Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-12

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF yIsITERs TO THE
~ t'''E7I MILITARY ACADEMY.

. 4 X
To the Hon. srcRxrA1r or Wan, Washington.
The undersigned, composing the Board OF Vi
siers of the Military Academy OF the United States
for the wear 1851, have the honor respectfully to
report to your Department:
That in obedience to the invitations contained in the let
tiers Of appointment from the War Department addressed to
i several members the Board Of Vers convened West
Point on Monday the I'd Of June Instant nearly oil its MEM
bers being in attendance and entered upon the inn
portant duties confded to its care.
The first day was, in compliance with long established
devoted the business Of forming acquaintance
with the officers Of the institution, composing the academic
staff the assistant professors and all other officers and teach
ers engaged in various duties the Academy in making
cursory inspection of the whole establishment and in wit
messing review of the battalion Of cadets in military array
This necessary preliminary being gone through ON that day
on the day the serious duty Of attending the examina-
tons Of the classes at the Library Hall was begun at A. M
continued until P. M and, after recess Of two hours for
dinner recommended and prosecuted until o'clock r. M;
after which hour the board adjourned from the Academic
Hall to visit and inspect drill Of the corps of cadets in some
martial exercise.
Such was the daily routine of its duties from that day to
the one on which it closed s abors during period in which
all the classes were successfully examined in the presence Of
the board on all the branches taught the institution the
martial exercises at the close Of each day being diversified
as to embrace in succession the drill Of each of the ser
vice-nfant,y cavalry, artillery (both Of the field and Of the
siege batteries with target practice and the drill Of the COM
pany Of sappe and miners in ponton practice and the eI
ercise Of fencing by cadets
To facilitate and give greater accuracy their examina
tons bcommees corresponding with the subjects OF in
aury submitted to the board aised and charged with
the duty Of more minute investigations than the board could
prosecute in one body Aided by the reports Of these
itees and by its observations, the Board Of Visiters
will now proceed to state the final result Of its examination
and for greater precson will arrange the subjects Of its
ports under the heads Of inquiry and in the order suggested
in your letter Of appointment
DISCIPLINE.
This subject, constituting the fundamental and essential
principle Of every institution Of instruction, whether civil
military received from the board an attention commensurate
with its Importance; and in military institution like this
the board satisfied that upon the due enforcement of
guar and stringent system of discipline upon the cadet depends
his future character a man and soldier.
The board finds that there s established at the Academy
under the authority of the President of the United States
set of rules for the government Of the Academy in all its
branches These together with the Rules and Articles Of
War; which the cadets generally part of the
army, to your board provided they invariably
forced all that required for the formation of the character
of the prudent careful, and exemplary soldier.
That they enorcedas far possible your board is fully
in duty in the officers to whom committed the Of this
interesting institution III
The board has great satisfaction in stating that of the
offences committed by the cadets and which make up the
of demer the conduct ROLL the conse-
quence of the houghessness of youth than Of depravy
That irregularities should never be entirely corrected among
youths is by to be deemed wonderfully but the
history Of the Academy shows that under the system
here in operation formed of the highest usefulness to
the State, both as citizens and soldiers.
Upon system operating SO successfully, and where no
change suggested but little need be said and board
passes from this subject with the expression Of opinion that
the rules and regulations for the of the Academy
founded in wisdom and executed with fidelity and success
POLICE.
The subjects coming under this head of inquiry are the
Barracks the Hospital and the Mess Hall Commons
each Of which the board gave careful examination.
ls The Ne,o Barracks. imposing and substantial
sdce which reflects credit the Government for the proper
and liberal appropriations for its construction and its
compshed architect, also the superintendent Of the
public buildings who now engaged in lis completion,
to your board admirably adapted all the purposes for
which is intended Its commanding location, the size and
convenience of the and sleeping apartments the
taon, the bathing department, furnaces, and other
sary convenences udcous and well and properly aang
ed portion Of this building completed has for
time past been occupied; the other portion will be
pleed and ready for occupancy by the last Of August the
period when the cadets go into quarters after the encamp
ment, which commences in few days. One important sub
iect in relation to the the New Barracks requires
quantity Of pipes plentiful supply Of water for bathing pur
poses cannot be obtained recommended therefore, that
additional pipes be laid to collect the from other oun-
ains in the vicinity, to constant and full sup
ply at all seasons
I'd. The HosptaL-The board report favoraby
of the fine order and of condition in which they
found this department Every facility for becoming acquant
ed with the details of this establishment furnished by the
accomplished and competent physician and surgeon who has
charge The board pleased to observe that the
endaions Of the last board relative to the removal Of the
public road passing close by the hospital have been attended
to. The road 10 n Of construction, and will
be completed thereby relieving the inmates of the hos
pta from the many annoyances to which they subject
ed The board take pleasure in stating that the day of
its visit there single Of sickness in the esab
lshment s
Sd. Mess HaH-The new hall now in Of erec-
ton for the accommodation Of the cadets gives evidence Of
proper beraiy to the institution by the construction Of
suitable and convenient building, combining all that may be
necessary for the wants and comforts of this department This
hail. s estimated by the superintendent Of public buildings
will be ready for occupancy by the last Of autumn early
part Of the coming winter The present hall, your
board through committee caused be visited and inspect
the food good and abundant and the cooking plain
and good
In conclusion, the board expresses its approval the sys
tenn Of police which under its observation.
INSTRUCTION.
With all the favorable impressions with which, from the
high character of the Academy this board entered upon this
branch Of inquiry, and which nothing but high order Of
ceence could satisfy, close examination into the actual
condition of the school Of instruction has impressed the board
with the conviction that in the SCIENCE intelligence, and skill