent as any person in this

room. I was reported on the 18th of December, 1870,

for a very trivial offence. For this offence I

submitted an explanation to the Commandant of

Cadets. In explanation I stated the real cause of

committing the offence for which I was reported.

But this cause, as stated, involved another cadet,

who, finding himself charged with an act for which

he was liable to punishment, denies all knowledge

of it. He tries to establish his denial by giving

evidence which I shall attempt to prove absurd. On

the morning of the 13th of December, 1870, at guard-

mounting, after the new guard had marched past the

old guard, and the command of "Twos left, halt!" had

been given, the new guard was about two or three yards

to the front and right of the old guard. Then the

command of "Left backward, dress," was given to the

new guard, "Order arms, in place rest." I then turned

around to Cadet Anderson, and said to him, "I wish you

would not tread on my toes." This was said in a moderate

tone, quite loud enough for him to hear. He replied, as

I understood, " Keep your d-d toes out of the way." I

said nothing more, and he said nothing more. I then

heard Cadet Birney say to another cadet--I don't know

who it was--standing by his side, "It (or the thing) is

speaking to Mr. Anderson. If he were to speak to me I

would knock him down." I heard him distinctly, but as

I knew that he was interfering in an affair that did

not concern him, I took no further notice of him, but

turned around to my original position in the ranks.

What was said subsequently I do not know, for I paid

no further attention to either party. I heard nothing

said at any time about taking my eyes away, or of Cadet

Anderson compromising his dignity. Having thus reviewed

the circumstances which gave rise to the charge, may

it please the court, I wish to say a word as to the

witnesses. Each of these cadets testifies to the fact

that they have discussed the case in every particular,

both with each other and with other cadets. That is,

they have found out each other's views and feelings in

respect to it, compared the evidence which each should

give, the probable result of the trial; and one has

even testified that he has expressed a desire as to

the result. Think you that Cadet Birney, with such a

desire in his breast, influencing his every thought

and word, with such an end in view, could give evidence

unbiassed, unprejudiced, and free from that desire that

"Cadet Smith might be sent away and proved a liar?"

Think you that he could give evidence which should be

"the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

so help me God?" It seems impossible for me to have

justice done me by the evidence of such witnesses, but

I will leave that for the court to decide. There is

another question here which must be answered by the

finding of the court. It is this: "Shall Cadet Smith

be allowed to complain to the Commandant of Cadets when

he considers himself unjustly dealt with?" When the

court takes notice of the fact that this charge and

these specifications are the result of a complaint made

by me, it will agree with me as to the importance its

findings will have in answering that question. As to

what the finding will be, I can say nothing; but if the

court is convinced that I have lied, then I shall expect

a finding and sentence in accordance with such

conviction. A lie is as disgraceful to one man as another,

be he white or black, and I say here, as I said to the

Commandant of Cadets, "If I were guilty of falsehood, I

should merit and expect the same punishment as any other

cadet;" but, as I said before, I am as innocent of this

charge as any person in this room. The verdict of an

infallible judge--conscience-- is, "Not guilty," and that

is the finding I ask of this court.

"Respectfully submitted.

(Signed) "'J. W. SMITH,

"'Cadet U.S.M.A.'

"'Thus ended my second and last court-martial.

"Yours respectfully,

"J. W. SMITH,

"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."

THE HONOR OF A CADET AND GENTLEMAN.

To the Editor of the New National Era:

"SIR: In relating the events of my first year at West

Point, I omitted one little affair which took place,

and I will now relate the circumstances. One Sunday,

at dinner, I helped myself to some soup, and one cadet,

Clark, of Kentucky, who sat opposite me at table, asked

me what I meant by taking soup before he had done so. I

told him that I took it because I wished it, and that

there was a plenty left. He seemed to be insulted at

that, and asked: 'Do you think I would eat after a d--d

Nigger?' I replied: 'I have not thought at all on the

subject, and, moreover, I don't quite understand you,

as I can't find that last word in the dictionary.' He

then took up a glass and said he would knock my head

off. I told him to throw as soon as he pleased, and as

soon as he got through I would throw mine. The commandant

of the table here interfered and ordered us to stop

creating a disturbance at the table, and gave me to

understand that thereafter I should not touch any thing

on that table until the white cadets were served.

"When we came back from dinner, as I was going into

my room, Cadet Clark struck at me from behind. He hit

me on the back of my neck, causing me to get into my

room with a little more haste than I anticipated, but

he did not knock me down. He came into my room,

following up his advantage, and attempted to take me

by the throat, but he only succeeded in scratching me

a little with his nails, as I defended myself as well

as possible until I succeeded in getting near my bayonet,

which I snatched from the scabbard and then tried to put

it through him. But being much larger and stronger than

I, he kept me off until he got to the door, but then he

couldn't get out, for some one was holding the door on

the outside, for the purpose, I suppose, of preventing

my escape, as no doubt they thought I would try to get

out. There were a great many cadets outside on the

stoop, looking through the window, and cheering their

champion, with cries of 'That's right, Clark; kill the

d--d nigger,' 'Choke him,' 'Put a head on him,' etc.,

but when they saw him giving way before the bayonet,

they cried, 'Open the door, boys,' and the door was

opened, and Mr. Clark went forth to rejoice in the

bosom of his friends as the hero of the day. The

cadet officer of the day 'happened around' just after

Clark had left, and wanted to know what did I mean by

making all that noise in and around my quarters. I

told him what the trouble was about, and soon after

I was sent for by the 'officer in charge,' and

questioned in reference to the affair. Charges were

preferred against Clark for entering my room and

assaulting me, but before they were brought to trial

he sent two of his friends tome asking if I would

withdraw the charges providing he made a written

apology. I told these cadets that I would think of

the matter and give them a definite answer the next

evening.

"I was perfectly well satisfied that he would be

convicted by any court that tried him; but the cadets

could easily prove (according to their way of giving

evidence) that I provoked the assault, and I, besides,

was utterly disgusted with so much wrangling, so when

the cadets called that evening I told them that if his

written apology was satisfactory I would sign it, submit

it to the approval of the Commandant of Cadets, and

have the charges withdrawn.

"They then showed me the written apology offered by

Clark, in which he stated that his offence was caused

by passion, because he thought that when I passed him

on the steps in going to my room I tried to brush

against him. He also expressed his regret for what he

had done, and asked forgiveness. I was satisfied with

his apology, and signed it, asking that the charges be

withdrawn, which was done, of course, and Clark was

released from arrest. I will, in justice to Cadet

Clark, state that I never had any further trouble with

him, for, while he kept aloof from me, as the other

cadets did, he alway thereafter acted perfectly fair

by me whenever I had any official relations with him.

"A few days after the settlement of our dispute I found,

on my return from fencing one day, that some one had

entered my room and had thrown all my clothes and other

property around the floor, and had thrown the water out

of my water-pail upon my bed. I immediately went to the

guard-house and reported the affair to the officer of

the day, who, with the 'officer in charge,' came to my

room to see what had been done. The officer of the day

said that he had inspected my quarters soon after I went

to the Fencing Academy and found everything in order,

and that it must have been done within a half hour. The

Commandant of the Cadets made an investigation of the

matter, but could not find out what young 'gentleman'

did it, for every cadet stated that he knew nothing of

it, although the corps of cadets has the reputation of

being a truthful set of young men.

"'Upon my honor as a cadet and a gentleman,'" is a

favorite expression with the West Point cadet; but

what kind of honor is that by which a young man can

quiet his conscience while telling a base falsehood

for the purpose of shielding a fellow-student from

punishmen for a disgraceful act? They boast of the

esprit de corps existing among the cadets; but it is

merely a cloak for the purpose of covering up their

iniquities and silencing those (for there are some)

who would, if allowed to act according to the dictates

of their own consciences, be above such disgraceful

acts. Some persons might attribute to me the same

motives that actuated the fox in crying 'sour grapes,'

and to such I will say that I never asked for social

equality at West Point. I never visited the quarters

of any professor, official, or cadet except on duty,

for I did not wish any one to think that I was in any

way desirous of social recognition by those who felt

themselves superior to me on account of color. As I

was never recognized as 'a cadet and a gentleman,' I

could not enjoy that blessed privilege of swearing

'upon my honor,' boasting of my share in the esprit de

corps, nor of concealing my sins by taking advantage of

them. Still, I hope that what I lost (?) by being

deprived of these little benefits will be compensated

for the 'still small voice,' which tells me that I have

done my best.

"Yours respectfully,

"J. W. SMITH,

"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."

COLUMBIA, S.C., August 19, 1874.

To the Editor of the New National Era:

"SIR: My communications, thus far, have brought me

to the end of my first year at the Academy, and now

we come to the events of the second. In June of 1871,

the proverbial silver lining, which the darkest cloud

is said to have, began to shine very faintly in the

West Point firmament, and I thought that at last the

darkness of my cadet life was to be dispelled by the

appearance above the horizon of another colored cadet.

And, indeed, I was not disappointed, for, one day, I

was greeted by the familiar face and voice of Mr. H. A.

Napier, a former fellow-student at Howard University.

Soon after his arrival, and admittance, the corps of

'cadets, accompanied by the 'plebes,' took up quarters

in camp-- 'plebe camp' to the latter, and 'yearling

camp' to us who had entered the previous year.

"During the cadet encampment there are certain dances

given three times each week, known as 'Cadet Hops.'

These 'hops' are attended by the members of the first

and third classes, and their lady friends, and no

'plebe' ever has the assurance of dreaming of

attending the 'hops' until he shall have risen to

the dignity of a 'yearling'--third-classman. So long

as I was a 'plebe,' no one anticipated any such dire

calamity as that I would attend the 'hops,' but as

soon as I became a 'yearling,' and had a perfect right

to go, if I wished, there was a great hue and cry

raised that the sanctity of the 'hop' room was to be

violated by the colored cadet.

"Meetings were held by the different classes, and

resolutions passed to the effect that as soon as

the colored cadet entered the 'hop' room, the 'hop'

managers were to declare the 'hop' ended, and dismiss

the musicians. But the 'hops' went on undisturbed

by the presence of the colored cadet for two or three

weeks, and all began to get quiet again, when one day

my brother and sister, with a couple of lady friends

whom they had come to visit, came to camp to see me.

"This started afresh the old report about the 'hops,'

and every one was on the qui vive to get a glimpse of

'nigger Jim and the nigger wenches who are going to

the hops,' as was remarked by a cadet who went up from

the guard tent to spread the alarm through camp.

"In a few minutes thereafter the 'gentlemen' had all

taken position at the end of the 'company street,' and,

with their opera-glasses, were taking observations upon

those who, as they thought, had come to desecrate the

'hop' room. I was on guard that day, but not being on

post at that time, I was sitting in rear of the guard

tents with my friends--that place being provided with

camp-stools for the accommodation of visitors-- when a

cadet corporal, Tyler, of Kentucky, came and ordered me

to go and fasten down the corner of the first guard tent,

which stood a few paces from where we were sitting.

"I went to do so, when he came there also, and

immediately began to rail at me for being so slow,

saying he wished me to know that when he ordered

me to do anything, I must 'step out' about it, and

not try to shirk it. I said nothing, but fastened

down the corner of the tent, and went back to where

my friends were.

"In a few minutes afterwards he came back, and wanted to

know why I hadn't fastened down that tent wall. I told

him that I had.

"He said it was not fastened then, and that he did not

wish any prevarication on my part.

"I then told him that he had no authority to charge

me with prevarication, and that if he believed that

I had not fastened down the tent wall, the only thing

he could do was to report me. I went back to the tent

and found that either Cadet Tyler or some other cadet

had unfastened the tent wall, so I fastened it down

again. Nothing now was said to me by Cadet Tyler, and

I went back to where my friends were: but we had been

sitting there only about a half hour, when a private

soldier came to us and said, 'It is near time for

parade, and you will have to go away from here.' I

never was more surprised in my life, and I asked the

soldier what he meant, for I surely thought be was

either drunk or crazy, but he said that the

superintendent had given him orders to allow no

colored persons near the visitors' seats during parade.

"I asked him if he recognized me as a cadet. He said

he did. I then told him that those were my friends;

that I had invited them there to see the parade, and

that they were going to stay. He said he had nothing

to do with me, of course, but that he had to obey the

orders of the superintendent. I then went to the officer

of the guard, who was standing near by, and stated the

circumstances to him, requesting him to protect us from

such insults. He spoke to the soldier, saying that he

had best not try to enforce that order, as the order was

intended to apply to servants, and then the soldier went

off and left us.

"Soon after that the drum sounded for parade, and

I was compelled to leave my friends for the purpose

of falling in ranks, but promising to return as soon

as the parade was over, little thinking that I should

not be able to redeem that promise; but such was the

case, as I shall now proceed to show.

"Just as the companies were marching off the parade

ground, and before the guard was dismissed, the

'officer in charge,' Lieutenant Charles King, Fifth

Cavalry, came to the guard tent and ordered me to

step out of ranks three paces to the front, which I

did.

"He then ordered me to take off my accoutrements and

place them with my musket on the gun rack. That being

done, he ordered me to take my place in the centre of

the guard as a prisoner, and there I stood until the

ranks were broken, when I was put in the guard tent.

Of course my friends felt very bad about it, as they

thought that they were the cause of it, while I could

Not speak a word to them, as they went away; and even

if I could have spoken to them, I could not have

explained the matter, for I did not know myself why I

had been put there--at least I did not know what charge

had been trumped up against me, though I knew well

enough that I had been put there for the purpose of

keeping me from the 'hop,' as they expected I would go.

The next morning I was put 'in arrest' for 'disobedience

of orders in not fastening down tent wall when ordered,'

and 'replying in a disrespectful manner to a cadet

corporal,' etc.; and thus the simplest thing was

magnified into a very serious offence, for the purpose

of satisfying the desires of a few narrow-minded cadets.

That an officer of the United States Army would allow

his prejudices to carry him so far as to act in that

way to a subordinate, without giving him a chance to

speak a word in his defence--nay, without allowing him

to know what charge had been made against him, and that

he should be upheld in such action by the 'powers that

be,' are sufficient proof to my mind of the feelings

which the officers themselves maintained towards us.

While I was in ranks, during parade, and my friends

were quietly sitting down looking at the parade, another

model 'officer and gentleman,' Captain Alexander Piper,

Third Artillery--he was president of my second court-

martial--came up, in company with a lady, and ordered

my brother and sister to get up and let him have their

camp-stools, and he actually took away the camp-stools

and left them standing, while a different kind of a

gentleman--an 'obscure citizen,' with no aristocratic

West Point dignity to boast of--kindly tendered his

camp-stool to my sister.

"I only wish I knew the name of that gentleman; but I

could not see him then, or I should certainly have

found it out, though in answer to my brother's question

as to his name, he simply replied, 'I am an obscure

citizen.' What a commentary on our 'obscure citizens,'

who know what it is to be gentlemen in something else

besides the name--gentlemen in practice, not only in

theory--and who can say with Burns that 'a mans a man

for a' that,' whether his face be as black as midnight

or as white as the driven snow.

"There is something in such a man which elevates him

above many others who, having nothing else to boast of,

can only say, 'I am a white man, and am therefore your

superior,' or 'I am a West Point graduate, and therefore

an officer and a gentleman.'

"After the usual 'investigation' by the Commandant of

Cadets, I was sentenced to be confined to the 'company

street' until the 15th of August, about five weeks, so

that I could not get out to see my brother and sister

after that, except when I was at drill, and then I could

not speak to them. I tried to get permission to see them

in the 'Visitors' Tent' the day before they left the

'Point' on their return home, but my permit was not

granted, and they left without having the privilege of

saying 'Good-by.'

"I must say a word in reference to the commandant's

method of making 'investigations.' After sending for

Cadet Corporal Tyler and other white cadets, and

hearing their side of the story in reference to the

tent wall and the disrespectful reply, he sent for

me to hear what I had to say, and after I had given

my version of the affair, he told me that I must

surely be mistaken, as my statement did not coincide

with those of the other cadets, who were unanimous

in saying that I used not only disrespectful, but

also profane language while addressing the cadet

corporal. I told him that new Cadet Napier and my

brother were both there and heard the conversation,

and they would substantiate my statement if allowed

to testify. He said he was convinced that I was in

the wrong, and he did not send for either of them.

What sort of justice is that which can be meted out

to one without allowing him to defend himself, and

even denying him the privilege of calling his evidence?

What a model Chief Justice the Commandant of Cadets

would make, since he can decide upon the merits of the

case as soon as he has heard one side. Surely he has

missed his calling by entering the army, or else the

American people cannot appreciate true ability,

for that 'officer and gentleman' ought now to be

wearing the judicial robe so lately laid down by the

lamented Chase.

"In reply to my complaint about the actions of the

soldier in ordering my friends away from the visitors'

seats, he said that the soldier had misunderstood his

orders, as the superintendent had told him to keep the

colored servants on the 'Point' from coming in front

of the battalion at parade, and that it was not meant

to apply to my friends, who could come there whenever

they wished.

"It seems, though, very strange to me that the soldier

could misunderstand his orders, when he saw me sitting

there in company with them, for it is one of the

regulations of the Academy which forbids any cadet to

associate with a servant, and if I had been seen doing

such a thing I would have been court-martialled for

'conduct unbecoming a cadet and a gentleman."

"The cadets were, of course, very much rejoiced

at my being 'in arrest,' and after my sentence

had been published at parade, they had quite a

jubilee over it, and boasted of 'the skill and

tact which Cadet Tyler had shown in putting the

nigger out of the temptation of taking those black

wenches to the hops.' They thought, no doubt, that

their getting me into trouble frightened me out of

any thoughts I might have had of attending the 'hops;'

but if I had any idea of going to the 'hops,' I should

have been only more determined to go, and should have

done so as soon as my term of confinement was ended.

I have never thought of going to the 'hops,' for it

would be very little pleasure to go by myself, and I

should most assuredly not have asked a lady to subject

herself to the insults consequent upon going there.

Besides, as I said before, I did not go to West Point

for the purpose of advocating social equality, for

there are many cadets in the corps with whom I think

it no honor for any one to associate, although they are

among the high-toned aristocrats, and will, no doubt,

soon be numbered among the 'officers and gentlemen' of

the United States Army.

"Yours respectfully,

"J. W. SMITH,

"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."

REPLY TO THE "WASHINGTON CHRONICLE."

"COLUMBIA, S.C., August 25, 1874.

To the Editor of the New National Era:

"SIR: The following article appeared in the Washington

Chronicle of the 14th inst., and as I feel somewhat

interested in the statements therein contained, I

desire to say a few words in reference to them. The

article referred to reads as follows:

"'The recent attack of the colored, ex-Cadet Smith

upon the Board of Visitors at West Point has attracted

the attention of the officers of the War Department.

They say that the Secretary of War was extremely liberal

in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of

Cadet Smith, and that he did for him what had never been

done for a white boy in like circumstances. The officers

also say that Smith was manifestly incompetent, that he

had a fair examination, and that the Congressional Board

of Visitors unanimously testified to his incompetency.'

"Now, sir, I am at a loss to know what are 'the recent

attacks of the colored ex-Cadet Smith upon the Board of

Visitors,' for I am not aware that I have said any thing,

either directly or indirectly, concerning the Board of

Visitors. My remarks thus far have been confined to the

Academic Board and Secretary of War.

"As the members of the Board of Visitors were simply

spectators, and as they were not present when I was

examined, I had no reason to make any 'attack' upon

them, and, therefore, as I said before, confined my

remarks (or 'attacks,' if that word is more acceptable

to the Chronicle) to those who acted so unjustly toward

me.

"As to the extreme liberality of the Secretary of War,

in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of

Cadet Smith, and that he did for him what he had never

'done for a white boy in like circumstances,' I hardly

know what to say; for such absurd cant seems intended

to excite the laughter of all who know the circumstances

of the case. What devoted servants those officers of the

War Department must be, that they can see in their chief

so much liberality!

"But in what respect was the Secretary of War so

'liberal in his interpretation of the regulations?'

"Was it in dismissing me, and turning back to a lower

class two white cadets who had been unable to complete

successfully the first year of the course with everything

in their favor, while I had completed three years of the

same course in spite of all the opposition which the whole

corps of cadets, backed by the 'powers that be,' could

throw in my way? Or was it his decision that 'I can give

Mr. Smith a re-examination, but I won't?' The Chronicle

is perfectly correct in saying 'that he did for him what

had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances,'

for, in the first place, I don't think there ever was 'a

white boy in like circumstances,' certainly not while I

was at the Academy, and if there ever were a white boy so

placed, we are pretty safe in concluding, from the general

treatment of white boys, that the secretary was not so

frank in his remarks nor so decided in his action.

"'I want another cadet to represent your district at

West Point, and I have already sent to Mr. Elliott to

appoint one,' means something more than fair dealing

(or, as the Chronicle would imply, partiality) toward

the colored cadet. It means that the gentleman was

pleasing himself in the choice of a cadet from the

Third Congressional District of South Carolina, and

that he did not recognize the rights of the people of

that district to choose for themselves. 'You are out

of the service and will stay out,' for 'the Academic

Board will not recommend you to come back under any

circumstances,' shows that it is the Academic Board

That must choose our representative, and not we

ourselves, and that our wishes are only secondary in

comparison with those of the service and the Academic

Board. We are no longer free citizens of a sovereign

State, and of the United States, with the right to

choose for ourselves those who shall represent us; but

we must be subordinate to the Secretary of War and the

Academic Board, and must make our wishes subservient to

those of the above-named powers, and unless we do that

we are pronounced to be 'naturally bad'--as remarked

the Adjutant of the Academy, Captain R. H. Hall, to a

Sun reporter--and must have done for us 'what had never

been done for a white boy in like circumstances.' Now,

sir, let us see what has 'been done for a white boy in

like circumstances.' In July, 1870, the President was

in Hartford, Ct., and in a conversation with my friend

the Hon. David Clark, in reference to my treatment at

West Point, he said: 'Don't take him away now; the battle

might just as well be fought now as at any other time,'

and gave him to understand that he would see me protected

in my rights; while his son Fred, who was then a cadet,

said to the same gentleman, and in the presence of his

father, that 'the time had not come to send colored boys

to West Point.' Mr. Clark said if the time had come for

them to be in the United States Senate, it had surely

come for them to be at West Point, and that he would do

all in his power to have me protected. Fred Grant then

said: 'Well, no d--d nigger will ever graduate from West

Point.' This same young gentleman, with other members of

his class, entered the rooms of three cadets, members of

the fourth class, on the night of January 3, 1871, took

those cadets out, and drove them away from the 'Point,'

with nothing on but the light summer suits that they wore

when they reported there the previous summer. Here was a

most outrageous example of Lynch law, disgraceful alike

to the first class, who were the executors of it, the

corps of cadets, who were the abettors of it, and the

authorities of the Academy, who were afraid to punish the

perpetrators because the President's son was implicated,

or, at least, one of the prime movers of the affair.

Congress took the matter in hand, and instructed the

Secretary of War to dismiss all the members of the class

who were implicated, but the latter gentleman 'was

extremely liberal in his interpretation of the

regulations,' and declined to be influenced by the action

of Congress, and let the matter drop.

"Again, when a Court of Inquiry, appointed by Congress to

investigate complaints that I had made of my treatment,

reported in favor of a trial by court-martial of General

Gillmore's son, General Dyer's son, the nephew of the

Secretary of War, and some other lesser lights of America's

aristocracy, the secretary decided that a reprimand was

sufficient for the offence; yet 'he did for me what had

never been done for a white boy in like circumstances.'

Now, sir, by consulting my Register of the Academy, issued

in 1871, I find that three cadets of the fourth class were

declared 'deficient ' in mathematics--Reid, Boyle, and

Walker--and that the first named was turned back to join

the next class, while the other two were dismissed. Now

Reid is the Secretary's nephew, so that is the reason for

his doing 'for him what had never been done for a white

boy in like circumstances.'

"Mr. Editor, I have no objection whatever to any

favoritism that may be shown 'any member of the Royal.

Family, so long as it does not infringe upon any right

of my race or myself; but when any paper tries to show

that I have received such impartial treatment at the

hands of 'the powers that be,' and even go so far, in

their zealous endeavors to shield any one from charges

founded upon facts, as to try to make it appear that I

was a favorite, a pet lamb, or any other kind of a pet,

at West Point, I think it my duty to point out any errors

that may accidentally (?) creep into such statements.

"'The officers also say that Smith was manifestly

incompetent, that he had a fair examination,' etc. What

officers said that? Those of the War Department, whose

attention was attracted by the 'recent attacks on the

Board of Visitors,' or those who decided the case at

West Point? In either case, it is not surprising that

they should say so, for one party might feel jealous

because 'the Secretary of War was extremely liberal

in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of

Cadet Smith, and that he did for him what had never

been done for a white boy in like circumstances,' while

the other party might have been actuated by the desire

to prove that 'no colored boy can ever graduate at West

Point,' or, as the young gentleman previously referred

to said, 'No d--d nigger shall ever graduate at West

Point.' As for the unanimous testimony of the Board of

Visitors, I can only say that I know not on what ground

such testimony is based, for, as I said before, the

members of that board were not in the library when I

was examined in philosophy; but perhaps, this is only

one of the 'they says' of the officers. There are some

things in this case which are not so manifest as my

alleged incompetency, and I would like to bring them to

the attention of the Chronicle, and of any others who

may feel interested in the matter. There has always been

a system of re-examinations at the Military Academy for

the purpose of giving a second chance to those cadets

who failed at the regular examination. This year the re-

examinations were abolished; but for what reason? It is

true that I had never been re-examined, but does it not

appear that the officers had concluded 'that Smith was

manifestly incompetent,' and that this means was taken

to deprive me of the benefit of a re-examination when

they decided that I was 'deficient?' Or was it done so

that the officers might have grounds for saying that 'he

did for him what had never been done for a white boy in

like circumstances?' Again, the examinations used to be

public; but this year two sentinels were posted at the

door of the library, where the examinations were held,

and when a visitor came he sent in his card by one

of the sentinels, while the other remained at the door,

and was admitted or not at the discretion of the

superintendent. It is said that this precaution was

taken because the visitors disturbed the members of the

Academic Board by walking across the floor. Very good

excuse, for the floor was covered with a very thick

carpet. We must surely give the Academic Board credit

for so much good judgment and foresight, for it would

have been a very sad affair, indeed, for those gentlemen

to have been made so nervous (especially the Professor

of Philosophy) as to be unable to see how 'manifestly

incompetent' Cadet Smith was, and it would have deprived

the Secretary of War of the blissful consciousness that

'he did for him what had never been done for a white boy

in like circumstances,' besides losing the privilege of

handing down to future generations the record of his

extreme liberality 'in his interpretation of the

regulations on behalf of Cadet Smith.'

"Oh, that this mighty deed might be inscribed on a

lasting leather medal and adorn the walls of the War

Department, that it might act as an incentive to some

future occupant of that lofty station! I advise the

use of leather, because if we used any metal it might

convey to our minds the idea of 'a sounding brass or a

tinkling cymbal.'

"Respectfully yours,

"J. W. SMITH,

"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."

THE NEGRO CADETS.

"We publish this morning an account of Cadet Smith's

standing at West Point, which should be taken with a

few grains of allowance. The embryo colored soldier

and all his friends--black, white and tan--believe

that the administrationists have used him shamefully,

especially in view of their professions and of the

chief source of their political strength. Grant went

into the White House by means of colored votes, and

his shabby treatment of the first member of the dusky

army who reached the point of graduation in the country's

military school, is a sore disappointment to them.

"Cadet Smith has been a thorn in the side of the

Administration from the start. He could not be bullied

out or persecuted out of the institution by the insults

or menaces of those who, for consistency's sake, should

have folded him to their bosoms. He stood his ground

bravely, and much against the will of its rulers. West

Point was forced to endure his unwelcome presence up to

the time of graduation. At that point a crisis was

reached. If the odious cadet were allowed to graduate,

his commission would entitle him to assignment in our

much-officered army, which contains Colonel Fred Grant

and a host of other favorites whose only service has

been of the Captain Jinks order. The army revolted at

the idea. Theoretically they were and are sound on the

nigger, but they respectfully and firmly objected to a

practical illustration. The Radical General Belknap was

easily convinced that the assignment of the unoffending

Smith to duty would cause a lack of discipline in any

regiment that would be fearful to contemplate.

"Something must be done, and that something was quickly

accomplished. They saved the army and the dignity of the

horse marines by sacrificing the cadet. To do so, some

tangible cause must be alleged, and a deficiency in

'philosophy' was hit upon.

"In vain did Smith appeal to the Secretary of War for

an opportunity to be re-examined; in vain did he ask

permission to go back and join the class below--all

appeals were in vain. 'Gentlemen,' says the secretary,

'I don't wish to be misquoted as saying that I can't

give Mr. Smith a re-examination, for I say I won't do

it.' The victim of the army has since published a three-

column card in Fred Douglass's paper, in which he says

he was dropped for politico-military reasons, and in

the course of which he makes an almost unanswerable case

for himself, but the Radicals have dropped him in his

hour of necessity, and he must submit."

(From the New York Sun.)

CADET SMITH'S EXPULSION.

"James W. Smith, the first colored cadet appointed to

the Military Academy of West Point, was dismissed

after the June examination, having failed to pass an

examination in some other studies. Recently the Sun

received letters from South Carolina charging that the

prejudices of the officers of the Academy led to the

dismissal; and to ascertain the truth a Sun reporter

went to West Point to investigate the matter. He accosted

a soldier thus:

"'Were you here before Smith was dismissed?'

"'Yes, sir; I've been here many years.'

"'Can you tell me why he was dismissed?'

"'Well, I believe he didn't pass in philosophy and some

other studies.'

"'What kind of a fellow was he?'

"'The soldiers thought well of him, but the cadets

didn't. They used to laugh and poke fun at him in

Riding Hall, and in the artillery drill all of them

refused to join hands with him when the cannoneers

were ordered to mount. This is dangerous once in a

while, for sometimes they mount when the horses are

on a fast trot. But he used to run on as plucky as

you please, and always got into his seat without help.

Some of the officers used to try to make them carry out

the drill, but it was no use. I never saw one of the

young fellows give him a hand to make a mount. He was

a proud negro, and had good pluck. I never heard him

complain, but his black eyes used to flash when he was

insulted, and you could see easy enough that he was in

a killin' humor. But after the first year he kept his

temper pretty well, though he fought hard to do it.'

"Captain Robert H. Hall, the post adjutant, said:

'Young Smith was a bad boy.'

NATURALLY BAD

His temper was hot, and his disposition not honorable. I

can assure you that the officers at this post did every

thing in their power to help him along in his studies,

as well as to improve his standing with his comrades.

But his temper interfered with their efforts in the

latter direction, while his dulness precluded his

passing through the course of studies prescribed.

"REPORTER--'He was always spoken of as a very bright

lad.'

"CAPTAIN HALL--'He was not bright or ready. He lacked

comprehension. In his first year he was very troublesome.

First came his assault upon, or affray with, another

young gentleman (Cadet Wilson), but the Court of Inquiry

deemed it inadvisable to court-martial either of them.

Then he was insolent to his superior on drill, and being

called upon for an explanation he wrote a deliberate

falsehood. For this he was court-martialled and sentenced

to dismissal, but subsequently the findings of the

committee were reversed, and Cadet Smith was put back one

year. This fact accounts for his good standing on the

examination next before the last. You see he went over the

same studies twice.'

"REPORTER--'What was Cadet Smith found deficient in?'

"CAPTAIN HALL--'HIS worst failure was in natural and

experimental philosophy, which embraces the higher

mathematics, dynamics, optics, mechanics, and other

studies. He missed a very simple question in optics,

and the examiners, who were extremely lenient with him,

chiefly, I believe, because he was colored and not white,

tried him with another, which was also missed.'

"REPORTER--'Is optical science deemed an absolutely

essential branch of learning for an officer in the

army?'

DEFICIENT IN HIS STUDIES.

"CAPTAIN HALL--'It is useful to engineers, for instance.

But that is not the question. In most educational

institutions of the grade of West Point, the standing

of a student in his studies is decided by a general

average of all studies in which he is examined. Here

each branch is considered separately, and if the cadet

fails in any one he cannot pass. I will assure you once

more that in my opinion Cadet Smith received as fair an

examination as was ever given to any student. If anything,

he was a little more favored.'

"REPORTER--'What was his conduct in the last year of his

stay at the Academy?'

"CAPTAIN HALL--'Good. He ranked twenty in a class of

forty in discipline. Discipline is decided by the number

of marks a cadet receives in the term. If he goes beyond

a certain number he is expelled.'

"REPORTER--'This record seems hardly consistent with

his previous turbulent career.'

"CAPTAIN HALL--'Oh! in the last years of his service

he learned to control his temper, but he never seemed

happy unless in some trouble.'

"REPORTER--'Have you any more colored cadets?'

"CAPTAIN HALL--'Only one--Henry O. Flipper, of Georgia.

He is a well-built lad, a mulatto, and is bright,

intelligent, and studious.'

"REPORTER--'Do the cadets dislike him as much as they

did Smith?'

"CAPTAIN HALL--'No, Sir, I am told that he is more

popular. I have heard of no doubt he will get through

all right. And here I will say, that had Mr. Smith been

white he would not have gone so far as he did.'

"Other officers of the post concur with Captain Hall,

but the enlisted men seem to sympathize with Smith. One

of them said, 'I don't believe the officers will ever

let a negro get through. They don't want them in the

army.'

"Cadet Smith's career for the three years of his

service was indeed a most unhappy one, but whether

that unhappiness arose from

THE INFIRMITIES OF TEMPER

or from the persistent persecutions of his comrades

cannot be authoritatively said. One officer attributed

much of the pugnacity which Smith exhibited early in

his course to the injudicious letters sent him by his

friends. In some of these he was advised to 'fight for

the honor of his race,' and others urged him to brook

no insult at the hands of the white cadets. The menial

duties which the 'plebes' are called upon to do in

their first summer encampment were looked upon by Smith

as personal insults thrust upon him, althought his

comrades made no complaint. Then the social ostracism

to a lad of his sensitive nature was almost unbearable,

and an occasional outbreak is not to be wondered at.

"Before he had been in the Academy a week he wrote to a

friend complaining of the treatment he received from his

fellows, and this letter being published intensified the

hostility of the other cadets. Soon after this he had a

fight with Cadet Wilson and cut his face with a dipper.

Then followed the breach of discipline on drill, the

court-martial and sentence, and finally the Congressional

investigation, which did not effect any good. Smith says

that frequently on squad drill he was detached from the

squad by the cadet corporal, and told that he was not to

stand side by side with white men.

"WEST POINT, June 19."

THE COLORED CADET.

HIS TRIALS AND PERSECUTIONS--THREE YEARS OF ABUSE--

SETTLED AT LAST--"ELI PERKINS" TELLS THE STORY.

To the Editor of the Daily Graphic:

About the 20th of May, 1870, I saw the colored Cadet,

James W. Smith land at the West Point Dock. He was

appointed by a personal friend of mine, Judge Hoge,

Member of Congress from Columbia, South Carolina.

The mulatto boy was about five feet eight inches high,

with olive complexion and freckles. Being hungry he

tipped his hat to a cadet as he jumped from the ferry

-boat and asked him the way to the hotel.

"'Over there, boy,' replied the cadet, pointing to

the Rose Hotel owned by the government.

"On arriving there the colored boy laid down his carpet-

bag, registered his name, and asked for something to eat.

"'What! A meal of victuals for a nigger?' asked the clerk.

"'Yes, Sir, I'm hungry and I should like to buy something

to eat.'

"'Well, you'll have to be hungry a good while if you

wait to get something to eat here,' and the clerk of

the government hotel pushed the colored boy's carpet

-bag off upon the floor.

"Jimmy Smith's father, who fought with General Sherman,

and came back to become an alderman in Columbia, had

told the boy that when he got to West Point among soldiers

he would be treated justly, and you can imagine how the

hungry boy felt when he trudged back over the hot campus

to see Colonel Black and General Schriver, who was then

Superintendent of the Academy.

"The black boy came and stood before the commandant and

handed him his appointment papers and asked him to read

them. Colonel Black, Colonel Boynton, and other officers

looked around inquiringly. Then they got up to take a

good look at, the first colored cadet. The colonel, red

in the face, waved the boy away with his hand, and, one

by one, the officers departed, speechless with amazement.

"In a few moments the news spread through the Academy.

The white cadets seemed paralyzed.

"Several cadets threatened to resign, some advocated

maiming him for life, and a Democratic 'pleb' from

Illinois exclaimed, 'I'd rather die than drill with

the black devil.' But wiser counsels prevailed, and

the cadets consented to tolerate Jimmy Smith and not

drown or kill him for four weeks, when it was thought

the examiners would 'bilge' him.

"On the 16th of June, 1870, I saw Jimmy Smith again at

West Point and wrote out my experiences. He was the

victim of great annoyance.

"At these insults the colored cadet showed a suppressed

emotion. He could not break the ranks to chastise his

assaulter. Then if he had fought with every cadet who

called him a '--black-hearted nigger,' he would have

fought with the whole Academy. Not the professors,

for they have been as truly gentlemen as they are good

officers. If they had feelings against the colored cadet

they suppressed them. I say now that the indignities

heaped upon Jimmy Smith would have been unbearable to

any white boy of spirit. Hundreds of times a day he was

publicly called names so mean that I dare not write them.

"Once I met Jimmy Smith after drill. He bore the

insulting remarks like a Christian.

"'I expected it,' he said; 'but it was not so at the

Hartford High School. There I had the second honors

of my class.' Then he showed me a catalogue of the

Hartford High School, and there was the name of James

W. Smith as he graduated with the next highest honor.

"On that occasion I asked Jimmy who his father was.

"'His name is Israel Smith. He used to belong to Sandres

Guignard, of Columbia.'

"'Then he was a slave?'

"'Yes, but when Sherman's army freed him he became a

Union soldier.'

"'And your mother?'

"'She is Catherine Smith, born free.' Here Jimmy showed

his mother's photograph. She looked like a mulatto

woman, with straight hair and regular features. She had

a serious, Miss-Siddons-looking face.

"'How did you come to "the Point?"' I asked.

"'Well, Mr. David Clark, of Hartford, promised to educate

me, and he got Congressman Hoge to appoint me.'

"'How came Mr. Clark to become interested in you?'

"'Well, a very kind white lady--Miss Loomis--came to

Columbia to teach the freedmen. I went to school to her

and studied so hard and learned so fast that she told

Mr. Clark about me. My father is able to support me,

but Mr. Clark is a great philanthropist and he has taken

a liking to me and he is going to stand by me.'

"'What does Mr. Clark say when you write about how the

cadets treat you?'

"The colored boy handed me this letter from his

benefactor:

"'HARTFORD, June 7, 1870.

"'DEAR JEMMY: Yours, 1st inst., is at hand and noted. I

herewith inclose stamps.

"'Let them call "nigger" as much as they please; they

will laugh out of the other corner of their mouth before

the term is over.

"'Your only way is to maintain your dignity. Go straight

ahead. If any personal insult is offered, resist it, and

then inform me; I will then see what I can do. But I think

you need have no fear on that score. Have been out to

Windham a few days. All well, and send kind regards. Mary

sails for Europe Saturday. President Grant is to be here

the 2d. He will be my guest or Governor Jewell's.

"'Yours, etc.,

"'D. CLARK.'

"'So Mr. Clark knows the President, does he?'

"'Why, yes; he knows everybody--all the great men. He's

a great man himself;' and this poor colored boy stood up,

I thought, the proudest champion David Clark ever had.

"'Yes, David Clark is a good man,' I mused, as I saw the

grateful tears standing in the colored cadet's eyes.

"When I got back to the hotel I heard a wishy-washy girl,

who came up year after year with a party to flirt with

the cadets say:

"'O dear! it is hawid to have this colod cadet--perfectly

dre'fful. I should die to see my George standing next to

him.'

"But Miss Schenck, the daughter of General Schenck, our

Minister to the Court of St. James, told Jimmy Smith

that she hoped he would graduate at the head of his

class, and when the colored boy told me about it he said:

"'Oh, sir, a splendid lady called to see me to-day. I

wish I knew her name. I want to tell David Clark.'

"Every white boy at West Point now agreed to cut the

colored boy. No one was to say a single word to him,

or even answer yes or no. At the same time they would

abuse him and swear at him in their own conversation

loud enough for him to hear. It is a lamentable fact

that every white cadet at the Point swears and chews

tobacco like the army in Flanders.

"Again I saw Jimmy Smith on the 9th of July. The officers

of the Academy had been changed. Old General Schriver had

given place to young General Upton. The young general is

a man of feeling and a lover of justice. He sent for the

colored boy, and taking his hand he said:

"'My boy, you say you want to resign, that you can stand

this persecution no longer. You must not do it. You are

here an officer of the army. You have stood a severe

examination. You have passed honorably and you shall not

be persecuted into resigning. I am your friend. Come to

me and you shall have justice.'

"Then General Upton addressed the cadets on dress parade.

He told them personal insults against their brother cadet,

whose only crime was color, must cease.

"One day a cadet came to Jimmy and said he would befriend

him if he dared to, 'but you know I would be ostracized

if I should speak to you.'

"'What was the cadet's name?' I asked.

"'Oh, I dare not tell?' replied the colored boy. 'He would

be ruined, too.'

"'Did your father write to you when you thought of

resigning?'

"'Yes; here is his letter,' replied the colored boy:

"'COLUMBIA, S.C., July 3, 1870.

"'My DEAR SON: I take great pleasure in answering your

kind letter received last night. I pray God that my

letter may find you in a better state of consolation

than when you wrote to me. I told you that you would

have trials and difficulties to endure. Do not mind them,

for they will go like chaff before the wind, and your

enemies will soon be glad to gain your friendship. They

do the same to all newcomers in every college. You are

elevated to a high position, and you must stand it like

a man. Do not let them run you away, for then they will

say, the "nigger" won't do. Show your spunk, and let

them see that you will fight. That is what you are sent

to West Point for. When they find you are determined to

stay, they will let you alone. You must not resign on any

account, for it is just what the Democrats want. They are

betting largely here that you won't get in. The rebels

say if you are admitted, they will devil you so much that

you can't stay. Be a man; don't think of leaving, and let

me know all about your troubles. The papers say you have

not been received. Do write me positively whether you are

received or not.

"'Times are lively here, for everybody is preparing for

the Fourth of July. There are five colored companies

here, all in uniform, and they are trying to see who shall

excel in drill.

"'Stand your ground; don't resign, and write me soon.

"'From your affectionate father,

"'ISRAEL SMITH.'"

"On the 11th of January I visited West Point again. I

found all the cadets still against the colored boy. A

system of terrorism reigned supreme. Every one who did

not take sides against the colored boy was ostracized.

"At drill one morning Cadet Anderson trod on the colored

boy's toes. When Smith expostulated Anderson replied,

'Keep your-- toes away.' When Smith told about it Anderson

got two other white cadets to say he never said so. This

brought the colored boy in a fix.

"Last July I saw the colored cadet again. He was still

ostracized. No cadet ever spoke to him. He lived a, hermit

life, isolated and alone.

"When I asked him how he got on with his studies he said:

'As well as I am able, roaming all alone, with no one to

help me and no one to clear up the knotty points. If there

is an obscure point in my lesson I must go to the class

with it. I cannot go to a brother cadet.'

"'If you should ask them to help you what would they say?'

"'They would call me a -- nigger, and tell me to go back

to the plantation.'

"Yesterday, after watching the colored cadet for three

years, I saw him again. He has grown tall and slender.

He talks slowly, as if he had lost the use of language.

Indeed many days and weeks he has gone without saying

twenty lines a day in a loud voice, and that in the

recitation-room.

"When they were examining him the other day he spoke

slowly, but his answers were correct. His answers in

philosophy were correct. But they say he answered

slowly, and they will find him deficient for that.

Find him deficient for answering slowly when the boy

almost lost the use of language! When he knew four

hundred eyes were on him and two hundred malign arts

all praying for his failure!

"The colored cadet is now in his third year. The

great question at West Point is, Will he pass his

examination? No one will know till the 30th of June.

It is my impression that the young officers have

marked him so low that he will be found deficient.

The young officers hate him almost as bad as the

cadets, and whenever they could make a bad mark

against him they have done it.

"'Does anyone ever speak to you now?' I asked.

"'No. I dare not address a cadet. I do not want

to provoke them. I simply want to graduate. I am

satisfied if they do not strike or harm me; though

if I had a kind word now and then I should be

happier, and I could study better,' Then the colored

boy drew a long sigh.

"To-day I met General Howard, who was present at the

colored cadet's court-martial. I asked him to tell me

about it.

"'Well, Mr. Perkins,' said the General, 'they tried to

make out that the colored boy lied.'

"'Yes,' I interrupted, 'and they all say he did lie at

the Point now. How was it?'

"'It was this way: They accused him of talking on parade,

and, while trying to convict him out of his own mouth,

they asked him "If on a certain day he did not speak to

a certain cadet while on drill?" "I did not speak to this

cadet while on drill the day you mention," answered Cadet

Smith, "for the cadet was not in the parade that day."'

"This answer startled the prosecutors, and, looking over

the diary of parade days, they were astonished to find

Cadet Smith correct.

"'What then?' I asked.

"'Why they accuse him of telling a lie in spirit, though

not in form, for he had talked on a previous day. Just

as if he was obliged to say any thing to assist the

prosecutors except to answer their questions.'

"General Howard believes Cadet Smith to be a good,

honest boy. I believe the same.

"ELI PERKINS."

(From the Savannah (Ga.) Morning-News.)

"Lieutenant Flipper seems to have gone back on his

Atlanta friends. He came home from West Point with

a good Academy record, behaved himself with becoming

dignity. The officers at the barracks treated him--

not socially, but as an officer of the army--with

due respect, as did the citizens of Atlanta, who felt

that he had won credit by his good conduct and success.

But in an evil hour the colored friends (?) of Flipper

gave him a reception, and in full uniform he made them

a speech. Now speech-making is a dangerous thing, and

this colored warrior seems to have been made a victim

of it. He distorted the official courtesies of the

officers at the barracks into social courtesies, and

abused the white people of the South because they did

not give him and his race social equality. Not only

were sensible colored people displeased with his

remarks, but many white citizens who went to the

meeting friendly to Flipper left disgusted with his

sentiments."*

*If a man walks on the streets with me, invites me

to his quarters, introduces me to his comrades,

and other like acts of courtesy, ought I to consider

him treating me socially or officially? I went to

the garrison in Atlanta to pay my respects to the

commanding officer. I expected nothing. I met an

officer, who, with four others, had introduced

himself to me on the cars. My official call had been

made. He took me around, introduced me to the officers,

and showed me all possible attention. I met another

officer in the city several days after this. He offered

cigars. We walked up and down the streets together.

Many times did we hear and comment upon the remarks we

overheard: "Is he walking with that nigger?" and the

like. He invited me into a druggist's to take some soda-

water. I went in and got it, although it was never sold

there before to a person of color. We rode out to the

garrison together, and every attention was shown me by

all. Another officer told me that before I came the

officers of the garrison assembled to consider whether

or not they should recognize me. The unanimous vote was

"yes." Was all this official? No. It is the white people,

the disappointed tyrants of Georgia, who try to distort

social courtesies in official ones. The "many white"

people were some half-dozen newspaper reporters, whose

articles doubtless were partly written when they came.

"Old Si" in his spectacles was prominently conspicuous

among them.

(From the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News.)

A COLORED ARMY OFFICER.

"Lieutenant Flipper is his name. He is a living

result of the policy of Radicalism which has

declared from the first its determination that,

under any circumstances, the American citizen of

African descent shall enjoy all the privileges of

his white brethren. Carrying out this determination,

and not dismayed at the fate of colored cadet Smith,

who figured so largely in West Point annals a few

years ago, cadet Flipper was sent to that institution

to try his hand. He has graduated, and now holds the

commission of Second Lieutenant of Cavalry in the

United States Army, the first of his race who has

ever attained such a position.

"It will be curious to watch young Flipper's career

as an officer. Time was when army officers were a

very aristocratic and exclusive set of gentlemen,

whether they still hold to their old ideas, or not,

we do not know. There seems to be enough of the old

feeling left, however, to justify the belief that

until some other descendants of African parents

graduate at the institution, Flipper will have a

lonely time. During his cadetship, we learn from no

less an authority than the New York Tribune, 'the

paper founded by Horace Greeley,' that he was let

severely alone by his fellow-students. According to

that paper, one of the cadets said, 'We have no

feeling against him, but we could not associate with

him. It may have been prejudice but still we couldn't

do it.' This shows very clearly the animus which will

exist in the army against the colored officer. If at

West Point, where he had to drill, recite, eat, and

perhaps sleep with his white brothers, they couldn't

associate with him (notwithstanding the fact that the

majority of these whites were Northern men and ardent

advocates of Radicalism, with its civil rights and

social equality record), how can it be expected that

they will overcome their prejudices any more readily

after they become officers. The Tribune thinks they

will, and that in time the army will not hesitate to

receive young Flipper, and all of his race who may

hereafter graduate at West Point, with open arms; but

the chances are that the Tribune is wrong. Your model

Yankee is very willing to use the negro as a hobby-

horse upon which to ride into place and power, but

when it comes to inviting him to his house and

embracing him as a brother he is very apt to be found

wanting. The only society Lieutenant of Cavalry Flipper

can ever hope to enjoy is that which will exist when

there are enough of his race in the army to form a

corps d'Afrique, and by that time he will be too old

to delight in social pleasures. Meanwhile he will be

doomed to a life of solitude and self-communings, and

be subjected to many such snubs as the venerable

Frederick Douglass has but recently received at the

hands of that champion mourner for the poor African--

Rutherford B, Hayes."

The New York Tribune is right. The army is officered

by men, not by West Point cadets, who are only students

and boys.

(From the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News.)

CHEERS FOR FLIPPER.

"The miscegenationists and social equality advocates

are making a great deal of noise over the facts, first,

that a negro has graduated at West Point, and holds

to-day a commission in the United States Army; and

second, that when he went up to receive his diploma,

he was, alone of all the members of his class, the

recipient of a round of applause. Great things are

augured from these two circumstances, especially the

latter.

"It is reasoned that now, that a negro has at last been

able to secure a commission in the military service of

the country, the first step towards the recognition of

his race on the basis of social equality is accomplished,

by degrees prejudice will wear away, and, in course of

time, black and white citizens of this republic will

mingle freely and without reserve; and this, it is

claimed, is shown by the applause with which the

reception into the army of this African pioneer was

greeted. For our part we don't see that these negro

devotees and miscegenationists have any reason to

rejoice. It is just as impossible to establish perfect

social equality between the Anglo-Saxon and African

races as it is to make oil and water unite. It is

against nature, and nowhere in the world is the

antipathy to such a mingling shown more than in the

North, and by no people so strongly as by the very

men who whine so incessantly and so pretentiously

about 'men and brethren.' The negro in the South has

always found the white man of the South to be his best

and truest friend, and such will always be the case,

notwithstanding that the Southern white will never

consent to social equality with his fellow-citizen of

African descent.

"As to the applause which greeted Flipper, that can

easily be accounted for. Nothing is more likely than

that at West Point there should have been gathered

together a lot of old-time South-haters, who were

ready to applaud, not so much to flatter Flipper as

to show that they were happy over what they felt to

be a still further humiliation of the South. That is

all there is in that.

"We have no objections to such demonstrations of

delight. As far as we are concerned they may be

indulged in to the heart's content by those who so

desire. But one piece of information we can give to

the young colored Georgia lieutenant. If he thinks

those who applauded him are going to invite him to

their houses he will be greatly disappointed. And

if he does not die of overeating until those invite

him to dine with them, he will live to a good old

age. Let him take the fate of the recognized leader

of his race, Fred Douglass, as an example, and steer

clear of his too demonstrative friends. Experience

shows that so long as they can use him, they will be

very profuse in their professions of friendship; but

when that is done all is done, and he will find

himself completely cast aside. If Flipper sees these

words, let him mark our prediction."

"And many false prophets shall arise, and deceive

many" (Matt. 24:11). Amen. That is all that article

is worth.

(From the Monmouth Inquirer, Freehold, N.J.)

LIEUTENANT FLIPPER.

"When Congress founded West Point, to be a training

school for those who were to be paid as public servants

and to wear the public livery, we do not think that it

was intended that the institution should serve as a

hotbed for the fostering of aristocratic prejudices and

the assumption of aristocratic airs. Nor do we think

that when Lincoln declared the negro a freeman, and

entitled to a freeman's rights, either he or the nation

designed that the dusky skin of the enfranchised slave

should serve as an excuse for ignominy, torture, and

disgrace. Yet here, this year, in the graduating class

from West Point, steps a young man among his white-

skinned fellows, fiftieth in a class of seventy-six

members, whose four years of academic life have been

one long martyrdom; who has stood utterly alone, ignored

and forsaken among his fellows; who has had not one

helping hand from professors or students to aid him in

fighting his hard battle, and whom only his own talents

and sturdy pluck have saved from entire oblivion. Yet in

spite of all, he was graduated; he has left twenty-six

white students behind him; he is a second lieutenant in

the regular army, and the story of his struggles and his

hard-won victory is known from Oregon to Florida. All

honor to the first of his race who has stemmed the tide

and won the prize.

"We do not think the faculty at West Point have done

their duty in this matter. One word, one example from

them, would have stopped the persecution, and it is to

their disgrace that no such word was spoken and no such

example set."

I have not a world to say against any of the professors

or instructors who were at West Point during the period

of my cadetship. I have every thing to say in their praise,

and many things to be thankful for. I have felt perfectly

free to go to any officer for assistance, whenever I have

wanted it, because their conduct toward me made me feel

that I would not be sent away without having received

whatever help I may have wanted. All I could say of the

professors and officers at the Academy would be

unqualifiedly in their favor.