The native American., 1840-09-19

W. can by no means believe than an officer who re
ceives regular military education, thereby forfeit
The confidence sympathes OF his feow-citiZens o
the militia As 10 the privileges which the graduate
accused of possessing, we know OF none but tina
OF serving Their country IN The army and receiving
superior education 10 I'll them for this service.
The last objection which We have been enabled I,
discover and the one which remains 10 be noticed is
that the academy has failed 10 accomplish the objec
for which was established and therefore should b.
abolished An attempt is made 10 prove this by re
ference 10 General Bernard and Colonel McReei
statement, in 1919, that the "school OF West Poin
has hitherto been very inferior as such, and altogether
inadequate to the objects FOR which it was establish
ed.' But their further statement, that I" projec
has been presented to place this school upon the foot
ing Of the most perfect OF the kind that exists, the
obiector has not seen tit 10 notice Their object was
10 recommend the establishment OF School of Prac-
tce, not as substitute for the academy, but as sup
plement to it; to perfect the knowledge therein ac-
auired. In time of peace, when the young officers
would otherwise be scattered at the remote posts, and
the troops be dispersed by companies, school OF
pracce is doubtless highly desirable, and even neces-
sary; but in time of war, when armies are wanted in
the field fcy are the only school Of practice then
needed If such school be an elementary one, it is
only military academy under another name; but
this was not the idea Of General Bernard and Colonel
McRce who intended that 1t should bear the same
relation to the West Point Academy, that the French
School OF Practice al Metz bears to the Polytechnic
School.
Turning from authorities on this point, we appeal
to facts in proof of the efficiency ana utility Of the
Military Academy The whole number Of graduates
prior to the year 1913, was only S. and OF this num-
beF no fewer than eleven were brepcted, during the
war Of 1872 for distinguished services five OF whom
are at present colonies or observation-disclosures in the
army OF the corps of engineers during that war, all
those commissioned prior 10 1872 including all the
higher officers were graduates Of the Academy.
Not to speak Of Others, i was McRee, who on the
field Of Brdgcwater suggested the expedency of THAI
perilous but weI!-timed order whose successful exc
cution" [by the gallant Miller turned the tide OF
battle and to him and TO Wood who fell at the head
Of his column in the sortie from Fort Eie-uay just
" be ascribed much of the glory Of that memorable
campaign"* We believe that the first successful
sortie Of an American garrison against besiegns
army, was that of Fort Erie and that this was first
suggested and planned by Colonel Wood, who fell so
brayely duriag its successful execution Captain
Ketchum, who captured the British General Ryal, at
the battle of Brdgewater, was also graduate OF the
Military Academy. We may also add, that the sllc-
cess OF the battle Of Plattsburg was due, in no small
degree to the skiIlul and energetic efforts of Colonel
Totem in certifying the banks of the Saranac, while
awaiting the enemy; General Macomb, the com
mander-n chief having also been of the first stu
dents Of the Academy. Colonel Thayer's successful
arrangements for the defence OF Norfolk, have already
been referred to- but should here be recalled to mind
Of the first eighty eight graduates, nine fell in battle
during the war Of 1912; eight Of whom are not in
clu.ad among the brevets already mentioned Brevet
Lieutenant Colonel Eleazer D. Wood, Of the eng
neers Colonel James Gibson, Of the rifle regiment,
and CAPTAIN Alexander j. Williams, OF the artillery
fell at Fort Erie in lsl4; the latter we believe at the
assault BY which it was taken from the British, and
the two former at the sortie by which it was after
wards successfully defended. Lieutenant Samuel B.
Rathbone fell at Qneerston Heights, III 1872 Lieu
tenant Henry A. Hobart at Fort George, in 1918 ;
Lieutenant George Roman at Chicago, in 1912; Lieu
tenants Henry Burchstead and Joseph N. Wilcox. at
Fort Mmms, in 1912; and Lieutenant William W.
Smith, at Christers Farm, in 1913
The whole number OF graduates OF the Military
Academy from its first establishment to lS40 inclu.
siye is loss; of whom according TO the last official
register 396 remain in the military service, besides
the graduating class ofIStD If TO these be added the
graduates now in the civil service Of the United
States as engineers or assistants on the Notifications
coast survey and Improvement of rivers and harbors
it will be found that there still remains in the public
service nearly one half Of all the graduates Of the Mi
htary Academy at the end OF forty years from its first
establishment while no fewer than one hundred and
seventy four of the remainder have died in service
been Killed in battle. When it is added that the APP
pointments in the two regiments of dragons were
mostly conferred on citizens, thereby disappointing
reasonable hopes of promotion, and introducing many
citizens into the service, the fact that about two
thirds Of all the officers now in the army the whole
number OF which, exclusive Of the medical pay, and
purchasing departments is six hundred and thirty,
graduates Of the Military Academy, is alone proof,
we think that this institution has not failed Of its OBJ
iect. Our whole army" says Colonel johnson, in
his report possesses now far more Of the public re-
spect and confidence than it did not many years since
1t is the great distinction of the Academy at West
Point that it has contributed largely and etfectualy to
this elevation of the character Of the military esab
lshmcnt." More might be quoted, and from various
sources in praise Of this institution but we forbear.
In the Florida war, out of fifteen officers killed in
battle, ten graduates Of the Military Academy.
CAPTAIN George w. Gardiner and Lieutenants VIII
liam E. Basinscr, Robert R. Nudge, Richard Hander-
son. and John l.. Keats all of the artillery, fell to-
gether at the bravcly fought, but unfortunate battle in
which Major Dade's command was slain, December
2sth, 1885. Lieutenant James f. lard, OF the dra-
goons, was inortatly wounded when in command Of
the advanced guard Of General Ganess army, near the
Withlacoochee river, February Goth, 1886. Leuten-
ant Colonel Alexander Il. Thompson Captain Joseph
Van Swearingen, and Licuenans Francis J. Brooke
and John p Center, all Of the infantry fell at the VIC
torious battle Of Okccchobee, December 25h. 1897
Captain Samuel l.. Russell, and Lieutenant w. HUI
bert both OF The infantry were killed by the Indians
in 1888; the former near Fort Dallas on the 2Sth of
February and the latter at Mile Creek on the I'd of
MAY. BIT the officers killed in battle are only
small portion Of those who have been sacrificed,
through sickness from exposure, fatigue, or priva-
ton during this unfortunate war. In the words of
distinguished senator on the floor OF Congress, :. Off
2ers and men have fought il out where they told
to fight they have been killed in the tracks where
they were told to stand. In no one Of our Indian
wars have our troops so stood together and conquered
together and died ogetrr as they have done in this
one and this standing together is the test Of the sol
ders character Witness the dying words Of Bas-
niger Tam The last oDicer lt1aea sre ty,H do the
best ,cc Gun ;--and OF the gallant Thompson, "Keep
sfeady, men Charge Me hammock! Remember the re-
gaeaf 10 ,otich you bcoag!'t II these indications
Of inefciency in the graduates Of the Military AGA
DENY, have nothing more to offer in their behalf.
~,Mr Smiths Report, p 30
fMr Smiths Report, p. %. ... >,
Hon. Mr.. Buffers Address, p. 81.
See Lieut. Alvord's address, p, 49, SO.
MEMORIAL OF HEZEKIAH L. THISTLE,
Prcying appropriation tor the construction Of a