The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-06-23
The West Point Military Academy.

The annuel review of the cadets at West Point,
by the Board of Examiners, commenced on the
1st inst. The life of cadet at West Point is
one of hard study, under rigid discipline, as will
be seen from the following details, given by a
correspondent of the New York Herald:
'sHe sleeps in the barracks, in a room with
one other; at five o'clock in the morning. in sum-
mer. and at half-past FIVE in winter, the reyeille
awakens him he Immediately rises dnuhlas mn
his blanket and mattress, and places them on the
head of his iron bedstead he studies until sew
en- o'clock at that hour the drum beats for
breakfast, and the cadets fall into rank and pro-
ceed to the mess-pan. Twenty minutes is the
time usually spent at breakfast. Guard-mount-
ing takes place at half-past seven, and twenty
four are placed on guard every day. At eight
o'clock the bugle sounds, AMI the recitations
commence. AT one o'clock the bugle again
sounds, the professors dismiss their respective
sections, the cadets form ranks opposite the bar
racks, and march to dinner. Between eleven
and one, part of the cadets are occupied in
riding, and others in fencing, daily.
after dinner they have until two o'clock for
recreation, and from two till four they are
ployed at recitations. At four o'clock the bugle
sounds, and they go either to battalion or light
artillery drill This exercise lasts an hour and
a half. After that they devote the time to re-
creation until parade which takes Place at sun
set. After parade thry form in rank - front of
the barracks, and the names cf the 5eAnquents
are read by an officer OF the cadets Supper
comes next, and after supper recreation until
eight o'clock, when the buge sounds the call to
quarters, and every cadet must be found in his
room within few minutes at study, and must
remain there thus employed until half past nine.
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, having his
light extipguished and must remain there until
morning. If during the night cadet is found
to be absent from his room more than thirty
inmates, and does not give satisfactory
count of himself, charges are preferred against
him, and he is court marshaled.
''The use of intoxicating drink and Of tobac-
CO is strictly repudated; are playing at chess,
wearing whiskers, and great many other things.
The punishment to which cadets are liable, are
privation of recreation, &C.. extra tours of duty,
reprimands, arrests, confinement to his room
or tent; confinement in light prison, confinement
in dark prison, dismission with the privilege of
and public dismission.
Through the months of July and August the
cadets encamped, and during the encamp
ment the instruction is exclusively mill tary-
The only furlough all owed to cadets Is two
months, when they are in the third class.
''The pay of the cadet is twenty-four dollars
per month, and his board costs him ten of this.
From the balance he is required to dress and de-
fray his other expenses, and he is prohibited
from contracting debts without permission. As
the reward for all his labor and deprivation, the
cadet acquires an excellent education--in math-
ematics better probably than he can get at any
other institution in the country. The training
here of both body and mind is very thorough and
complete"