Hugh T. Reed

“ There is something strange about the partiality young ladies manifest for the cadets. I have seen many an instance where a young lady would use all her power to be with a certain cadet, and at his graduating hop and afterward she would bestow her favors on some member of the next class; a cadet and an officer, although one and the same man, were different persons in her eyes. ”

“ On pleasant days when not on duty we often strolled on “Flirtation Walk,” that beautiful path winding through the trees and rocks between the camp site and the river to watch passing steamers or to see the objects of interest along this walk. There are some links of a huge chain on “Trophy Point” between Professor’s Row and the hotel that was floated on logs across the Hudson during the Revolutionary War from Gee’s Point at the big bend of the river to Constitution Island [43] near the village of Cold Springs on the east side of the Hudson. ”

“ That is, thought moves in grooves day after day and day after day as walks in life do. The habit of retrospectant thought fastened itself upon me several years ago, and the habit confined itself largely and almost irresistibly to my life at West Point. ”

“ Besides that, war might not often depend upon its own choice. In proportion as the observance of pacific maxims might exempt a nation from the necessity of practicing rules of military art, ought to be its care in preserving and transmitting, by proper establishments, the knowledge of that art. Whatever argument may be drawn from particular examples superficially viewed, a thorough examination of the subject will evince that the art of war is at once comprehensive and complicated ”

“ Some two score of years later, in speaking of the graduates of the Military Academy, the Honorable Charles S. Fairchild, of New York, in an address said: “That roll, which, when told over, excites patriotic enthusiasm, and calls forth high emotion beyond that of the roll of any like institution in the world.”
And General William Tecumseh Sherman said:
“The education and manly training imparted to young men at West Point has repaid the United States a thousand times its cost, and more than verified the predictions of General Washington. ”

“ Others of us who were not proficient in the art took dancing lessons occasionally, but generally found our pleasure in boating and in being with the [126] ladies, or with one another, listening to the music; in promenading on “Flirtation Walk,” or calling at the hotel. We idled away the whole summer, and it did us good, for, when we returned to barracks, we were ready for study again. I don’t want to be understood that we had nothing to do during camp, because many hours were spent at drill, at inspections and on guard, just enough to keep us active and healthy. ”

“ Of service is pledged as the Nation’s right
And all through life’s battle, this be your creed
And watchword forever—Fight! Fight! Fight!”
While most of the contests in which a cadet (i. e., the army) team takes part are played at West Point, some of them are played on other grounds—notably the annual football game with the Annapolis (i. e., the Navy) team—it is played on Franklin Field at Philadelphia, Penn., and it is an event of the year for Washington officials and society folks from near and from far. ”

“ White pants are the forerunners of the many changes to soon occur at the Point; a class to be graduated, another to go on furlough, and the other two, with a new class added to the corps, to go into camp; the members of the Board of Visitors [41] and hundreds of other people to arrive, some to witness the graduating exercises, old graduates to attend their alumni meeting, others to see relatives in the corps, and still others to attend the summer hops. But with all these and other pleasures in store for the cadets about a dozen of the plebes were not satisfied. ”

“ The new cadet whose name comes first in alphabetical order is the “class-marcher” whenever the class is called out by itself, and it is his duty to call the roll of the class and to report absentees. After our preliminary examination Baily became the class-marcher, and he marched us over to the Library, where we took the oath of allegiance. [16] We were now assigned to Companies, the [56] tallest were put in A and D and the rest in B and C Companies, but the new cadets were still drilled by themselves in small squads, then in larger ones, and later on all in one squad as a company. ”

“ From his experience in the War of 1812 and service on Indian campaigns, General Andrew Jackson while President of the United States in a message to Congress said:
“I recommend to your fostering care, as one of our safest means of national defense, the Military Academy. This institution has already exercised the happiest influence upon the moral and intellectual character of our Army; and such of the graduates from various causes may not pursue the profession of arms will be scarcely less useful as citizens. ”

“ The “Seps” arrived about this time, and those who were admitted were assigned to rooms, and they at once became a part of the fourth class. “Seps” are candidates, who, for some good reason, did not report in June. (See appendix.) They began recitations with the rest of the plebes, but for weeks they attended drill in squads by themselves. Notwithstanding the fact that Seps escape the many trials and tribulations of plebe camp, in escaping it, they miss one of the most valuable parts of cadet life, as it is an experience which most old graduates look back upon with pleasure. ”

“ Then we would visit Battery Knox, near Kosciuszco’s garden, to see the beautiful view down the Hudson that this work commands, or go to see still another handsome view up the Hudson from Trophy Point or Siege Battery at the north, or rather the west end of Flirtation Walk. Battery Knox, and Seacoast, Siege and Mortar batteries are of comparative recent origin and were built by the cadets. There are many monuments, aside from those in the little cemetery, that have been erected at salient points about the grounds to heroes who freely sacrificed their lives in the cause of freedom. ”

“ That when any Cadet of the United States Military Academy has gone through all its classes and received a regular diploma from the Academic Staff, he may be promoted and commissioned as a second lieutenant in any arm or corps of the Army in which there may be a vacancy and the duties of which he may have been judged competent to perform ”

“ On, or before, that date the result of the examination held in the preceding month is announced and Cadets are advanced from one class to another. At no other time is a Cadet advanced from one class to another, unless prevented by sickness, or authorized absence, from attending the aforesaid examination; in such a case a special examination is granted; but in no case is a Cadet advanced from one class to another without having satisfied the Academic Board of his proficiency in each branch of study pursued by his class. ”

“ It was a common thing for old cadets to enjoy a call upon candidates after supper and on Saturday afternoons. And it was difficult at first for candidates to become acquainted with one another, as so much of their leisure (?) time was taken up answering questions, standing on chairs, tables and mantels, reading press notices about themselves, singing, and in fact doing almost everything old cadets told them to do. I have heard many cadets when they were “plebes” or “animals,” declare that they would not do so and so, but they always did as they were told, and they were quick about it, too. ”

“ The instructor never told the cadets what marks he gave them, and he could not excuse a cadet from recitation. A cadet who was sick enough to require it was taken into the hospital, or by the surgeon excused from reciting, but a cadet excused from reciting had to go to and remain in the section room, and there report to the instructor that he was excused. Nothing is gained by not reciting, because every cadet must make satisfactory recitations and pass the examinations [31] in January and June or be found deficient. ”

“ After having been through the course of deviling, [26] or hazing, as practiced in my day, I am a believer in the system, because I believe it makes young men manly and self-reliant. I never saw bodily injury inflicted upon a plebe, but I do not call bodily injury deviling. I call that cruelty, and cruelty should be severely punished. But times have changed at the Academy since I left it. Now after candidates have reported at the Adjutant’s office they are sent to the Army Officer in charge of new cadets. ”

“ Each class elects one or more “Cheer Leaders,” but a first class Cheer Leader leads the Corps in Corps yells.
In contests with outside teams the West Point team is called the “Army Team” and the Annapolis team is called the “Navy Team.”
Imagine the feelings of one who graduated at the Academy prior to 1890 listening to cadet yells and to such songs (copied from the 1909 Howitzer) as the following that are now sung by the Corps in the presence of the Academic Board and other officers, to wit:
Air: “Tipperary.” ”

“ Visiting between cadets is allowed only during recreation hours.
The gymnasium is open to cadets daily, except Sundays, from 1:30 to 2 p. m.; 4:00 to supper mess parade, and on Saturdays afternoons and evenings until tattoo.
We were arranged into sections of from eight [91] to ten cadets to the section, the arrangement of upper classmen being made according to class standing, [28] as determined at the last examination, while the arrangement of the plebes was alphabetical. The first cadet in each section was the section-marcher, that is, he marched the section to and from the section room. ”

“ During the summer camp, 5 lectures with exercises are given to the first class on the use of the first aid packet and the treatment of medical and surgical emergencies. While on the practice march, at the end of each day, the medical officer on duty with the corps discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the camp site from the view point of the military sanitarian and also camp cooking, the water supply, and various other matters pertaining to camp hygiene and sanitation. ”

“ The actual and necessary traveling expenses of candidates from their homes to the Military Academy are credited to their accounts after their admission as cadets.
No cadet is permitted to receive money, or any other supplies, from [302] his parents, or from any person whomsoever, without the sanction of the Superintendent. A most rigid observance of this regulation is urged upon all parents and guardians, as its violations would make distinctions between cadets which it is the especial desire to avoid; the pay of a cadet is sufficient, with proper economy, for his support. ”

“ We got the knack of dressing down to a fine point, no cadet wore suspenders then, so all we had to do for reveille or tattoo, was to jump into our pants, stick our feet into our oldest shoes, from which the strings had been removed, and called “reveilles,” put on the coat and cap to be worn and hustle, buttoning up just before going out of the hall-door. Two minutes gave us ample time to get from our rooms to the line in the area. Now the cadets are required to wear white shirts and the style of the white collar [32] having been changed it requires a white shirt to fasten it to. ”

“ Cadets who were popular with the ladies often used to pin the “spooney buttons” on their coats, and when a cadet gave his spooney button to a young lady this act was equivalent to saying that she was the favored one. ”

“ He liked music, and at band practice he often requested the leader to play “Shoo Fly,” and so often that the cadets noticed it, and called him “Shoo Fly,” not to his face, of course, but among ourselves. Clara G⸺e, a little six-year-old girl, was a frequent visitor at camp, and she was a great admirer of Cadet W⸺e. One day he was officer of the guard and I was corporal of the guard. During dress parade my post was near the first guard tent facing the battalion, and it was my duty to see that visitors kept back of a certain line. ”

“ It is suggested to all candidates (principals and alternates [65] ) that before leaving their homes for the place designated (either West Point or their nearest military post) for their official examination, they should cause themselves to be thoroughly examined by a competent physician, and by a teacher or instructor in good standing. By such an examination any serious disqualification or deficiency in mental preparation would be revealed, and the candidate probably spared the expense and trouble of a useless journey and the mortification of rejection. ”

“ During the summer encampment, cadets of the third and fourth classes are also taught swimming and dancing, and those of the first class, the service of sea-coast artillery and submarine defense at Fort Wright, N. Y.; all classes participate in exercises in minor tactics, practice marches, problems and practical field work, in which the employment of all arms is exemplified.
Practical instruction in fencing and gymnastic exercises and in boxing and wrestling is given to the fourth class from October 1st to June 1st, and to the other classes from November 1st to March 15th. ”

“ QUALIFICATIONS.—No candidate shall be admitted who is under seventeen, or over twenty-two years of age, or less than five feet four inches in height at the age of seventeen, or five feet five inches in height at the age of eighteen and upward, or who is deformed, or afflicted with any disease or infirmity which would render him unfit for the military service, or who has, at the time of presenting himself, any disorder of an infectious or immoral character. ”

“ Every cadet at West Point is an appointee of a member of Congress, every member having a cadet of his own nomination there, with only ten appointed by the President at large. The corps of cadets is therefore a youthful counterpart of our national House of Representatives. ”

“ The course in military engineering and the art of war begins on January 2nd and closes on the 3rd of June. Military engineering embraces the study of field and permanent fortifications and siege works. The art of war embraces the study of the organization of armies, employment of the different arms in combination, logistics and strategy. ”

“ When a dispute arises that only a fight will settle and the parties to the dispute are unevenly matched the result may be one or two fights. The offending cadet must fight, and a classmate of the other cadet about his size and strength is selected to do battle with him. Sometimes the offended cadet must fight a man of his size, and then there are two fights. ”

“ The same laws, the same regulations, the same instruction, books, clothing, and food are common to all, and a more democratic body never existed on earth than is the corps of cadets.”
In June, 1902, some five hundred graduates and President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Root, Lieutenant-General Miles, Adjutant-General Corbin, [283] and scores of other non-graduates, assembled together at West Point, many with and a few without their wives, and celebrated in a royal manner the first centennial of the founding of the Military Academy. ”

“ At the December examination cadets, who are found to be proficient in their studies, are arranged according to merit in each subject. At the June examination they are similarly arranged and they are also assigned general standing in the class as determined by their standings in the various subjects. When a subject of study is completed during a term an examination concluding the work in that subject is sometimes held. Cadets deficient in studies at any examination are discharged from the Academy unless for special reasons the Academic Board recommends otherwise. ”

“ It was a long way from the hotel to the hop-room, too far for young ladies who danced much to walk, so they generally rode, but the cadets could not ride with them, as it was “Off Limits” to get into a vehicle. There were always plenty of young ladies at the hops, and some of them traveled several miles to attend; some came from Highland Falls, some from Cold Springs and others from Garrison’s, besides those from the West Point Hotel. They may come from greater distances now that there is the West Shore Railroad to travel on. ”

“ Still, I wondered why old cadets’ waists were so much smaller than plebes’ waists.
Every day, especially during guard-mount, parades, [77] and band practice, there used to be many ladies and other visitors under the trees near the guard tents. The upper classmen seemed to enjoy being with them, but the plebes were seldom wanted there. The plebes used to hear that there were hops three times a week during camp, but that is about all they knew of hops. ”

“ There was a tall young man from Tennessee, who entered the High School with us, and afterward entered the University, too. He, like myself, had an appointment to West Point, and was going there the next June, so we became friends at once, and he and I agreed to study after Christmas for the West Point examination. After the sophomores quit hazing, all went well with us, and the year soon passed. I left Ann Arbor on the last day of April to return home via Lakes Huron and Michigan, and went to Detroit to take the first steamer of the season around the lakes to Chicago. ”

“ While the Military Academy was the first educational institution in this country to recognize (in 1817) the value of a uniform system of physical training it was not till 1890 that the Academic Board allowed cadet teams to play against teams of other institutions. The first contest being a baseball game with an Annapolis midshipmen team, then came other contests with teams from other colleges. ”

“ Cadets are encouraged to be patriotic, and they always celebrate Fourth of July. This year, as the Fourth fell on Sunday, the exercises were held on the next day.
Note 1. At my time hazing, or deviling, consisted of little more than harmless badgering, which had the effect of reducing a possibly conceited or bumptuous youth to a frame of mind more consistent with the requirements of military discipline. In time, however, it developed into practices which it was deemed advisable to discontinue, and hazing has entirely disappeared from the Academy. ”

“ Each candidate before admission to the academy must show by examination as prescribed in paragraph 19, that he is well versed in algebra, to include quadratic equations and progressions, plane geometry, English grammar, composition and literature, descriptive and physical geography, and general and United States history, as explained in the circulars of notification. No rejected candidate shall be re-examined, except upon recommendation of the Academic Board. ”

“ This year it was named “Camp Thayer” in honor of a former superintendent of the Academy, and as first classmen have precedence over all other cadets, it was “our camp.” Among the young lady visitors were many who had been to the Point for several summers. They seemed like old friends and the pleasure of meeting again was mutual. The first thing of importance for us to do was to arrange for the celebration of the Fourth of July and for a special hop that evening. We elected officers to conduct the holiday exercises and to have charge of the special hop. ”

“ The discipline is, of course, of the strictest and is rigidly enforced, but the life of the newcomer is so hedged about by orders and is so carefully guarded by those who have him in charge, that it is doubtful if a young man entering any school or college in the country would be subjected to less annoyance or embarrassment than would fall to his lot at the Military Academy.
Note 2. At present each table seats 10 cadets, and the cadets are about equally divided among the different classes. One first classman sits at the head of each table ”