The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-07-23
Life at West Point.

He IOloWlng sketch VIII enIignten the
reader as to the routine of cadet life, in the U.
>. Military School at West Point:
"He sleeps in the barracks in room with
one other; at five o'clock in the morning in
summer, and at half-past FIVE in winter, the
reveilie awakes him; he Immediately arises,
douoies up his blankets an dmattress, and pla-
ces them on the head of his iron bedstead; he
studies until seven O'Clock; at that hour thel
drum beats for breakfast and the cadets fal
into rank and proceed to the mess hall. Tween.
ty minutes is the time usually spent at break
fast. Guard mounting takes place at half
past seven, and twenty-four are placed on
guard every day.
recitations commence. At one o'clock the
bugle again sounds and professors dismiss
their respective sections, the cadets form
ranks opposite the barracks and march to din
ner. 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 employed in Rotations. At
four o'clock the bugle 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 recreation until sun
set. After parade, they form i'm rank in front
Of the barracks, and the names of the .delin.
quents are read by an officer of the cadets.
Supper comes next, and alter supper recrea-
ton until eight CLOCK, when the bugle sounds
to call to quarters, and every cadet must be
f und in his room within few minutes, at
study, and must remain their thus employed
till half.past nine. At half-past nine the
bugle again sounds; this is called tottoo; and
TOR slruu Fan nd Ssoito
then be in his bed, having his light extin-
guished, and must remain there until morning.
Ii during the nightd cadet is found absent from
his room more than thirty minutes, and does
not give satisfactory account of himself
charges are preferred against him and he is
court martaled.
The use of intoxicating drinks and tobac.
CO is strictly repudiated; 50 are play ng u,
! chess, wearing whiskers and great many
other things. The punishment to which the
cadets are liable are privation of recreation.
and extra hours of duty, reprimands, arrests OF
confnements in this room or tent, cOnfine-
ment in light prison, confinement in dark pris-
on, dismission with the privilege Of resigning,
and public dismission.
Through the months of July and August
the cadets are encamped, and during the en-
campment the instruction ischiefy 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
per month, and boatd costs him ten Ofthis.-
From the balance he is required to dress and
defray his other expenses, and he is prohibited
from contracting debts without permission.
AS a reward for all his labor and prohibition
the cadets acquires an excellent education-in
mathematics, 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.
|. One of the exercises is described as follows:
That part of the cavalry exercise called run
ming at the heads and ring, was attended by
the Board Of Examiners and many other spec
nun '- suevdsrtncur,urrne dcauanc oui7ulnysses
ms ,hail is very dark, dismai looking place,
with row of columns only few feet apart
through the centre, extending its entire length
and is utterly unfit for the purpose for which
Twenty:eight horses. properly equipped, are
led into the hall. Lieut.. Sackett, the instruc-
tor In this department., sits near one end of the
room, mounted on splendid white charger.
cadets, members of the grad
uating class marched in, and at the command
OF The instructor, all are instantly mounted.
Fosts are placed along the sides of the hall,
ana on the top OF them are put balls of stuffed
canvass about foot in diameter, cal ed
heads." On the arms of some other posts
much higher, rings are hung. The cadets
!, aroand and cut in various ways, at these
heads and rings, with their horses on a full
galiop. The Lieut. sets the example. Not
stroke OF this well aimed sabre misses: bnt |
a nn lat, 0 l.
OF the curb chain of his Bride breaking, his |
horse plunged forward against the board fence,
directly in front of the ladies, and down he
goes, fiat upon his side, and his immensely
heavy rider falls with him. For an instant
promptly given order, "Next," ELECTS round
ofapplanse.
Soon afterwards another horse slipped with
cadet at the other end OF the hall, and am
told that owing to the total unsuitableneas of
he hall, accidents are of frequent occurrence.
But the cadets acquitted themselves in this
exercise i'm manner most creditable to them Il
elves and their instructor. In spite of all the
disadvantages, from the imperfections of the !
laii, under which they labored, and the evolu- a
ions and numerous feats, difficult OF perform a
nee, were admirably done. They rode with a
ut stIrruPs, the stirrups being crossed over 4
ne horses neck" d
nTA man famous for hunting up enigmas
hllosophized thus: What strange creatures s
iris are. Offer one Of them good wages to v
FORK for you, and ten chances to one if the
ID woman can spare any Of her giris-but just
ropose matrimony, and see if they don't
imp at the chance of working Lifetime for
lelr victuals, and clothes. A queer way Of
stimating things. :
6NEWm I Rrown of the ndia ma Sanfi. i