A Cadet.
In 1842, the place of a cadet in the great academy at West Point became
vacant. In that school or academy the young men of the United States are
trained to become soldiers. Thomas at once sought and secured the place,
and very soon set out on horseback to Clarksburg, where he would take
the coach going to Washington.
He was clad in home-spun clothes, and his whole wardrobe was packed in a
pair of saddle-bags.
When he reached Clarksburg, he found that the coach had passed by; but
he rode on until he overtook it and then went on to Washington city.
He was kindly met by his friend Mr. Hays, member of Congress from his
district, who took him at once to the Secretary of War. The latter was
so pleased with his manly bearing and direct speech that he ordered his
warrant to be made out at once.
Mr. Hays wished him to stay in Washington for a few days in order to see
the sights of the city, but he was content to climb to the top of the
dome of the Capitol, from which he could view the whole scene at once.
He was then ready to go on to West Point for examination. His great
trouble now was the thought that he might not know enough to stand that
examination.
Mr. Hays wrote to his friends at the academy and asked them to be easy
in examining the mountain boy, who wished so much to be a soldier; and
it is said that they asked him no very hard questions.
Thomas was now eighteen years old. He had a fresh, ruddy face, and was
strong and full of courage.
[Illustration: _View of West Point from Port Putnam._]
The fourth-class men at this school were called by their school-mates
“plebs,” and were made to sweep and scrub the barracks and to do other
tasks of the same kind. The third-class men would play pranks upon the
new boys, some of which were quite hard to bear. Now, when they saw this
country boy in his home-spun clothes, they thought that they would have
rare sport out of him. But such were his courage and good temper that
they soon let him alone.
He now studied hard, for, being behind his class, he had double work to
do. He once said to a friend that he studied very hard for what he
learned at West Point.
Just as when he was a boy, if he did not understand the lesson of the
day, he would not pass over it to the next, but would work on until he
knew all about it.
It was often the case that when called to the black-board to recite, he
would say that he was still at work on the last lesson. This, of course,
caused him to get low marks, but he was too honest to pretend to know
what he did not understand at all. His teachers judged his mind sound
and strong, but not quick. What he lacked in quickness, he made up in
steady work; so, at the end of the fourth year, he graduated seventeenth
in his class.
During the second year at West Point, he grew, as it were, by a leap to
the height of six feet; and in his cadet uniform was very fine-looking.
He was neat in his attire, and kept his gun clean and bright.
It is said that one day during this year, he found that his bright
musket had been stolen, and that a foul and rusty one had been put into
its place.
He told the captain of his loss, and gave him a mark by which his gun
might be known. That evening it was found in the hands of a fellow-cadet
who had stolen it and then told a falsehood to shield himself from
punishment.
Jackson had been angry because of his musket, but now he was deeply
vexed at the falsehood, and asked that the cadet should be sent away, as
he was unfit to remain at the academy. The friends of the boy at last
prevailed upon him to waive his right of pressing the charge, and the
erring cadet was let alone. Not long after, the cadet again broke the
rules of the school and was sent away in disgrace.
From this we see that Jackson had at that time a hatred of all that was
low and wicked.
He now wrote, in a blank book, a number of maxims as rules for his life.
They touched on morals, manners, dress, the choice of friends, and the
aims of life. One of these rules every boy should keep in mind. It was
this:
“You may be whatever you resolve to be.”
We shall see that this was indeed the guiding star of his life. Whatever
he willed to do he always did by sheer force of endeavor.
At this time it is plain that it was his purpose to place his name high
up on the roll of earthly honor. Beneath his shy and modest manners,
there burned the wish to be truly great. His life was not yet ruled by
love of Christ, but it shows some of the highest and noblest aims.
Jackson was twenty-two years old when he left West Point, June 30, 1846.
He then took the rank of second lieutenant of artillery in the United
States army. The artillery is that branch of an army which fights with
cannon, or big guns. At that time a war was going on between the United
States and Mexico. General Scott was then going to the seat of war to
take the chief command of the army of the United States: and Jackson,
the young lieutenant, was sent to join him in the south of Mexico.
Ca-det′ (kā-det′), a military pupil.
Warrant (wŏr′-rant), a certificate.
Max′-im (măks-im), a wise saying.
Mor′als (mŏr-als), conduct.
Waive (wāv), to give up.
Tell what you remember about—
Jackson’s going to West Point.
His life at West Point.
The cadet who stole his musket.
The important maxim.
His age and rank when he left West Point.
The war which was going on at that time.