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

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E ::- 9 . 15 '5 ' w ifi' Ililt ttllslll A,.., . ' .I ' Q - A , I - W ' -' s H QW . . E 2 Z5 2:21. 77 . -1 ,- - itili'- -:I I - v. - -F ,.... HIE H: ,- ug: . . . , grl west iBnint in the Eighties By EDWARD M. LEWIS CMajor, U. S. A., Class of '86D URING the period covered by this sketch, the conditions at the Military Academy were not materially different from those during the years im- mediately following the Civil VVar. The changes that came subsequently to make the New VVest Point had not yet been entered upon. The Superintendents, the Commandants, many of the Professors and some of the Instructors had been trained at the Academy prior to the end of the Civil Wai' and had seen field service in that tremendous conflict or in service against Indians on the frontier. The course of instruction was, in the main, what it is now, though, of course, new text-books have replaced old ones, and the higher qualifications for entrance make it possible to pursue some subjects further. The entrance examinations at that time embraced only the grammar school subjects of reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, grammar, composition, geography and history of the United States. The entrance examinations of all candidates were held at West Point, early in Iune and late in August. Those who passed the August examination were admitted as conditional cadets on September first and were thereafter known as 'fSeps.', Uniforms were not provided the new cadets until nearly a month after entrance, so that most of the plebe drill was done in the clothes in which the candidates reported. The blouse had not, at that time, been added to the uniform, and the dress coat was worn to drill, recitations, in the mess hall and generally. The 'fshell jacket was a short coat buttoned down the front with flat brass buttons. It could be worn in quarters and under the overcoatg and when overcoats were worn at meal formations, its use in the mess hall was permitted! The white collar worn with both of these coats and the riding jacket was a turn down, the outer half falling outside the coat collar. Until a new model was introduced, it had, prior to being pinned on the coat, to be folded and crimped on the inside fold to make it follow the curve of the coat collar and not break in unsightly points. The dress hat was much like that worn nowg there was no campaign hat nor leggings, and the head-piece usually worn was a blue forage cap lying low on the top of the head and having a low top and a straight visor. Its ornament was an embroidered eagle with U. S. M. A. above it. For riding, a jacket very similar to the shell jacket and having two cloth tabs sewed on the back to support the saber belt, and long trousers with leather straps passing under the feet, were worn. A white, tight-fitting jacket and white helmet were worn frequently with the white 'trousers in camp before retreat. Troop parade, which oc- curred daily in camp at 8.00 A, M., was frequently in white, and the battalion usually marched to dinner in that uniform. The battalion consisted of only four companies and the camp was laid out with the company streets running East and West. The flank streets, which were shaded 96

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ff if .- '1gf?P'?f-:NTIS M. jfgai : .,: , . '.-' f-. .f fgi!,i1,:,L,ai v , ' i '--LZ V , 45: Qxl. ,1,,. . ,.:- ,. - 5 in .5 j . , H , I cv 'V ,I V, , he . sf -, ' . ' - f UDB f' ' A ' , ' ' , ii if - gf? -5 ,i L :fl 4 ,.,-gi A l . ,L ' -11.435 G ' In E 3. f. .r J. f ?5e ,V 11.1 ' if ,Q . 4. Zi:-i ,g . 'sf' tea. ,' 5 -' , Stl iii ., .Li 2353. - . 7 Emi ,. ,... fa '. I 3' vxjnv-z 1 ,- ' . F. , iii jfjj- , gg.-'rv ,su L, ,.g M- .. ,,.., ,,,, , ..,.... M - . I 1 illfl i lil .ii giil ' , l ,. Fl. . ,. - .- ? 124 .1 .,.. .,. . ...,.... ..,..,...,,X,, , BQ ,. , ..i- .,,,r:f- ,... --,e f-Q5 .L '1i - 1 I , l . nil headed by General Boulanger, then in the zenith of his career. With him was Mme. B0U1F1T1ge1' Cthe Iirstj. This lady insisted on carrying on a lively conversation in French with each cadet officer as he was introduced to the delegation, which passed along the line of oflicers held for this purpose after parade. My anxiety was intense, and was only relieved as I heard the man on my right answer Madame's saluta-tion with f'Yo no know Frenc-h pas! I knew l ' tg V I w ie, ,f H - --:'-- ' 1 that I could not do worse. 1 ,z H s .. gms. Q, . . .- X A, gi f I cannot close this sketch without re- '- J ' ' -5 I K T w, 5 -i lating a most enjoyable incident which can :' ' Sf -.. . 'Aikl,', -I - - ., V-fix occurred during my later tour of duty- as ' X an instructor. It seems that Henry Irving, , Xml ,A f ff V, - through Professor Michie, extended an in- f lf - ,, ,, V,,.2gg5g' Y ...,,,. vitation for the Corps of Cadets to attend, ., ,-V' ,'yfQp1.' ', ,555-. 13 - -'uffzjy gU-'l'f1,:,- ,jul - 1 . '-ji-N I f. as his guests, a performance at the Star ,fir .1 . ' 1 5 ,m.,.,.,,g,.,,,fgyr.wV.-,J-.,., .ag-,f...-,:Ls,, heatre in bew York, where he was play- ifffii-f 4 iii ing with Ellen Terry. Permission having I LT R been refused by the Secretar of VV I D if Qld ,ia tial 5ff ,2f1 ,i , ,Q '. Y ar, rv- n g N ing then .asked to be permitted, to play at --. ?fj:jg,55f,1pirjg5 , Z iff gf wifi- ,g'gq,,ig West Point. This being granted, a stage fi 1 '7.TTfg.i was erected at the South end of the Mess 1, 'f Qjig5QlfQgQ,,i l-lall, and the Ofhcers' Club made over into - L AA 7,,5,,.n,l. ,,1 .a .. ..,s..x:U-f..E:aS:.e,,:Q,n.Q,'I-,EE . . - a , pukp ,k1.,,,3gx,g.,, dressing roomsg the stage hung with drap- OLD ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND 1,iBRARY Cries for wings and drop curtain, and the .IN THE SEVENTIES most wonderful 'presentation of the Merchant of Venice produced among these surroundings to a delighted audience of cadets, soldiers and officers. Called upon for a speech at the close of the performance Irving concluded, I know that the joy bells are ringing in Old England to-night, for this is the hrst time that the Britisher ever captured Wfest Pointf' To the old graduate the changes that have been made in the physical aspect of VVest Point by its reconstruction are at iirst view disappointing. The long perspective to the hill sides across the I-Iudson has been cut off by the buildings on the East side of the Plain, and the Plain looks' diminutive. The North Barracks obtrudes itself upon the Plain, while the modest quarters it displaced seemed part of the foothill. The elevation of Fort Putnam is blotted out by the lowering height of the new chapel. The distances to the South drill grounds seem too greatg and ofhcersl and company quarters at the North and South ends of the post too difficult of access. ' In the Tactical Department, however, many improvements have been made since our day, along with such advances as have been made in the Army. Our rifle practice work consisted of one turn each with about ten rounds of ammunition fired at a distance of one hundred yards along the VVest Shore dump, which was then being pushed across Wasliington Valley along the present line of track .leading from the North end of the tunnel. The present rifle range then became an enclosed salt marsh and lake, open to the tidal effect in the river. VVe had no practice marches, nor tactical problems, except as worked out in skirmish drill on the plaing and an annual attack on Ft. Putnam. Such a thing as a pack mule did not exist on' the post. In fact most of our practical instruction was left to be acquired by experience in the service. Q5

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