Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-07-22
LIE al west Point.

/
The following sketch will enlghten the reassr as %
the routine of cadet life, in The United States Mitaiy
School at West Point:
He sleeps in the barracks in room with one oth
er at FIVE o'clock in the morning in summer ana q
hafpast five in the winter, the reveille awakes MN
he Immediately arises. doubles up his blankets anu
matrass and places them the head of his iron bed
stead he studies until seven o'clock at mat nour
the drum beats for breakfast and the cadets fall into
rank and proceed to the mess hall Twenty minutes
is the time usually spent at breakfast Guard mount
ing takes place half past seven, and twenty-1our
are placed on guard every day.
At eight O'Clock the buge sounds and the recatlons
commence. At o'clock the bugle again souhos'
and professors dismiss their respective sections; 'he
cadets form ranks opposite the barracks, ana narch
to dinner. Between eleven and part OF the ca
diets occupied in riding and others in fencing dali
y. After dinner they have until two o'clock Tor re-
citation, and from two till four they are employed IN
Rotations. At four O'Clock the buge sounds, and
they go either to battalion or light artillery drill
This exercise last hour and half Alter that they
devote the time to recreation until sunset Alter par
ade they form in rank in front of the barracks, and
the of the denquents are read by an officer OF
the cadets.
Supper comes next, and after supper recreation
til eight o'clock, when the bugle sounds TO call to
quarters, and every cadet must be found in his room
within few minutes at his study, and must remain
there thus employed till hafpast nine At half-past
nine the bugle again sounds this Is called tattoo ana
his bed, having his light exnguished, and must re-
main there until morning. IT, during the night ca
Diet is found absent from his room more than thirty
minutes, and does not give satisfactory account OF
himself charges are preferred against him, and ne is
court-martialed
The use of intoxicating drinks and tobacco is strict
ly repudiated so playing at chess, wearing whs-
kers, and great many other things. The PUNISH.
ments to which the cadets are liable are prvatlon OF
recreation and extra tours of duty, reprmands ar
nfnouo nj
in light prison, confinement in dark prison, dlsmIsson
with the privilege of resgning, and public dlsmlsson
| Through the months of July and August the cadets
encamped, and during the eneampment the insruc-
ton is chiefly military.
The only furlough allowed TO cadets is two months,
when they are in the third class.
| The pay of the cadets is twenty.four dollars pei
month, and board costs him ten of this. From the
balance he is required to dress and defray his other
expenses, and he is prohibited from contracting deb:s
without permission
AS reward for all his labor and deprivation, the
cadet acquires excellent education-in mathemat-
les better probably than he get at any other in.
stitut;on in the country. The training here of both
body and mind is very thorough and complete.
One of the exercises is described as follows -
That part of the cavalry exercise called running
the heads and ring, was attended by the Board OIL
Examiners and many other spectators. This exercise
takes place in large hall in the basement of the
: academic building This hall is very dark, dismal
looking place, win q row OF Columns only a lew lee
apart through the centre, extending its entire length
and is utterly unfit for the purpose for which it ii
| used.
; Twenty eight horses, properly equipped, are lee
into the hall. Lieutenant Sacket the instructor il
this department, sits end of the room, mount
ed on splendid white charger. Twenty-eight ca
diets, members of the graduating class, march in, ant
at the command of the instructor, all are instantly
mounted Posts placed along the sides the hall
and on the top of them put balls of stuffed canva
about foot in diameter, called "heads" On thu
arms of some other posts much higher, rings ar
: hung. The cadets ride around and cut in variou
ways, at these heads and rings, with their horses
full gallop The lieutenant sets the example. No
stroke of his well-amed sabre misses but 10 a
he completes the round, in consequence of the curb
chain of his bride breaking, his horse plunges for
. ward against the board fence, directly in front of tn
ladies' and down he goes, fiat upon his side, and hi
. immensely heavy rider falls with him. For an instar
there is half suppressed shrek, and the promptly
,, given order, Next" ELECTS round of applause.
, Soon afterwards another horse slipped with cad'
~ at the opposite end of the hall, and am told tn;
owing to the total unsuitableness of the hall, acc
dents of frequent occurrence But the cadets at
quilted themselves in this exercise in manner mo
c,edable themselves and their instructor. In sp
p of all the disadvantages, from the imperecons
he the hail, under which they labored, the revolution
ar and numerous feats difficult of performance, wer
al admirably done. They rode without srrups, II
of stirrups being crossed over the horses neck"
Picking Horses.