1831.]

WINFIELD SCOTT ON WEST POINT.

83

Two buildings of Revolutionary origin were yet standing when Grant became a cadet. The earliest students were quartered in the old log barracks of the Revolution, boarded promiscuously in the neighborhood, and were instructed in a two-story wooden building. With the passing years various laws were enacted, modifying the government and character of the Academy. Until 1818 it was conducted with little system or regularity, but after that time it greatly improved. The prejudice against it has always been strong throughout the country. Once a bill was introduced in Congress to abolish it altogether, and Representative Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, supported it in a strong speech; but during the Mexican war he became convinced of the utility and necessity of the institution. Subsequent experience has fully confirmed this. Not only have its graduates performed our most important engineering works on railways and the like, in civil life, but in every war their value to the country has been inestimable. Thus far with us wars have occurred about once in a generation. In the Revolution, there were but few men who had served in the French and Indian war; in the war of 1812, few who had served in the Revolution; and in the Mexican war, few who had served in the war of 1812. In fighting the Rebellion, there were more who had been in the Mexican war, but none who had acquired much prominence there. General Scott testified :

"But for our graduated cadets, the war with Mexico might, and probably would, have lasted some four or five years, with more defeats than victories falling to our share, whereas in less than two campaigns we conquered a great country and a peace, without the loss of a single battle or skirmish."

John C. Calhoun, while Secretary of War, desired to establish another military institution in the Southern States, but, not succeeding in this, worked zealously to add to the efficiency of the West Point Academy. In one of his official reports, he urged upon Congress :

"It ought never to be forgotten that the military science in the present condition of the world can not be neglected with impunity. It has become so complicated and extensive as to require for its acquisition extensive means

84

WEST POINT SAVES THE COUNTRY.

[1861.

and much time to be exclusively devoted to it. It can only flourish under the patronage of the Government, and without such patronage it must be almost wholly neglected. A comparatively small sum expended in time of peace to foster and extend the knowledge of military science, will, in the event of war, be highly beneficial to the country, and may be the means of its safety."

It was ultimately our "means of safety" when the civil war blazed, which Calhoun's own teachings had done so much to kindle. And though at different times the Academy had been under the general supervision of Jefferson Davis and John B. Floyd, Secretaries of War, and under the immediate charge of Robert E. Lee and P. G. T. Beauregard, superintendents, and though its tone, like that of the army, was strongly Southern, it proved of the greatest service to the Union cause. No single officer attained much eminence who was not a graduate.

At the outset of the Rebellion there were eighty-six cadets at West Point from the Southern States. Of these, sixty-five were discharged, dismissed, or resigned from causes connected with the civil war, while twenty-one remained to prosecute their studies. At the same time our army had one thousand and seventy-four officers, including two hundred and seventy of Southern birth. Two hundred and two of these went with the Rebels, accompanied by fifty others from the Northern or Border States, most of whom had married Southern wives or acquired Southern property.*

* Boynton's "West Point," and Badeau's "Military History of Grant."

1841.]

How CADETS ARE TREATED.

85

CHAPTER VI.

GRADUATES.

EACH Congressional district in the United States has a cadet at the Military Academy, and whenever he graduates, or is dismissed, the representative names another. The President also can appoint ten each year, and is unrestricted as to locality.

The whole number of cadets is limited by law to two hundred and fifty, but General Grant, while Secretary of War, recommended its increase to four hundred. Cadet rank is a regular one in our army, between sergeant and second lieutenant. On first admission, the cadet is sworn into the service of the United States, in which he is to continue eight years unless previously discharged. Most do serve from ten to thirteen years, including their four years at the Academy.

The average age of admission is eighteen, and the maximum twenty-one. A large majority of the appointees have always been children of poor parents. This is ascertained by marching the cadets on a given day to the adjutant's office to record the occupations and pecuniary circumstances of their fathers. The latter they give by responding "indigent," "moderate," or "affluent," as the case may be. Each answer is recorded, but not made known to the other students, lest thoughtless boys should ridicule comrades for poverty. Not only does the poor orphan receive the same consideration and facilities for graduating with distinction as the son of the most wealthy and distinguished citizen, but of cadets dropped out or expelled before graduating, far the larger number, proportionately, are sons of rich men, who, accustomed to luxury, find a soldier's discipline and fare unattractive.

86

ONLY AN INCH TO SPARE.

[1841.

At the outset every cadet is rigidly examined both by a medical board and by the professors, and rejected if he has any serious physical or mental disqualification. This preliminary examination is purposely severe, to keep out unfit applicants and see that only the best and most promising boys are trained for future officers of our army. Many are rejected at the start, and less than half of those who gain admission ever graduate.

The military art, regarding man as a machine, must have standards of height for its academies and armies. That of the British Life Guards is six feet; that of our army, five feet five inches just now, but it is made higher when recruits are plentiful and lower when they are rare. The standard at West Point is five feet. Cadet Grant, on admission, had barely one inch to spare. Had he been but an inch and a quarter shorter, the doors would have been closed against him. Who then would have captured Donelson—and opened the Mississippi-and whipped Lee-and moved upon the enemy's works generally, "smashing things" as he went? During his stay at the Academy, Grant added two or three inches to his stature. He is now five feet eight inches high, and his average weight is one hundred and sixty pounds.

The preliminary mental examination of the young cadet is simple-too simple to warrant one barely able to pass it in expecting to graduate. He is only required to be familiar with the elementary rules of arithmetic, and tolerably proficient in reading, writing, and spelling.

From the first of July the accepted cadet ranks as a member of the lowest class, and from that time until graduating receives the pay of a non-commissioned officer in our army. It is now thirty dollars per month; in Grant's time it was less. From this, clothing, mess bills, and other expenses are deducted. The design is simply to support the cadet. Possibly, if he is very frugal, he may come out at the end of four years with a little surplus to pay his expenses home. Ingalls graduated with Uncle Samuel his debtor one hundred and fifty dollars; but Grant's accounts were just square with our indulgent relative.

1841.]

ROUTINE OF STUDY AND DRILL.

87

For six months after admission the cadet is on probation; then, in January, if he passes his second examination, he is regularly sworn into the service of the United States. The entire corps of cadets is organized into four companies, each commanded by some commissioned officer of our army, and each composed of members taken indiscriminately from the four classes. The captain of a company has three cadet lieutenants, four sergeants, and four corporals, under him, selected by the commandant for unusual merit, and according to the rank of their classes. The first-year cadets are privates; the second and third, competent to act as corporals and sergeants, and during the fourth as captains and lieutenants. The one deemed the best soldier is selected as adjutant, for his duties are difficult. Next in importance comes the quartermaster, then the company captains and lieutenants. The cadets treat their comrades acting as officers with strict military decorum when they are on duty, but officers do not act as spies on their fellow-students. Grant, quiet and unambitious, was never made lieutenant or captain; but he was appointed cadet-sergeant, and filled the position satisfactorily. That can only be done by a prompt, attentive, and efficient student. His taste did not crave, nor his qualities seem to warrant, any higher rank.

Cadet privates perform in rotation the duties of sentinels and guards night and day during July and August, when they are encamped in tents upon the plain, under all the regulations, discipline, and by-laws of an army in the field. They are drilled five days in the week from March to November, and several times daily during the summer encampment. They are awakened by the drum at five o'clock in the morning, drummed to their meals, drummed to study and military duty, and drummed to sleep at night. Among other accomplishments they are taught dancing. In the morning they study five hours; then dinner and roll-call at one, P. M.; then a drill from two until four; then freedom, with the exception of dress parade at sundown, until ten at night, when lights must be extinguished.

The cadet is allowed to bring from home sheets, pillow