In 1802, only two years before Napoleon became Emperor of France, Congress established the United States Military Academy at West Point. I stared at The Plain as I continued my solitary walk. On this very parade ground Baron Von Steuben had drilled American Forces in preparation for the Seizure of Stony Point. Just hours ago, I had marched in a parade on the same field. Marching is a big part of West Point's public persona, but academics are the top priority.
West Point is the nation's first engineering school.
It was the only engineering school in the United States for nearly 20 years. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was not founded until 1824 and graduated its first class of civil engineers, four men, in 1835. I glanced back at Doubleday Field, named after the West Pointer sometimes credited with inventing the sport of baseball. He also had fired the first return shot from Fort Sumter in 1861 and fought at Gettysburg. Just one more of so many graduates serving as role models for those of us in newly issued gray.