Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-07-28
f.r. a, West Psfus.

Inc f0ll0Wing sASsCn WIN
the reader, of the routine of cadet life
in the U. S. Military School at Wes'
Point:
"He sleeps in the barracks in room
with one other; at five O'Clock in the
morning, in summer, and half past five
In winter, the reveille awakens him; hi
Immediately rises, doubles up hi
blankets and matrass and places then
On the head of his iron bedstead; hs
studies until seven O'Clock; at tha
hour the drum beats for breakfast
Guard mounting takes place at hal
past seven, and twenty-four are placed
on guard every day. At eight O'Clock
the bugle sounds and the recitatlons
commence. At one O'Clock the bugie
again sounds, and the professors dismiss
their respective sections, the cadets iorm
ranks opposite the barracks and march
to dinner. Between eleven and one the
cadets are employed some in riding and
other in fencing, daily. After dinner
thew have until two o'clock for recita-
ton. and from two till four they are en-
Moved in recitations. At four the bugle
s sounds and they go either to battalion
or light artillery drill. This exercise
lasts an hour and half. After that
they devote the time to recitation until
sunset. After parade, they form in
ranks in front of the barracks, and the
names of the delnquents are read by
an officer of the cadets. Supper comes
next, and after supper recitation until
eight O'Clock, when the bugle sounds
the call to quarters, and every cadet
must be found in his room in a few
minutes, at study, and must remain
thus employed until half past nine.N AT
half past nine the bugle again sounds;
this is called tattoo; and at ten the
drum taps; and every cadet must then
be in bed. If during the night cadet
is found absent from his room more
than thirty minutes, and does not give
a satisfactory account of himself,
charges are preferred against him and
he is court-martialed.
The use of intoxicating drink and
tobacco are strictly repudiated; so is
playing chess, and great many other
things. The punishments to which
cadets are liable are, privatiOn of re-
creation, &C., extra tours Of duty, repri-
mands, arrests, dismissal with the privi-
lege of resigning, and public dismis
sion.
Through the months of July and Au-
gust the cadets are encamped, and
during the encampment the instruction
is chiefly military.
The furlough allowned to cadets is
two months when they are in the third
class.
The pay of cadets is twenty-four dol
lars per month, and his board costs him
ten of this. From the balance he is re-
quired to dress and defray his other ex-
penses, and he is prohibited from con-
tracing debts without permission.
One of the exercises is described as
follows:
"That part of the cavalry exercise
called running at the heads and rings,
was attended by the Board of Examiners
and many other spectators. The exer-
else takes place in a large hall in the
basement of the academic building
This hall is very dark, dismal looking
place, with a row of columns only few
feet apart in the centre, extending its
whole length, and utterly unfit for the
purpose for which it is used.
Twenty-eight horses, properly equip
ped, are led into the hall. Lieutenant
Sacket, the instructor in this depart
ment, sits near one side of the room,
mounted on splendid white charger
Twenty-eight cadets, members of the
graduating class, march in, and at the
command of the instructor, all are in
stantly mounted. Posts are placed along
near the sides of the hall, and on the top
of them balls of stuffed canvass, about
foot in diameter, called "heads," are
placed. On the arms of some other
posts, much higher, rings are hung
The cadets ride round and cut in vari-
Gus ways, at these heads and rings, with
their horses on a full gallop. The Lieu
tenant sets the example. Not a stroke
of his well aimed sabre misses; but 10!
as he completes the round, in conse-
quenee of the curb chain of his bride
breaking, his horse plunges forward
against the board fence, directly in front
of the ladies, and down he goes, fiat up
on his side, and his immensely heavy
rider falls with him. For an instant
there is half suppressed shrek, when
the rider and horse are both seen to have
arisen, and the promptly given order,
Next, elicits round of applause.
Soon afterwards horse slipped with
a cadet at the opposite end Of the hall,
and | am told that owing to the utter
unsuitableness of the hall, accidents are
of frequent occurrence. But the cadets
acquitted themselves and instructor
In spite of all these disadvantages, from
the imperfections of the hall, under
which they 1abored, all the evolutions
and the numerous feats, difficult of per-
formance, were admirably done. They
rode without stirrups, the stirrups being
crossed over the horses neck"
WILLIAM MEDILL.-This gentleman
is OF the number of those who look
upon politics as a trade His whole