The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-28

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Military Academy at West Point.
From the Washington Union, June 24l
We have the pleasure Of laying before our readers thu
report made to the War Department by the Board Of
ysters which assembled at West Point the 7th inst
ly acceptable to the country at time when state Of
war has brought into public notice many Of the vss
OF this institution who have fought themselves into
vor and distinction. Every curious to under
stand better the character Of the academy the
susceptible OF all the branches Of the military art
which cultivated at West Point there is none more
tegent observer saw exhibited there during the late
examination and which excited his warmest admiration
LOT the promptness and precision Of their evolutions
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF yIsITERs.
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY,
West Point N Y, June 49, is47 ;
SIR The undersigned Board of Visiters invited to
attend the annual examination the cadets of the Milf
tary Academy met at this place Monday the 7th in
assigned to % Sse 70 n' Of
tion and the act OF Congress the 9Th August 1916
By this act s the duty OF the Board attend the ex
animation OF the Military Academy and to report to
the Secretary OF War for the of Congress at
the commencement Of the next succeeding session the
stration fiscal affairs and other concerns Of the nstitu
tom Avoiding therefore, any expression of opinion as
ment or continuance of the institution points upon
which there may not be entire unanimity-ths Board
specifically submitted to them by the law under which
they have been convened They have ALSO for same
lions which might other wise seem appropriate.
Ihat the Secretary of War may BIZ fully informed Of
the action Of the board they refer him the accompa
nying copy of their proceedings From this 1t will be
perceived that pains spared in their efforts to
possess themselves Of all the which could be-
obtained ut the academy IL is due to the supernten
dent ocsrs and professors say that they afforded
every facility In aid Of the Of the Board
This will appear from the accompanying series of COM
munications marked from to @, Inclusive In order
to make more minute examination into the various
subjects to which attention directed by the act of
Congress already cited it will be that appropriate
committees were appointed, whose several reports,
adopted by the Board constitute the body
report submitted 1t also proper to remark that
most OF the facts detailed upon the subjects
member of the Board; a circumstances which enabled
the members the more cordially to the general
submit under the several heads Of the discipline i'm
structon" police: administration and fiscal Affairs
together with additional general remarks.
IA pIsciPLINE
The Board have carefully examined into the manner
In which the regulations executed and discipline
large q number Of young men as are embodied here Il
necessarily difficult aud complete subordinaton net
put sns means adopted for
Academy, seem to be well devised and discreetly di
The system of discipline in force ia that established in
1882 with occasional amendments The Board is una
Bile to specify in what respects if any these regulations
be defective because long observation in the
tcal operation ofrules alone warrant Judgment
their value But experience of nearly years mus
furnished to these who charged with the
vision of the institution material for Confirming or cor
recting the details of the system and any revision be
advisable they will be able to determine I ia
derstood that such a revision is contemplated.
Much after all must depend upon the intelligence and
justice Of the officers to whom the discipline the
envy is conded These the superintendent and the
commandant of cadets and it gives US pleasure to say
that SO far as we are BILE of judging the dspo
sitions and the most intelligent attention in the dis
charge OF their respective functions may be Justly
awarded to them Il seems to be borne in mind by the
subordination and discipline imperousy
to the moral good and military improvement of the ca
diets, they are yet associates in service Discipline Is
tempered with respect the rightly Of authority
moderated by the sympathy Of class
ON INSTRUCTION
The system OF instruction pursued at the Acade
Is the result OF experience, aided by the
light Of science, and knowledge Of the wants well
of the resources Of the country.
The Board are satisfied that the character of the in
structon impaired to the cadets rghtfuly accord with
design and objects Of the Academy The professors
to have labored with ability and success and to
have infused their zeal into the breasts of their pu
pills
The examination was at times carried on by the pro
fessors or their assistants and times under the
control OF .ne Board itself In some instances the
the individual cadet who should solve it, and in some
instances question proposed to cadet was by di-
recton OF the Board, given to another fer solution
Questions also Of important practical bearing and re-
ating to subjects not recently reviewed freely pro-
posed and In most Instances readily answered In fact
every variety Of method put into operation TO test
the ndety Of inc teachers and the ability and acquire
The different branches Of knowledge to which the men
tai energy Of the cadet directed during his term at the
Military Academy may DO classed under one Of the
three following heads: st military instruction; od
mathematical and scientific instruction; 3D. moral sci
encc, literature, &c.
ls Military Instruction After a close attendance
on the examinations and witnessing the mAneuyrcs OF
the cadets in the field, as battalion of infantry o.
corps OF cavalry AZ company of light artillery xs well
In other military exercises the Board cannot refrain
from saying that the knowledge acquired by the CADETS
both theoretically and practically OF this branch of their
education, far surpassed expectation Great care an
pears to have been taken to make this part
thoroughly scientific anu in all wber. the
are poss, ssed practical skill have kent
pace with science.
There however some branches Of military soinco
the theory II which seems 10 10. both well .,un nni
well Understood ia which ,he cadet mas cw # uv an
portuptes Of acquiring practical skill The Boai NAV
cite military engineering as an instance Yet Z m.
cadet b well Instructed in the rules engineering and
have trpc regard for his profession viii after mis-
connection wtt Tue scaoemy has ceased readl, nc.
qurr the Practical application VI his -ceutiuc attain
| menis
here Is cas- in VIII ch it might b.. well Ia i,,ur
whether The meH"s for securing practical Anowi
might not he aivsntageous.y increased IN. mimi. ~,
hors at The ps sma and dos not permit the use
VI full-harnesaed battery of entire OF
cavalry This Is obviously defect. The ON, MIRO
prated as riding school s both Lconvenient and dan
gerous being OF improper shape and the area Used
for equitaton, being too much broken up bv columns
supporting the building house constructed specially
for practising the Of borsema nov
indispensable to the weleducated officer would contri
butte much to the advantage Of the cadets
= Mathematical and scientific tnstrte The ex
ANIMATION OF tue cadets was spread wide field OF
and philosophical science theoretical and
practical
There were OF course differences in tho requirements
OF the different members Of the class diner-
ence, the Board believe may be attributed ouly
dnerrnce Of native talent and to differing ap
pcation, bat To difference In early education want
OF proper preparation before entering upon the studies Of
the Academy must be felt by the cadet during his whole
course. The Board believe that due allowance should
be made in this respect in estimating the comparative
standing Of entire class well Of the individuals
Of n class.
The Of study IL quite extensive and student
attain full In the mastery of It, but by
and constant effort Such appears 10 have put
forth by the majority Of the cadets The cspabty Of
the teacher shows itself in the condition OF the less
talented rather than in the requirements the greater
intellect The latter need but little aidthc former
must be guided and encouraged and IL s In such in
stances among the cadets that the fidelity and skill of
| the academic board Is most conspicuous Whether
questioned In out of the direct range their mmed
ate studies the cadets sustained themselves with ability
Taking retrospect, then, Of their appearance In the
al dnnur snan of Iaurra