United States Military Academy West Point - Howitzer Yearbook (West Point, NY)

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f I ' THE- 1000-HOWITZER I IK first classman enters this department with a superficial knowledge of the mighty engines of war and a general hazy idea that the principal process in their manufacture consists in boring a hole through a block of steel or putting the steel about the bole. He emerges (supposedly) with the ability to construct everything from a squirt-gun to a Columbiad. Perhaps the average knowledge might not bear the test of exhaustive investigation but, cheer up a knowledge of the basic equations of gun construction will not find extensive application in drilling a detachment of the Nth foot and, besides, the few who eventually land in the Ordnance Department will probably have to begin at the bottom and learn it all over again after the approved method adopted by the twentieth century hero. In the text books of the Department (prepared especially for the use of cadets) one encounters again that ancient and honorable grind the sole gleam of humor which illuminates the dreamy tomes through which the cadet, wearily plods bis way. For it is solemnly set forth in the preface that, the principles elucidated in this little volume arc elementary in the extreme. That comforting assurance forms a prominent part of the apology for its existence that is prefixed to every assortment of knowledge prepared for the tender mind in text book form. One comes to expect that word of encouragement and would look upon its omission as marking the passing of the time-honored institution. Often as lie may be disillusioned, be will always believe once more. However, if the principles embodied in those yard-long equations be so markedly elementary, gratitude is due the kind Providence that spares the long-suffering cadet a complete discussion of the subject. But time brings many, many things to pass. It is even conceivable that we may, in the course of time, cease to regard with suspicion the results of our computations on the slide rule and accept the testimony of that oracle to the effect that ii x 4 without satisfying ourselves in the old-fashioned way. And if such a contingency can be regarded as within the range of possibility we may, with reasonable security, cherish a hope of eventually reaching the end of that big red book. Graduation leave will probably eradicate, in toto, the results of the course from our respective systems and we will proceed to our allotted stations with no more than an occasional fleeting recollection of our frantic struggles with symbols of tbe craft. 23 —

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J N ON TO KlGhT or tmeax, c NOM TO LfcFT or T 1£A Department of Ordnance and Science of Gunnery PROFKSSOR I.ikiti:xant-0)I.on»:i. Colons L. 11. Kl'flOIJt8. Ordnance Department; Cndet I’.S. M.A., 1886-1800; appointed from New York; graduated Addi-tional Second Lieutenant, I.si Field Artillery, 1890; Second Lieutenant, 3d Field Artillery, isoi; First Lieutenant, Ordnance Department, 1893; Captain of Ordnance, 1899; Major of Ordnance, 1900; Professor of Ordnance and the Science of Gunnery, 1908. SKNIOK SSISTANT INSTRUCTOR Captain- Kiiwaiii I . O'Hkkx, Ordnance Department; class 91; graduated 7. INSTRl’CTORS Fikst Likitknant Xeo n. Rkiikoit, 2d Field Artillery; class 02; graduated 26. Fikst Likitexant Gk.orof. R. An in. 6th Field Artillery; class 04; graduated 17. 22

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Department of Natural and Experimental Philosophy PROFESSOR Likctkxaxt-Colonki. Wiumm It. Gordon, Cadet I'.S. M. A.. 1873-1877; appointed from Pennsyl-viiiiin; graduated 6; Second Lieutenant, tth Artillery, 1877; First Lieutenant, Ordnance Department, 1881; Captain, 1891; Inventor of L S. 12-ineh .Mortar Carriage, Model 1890; Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy, L S. M. A., 1901. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Captain John B. Christian, 9th Cavalry; elass ’96; graduated 13. INSTRUCTORS First Lieitrxant Wii.i.iam F. Morrison. 2d Field Artillery; class ’02; graduated 24. First Likitkxant Qcinx Gray, Coast Artillery Corps; class ’03; graduated 39. Second Likctknant Frederick E. Shnyder. 2d Cavalry; class ’0 3; graduated 20. Second Likctknant Jay I.. Benedict, 14th Infantry; class 04; graduated 26. trrrrrr — 24 —