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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a gglxlll' Li ' P . . E? gi ., llillti sgggllilll , Wt.. , , .... , W' . ku -,-',,-: ,.,r'.'.:..,.-:f-- ,,,,., ,,,. - E D .-,-, -- 1--'f:j1. --.,- ,A.. -.. ..,A ll ..-- - -l '--- -'------ - f ' K ' :Elf .. I- ' at the other. Those not taking part in the German danced in Schofield Hall, where a second orchestra provided music. Usually a printed sheet containing a diagram showing the seating arrangement, the names of dancers and a description of the figures was distributed before the German. The Mess Hall was also used for all large gatherings of cadets. There, occa- sional lectures were given. During one that is remembered, the lecturer-exhibited a phonograph-then a novelty-the vibrating pin making its record on sheets of tin foil wound around a cylinder. The late Samuel L. Clemens CMark Twainj lectured there almost annually, and on the Sunday afternoon following was sure to be smuggled into one of the tower rooms in barracks, where he seemed to enjoy giving further entertainment to a select party of First Class rnen. There also was held the Hun- dredth Night Entertainment, usually preceded by a German in the afternoon. Com- pared with the extravaganza at present presented on such occasions, the program seems very simple, and yet it was generally received with the greatest apparent appreciation. The Howitzer was read, and its local grinds and references seemed to be gems of wit and humor. lt was generally given later publication in pamphlet form and disposed of by subscription. The Mess Hall was annually the scene of another incident that has now dropped into desuetude. On Commencement Day, the graduates, after the close of -the exer- cises held under the oaks in front of the Library, hastily completed their packing. donned their cits and joined the battalion at dinner for their hnal meal. VVhen, as they finished, they departed singly or in groups of two or three, they paused at the door, -called out Battalion ATTENTION-Good-bye, Boys! and then vanished. More thanione voice broke in the effort, and the response of hand clapping, by its quality, measured the popularity of the departing graduate. At hrst, the cadets were seated at long tables, seating twenty cadets, with a carver at each end. Later, among the many improvements introduced by General'l Spurgin, was the change to smaller tables. Before his incumbency, on two days in each week there was no butter served, and the quantity and quality of the food left much to be desired. Cadet Limits were much more contracted than at present, as the reservation has been enlarged by the inclusion of land that then was owned privately. The old South Gate marking the southern limit was situated about where the pathway from the road to Highland Falls begins to climb the hill to give access to the Officers, Quarters located there. The occasions when the Corps or its mem- bers were allowed to leave the post were very few. Furloughs and short Christmas leaves, taken at the holiday season or deferred until the following summer, were the only indulgences to individuals: and during the years covered by this article, the Corps left the post only once, and then was taken across the river to Garrison, and lined up along the railroad track to present arms as the train bearing the body of General Grant was whirled by. ' . There were no inter-collegiate athletics of any kind. On Memorial Day-a half- holiday-there was usually held a baseball game between two of the classes, football, basketball and field days were unknown and the only fencing contests were between memlbers of the Fourth Class in the annual exhibition of gymnastics before the Board of Visitors. The examinations were generally oral and held before the Academic Board, di- vided into two sections, one sitting in the Library and one in Number Gne Academic Building. They commenced on january second and June hrst, and no cadet was excused from them on account of excellent term work. The only days, except when examina- tions were in progress, when recitations were not held, were Thanksgiving Day, Christ- Q8