The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-08-31
Life at West Point.

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The following sketch viii enghten the
reader, Of the routine af 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 half past FIVE in winter the
reYlle awakens him; he Immediately rises,
doubles up his blanket and matrass and
places them on the head Of his iron bead
stead, he studies until seven O'Clock; at that
hour ths drum beats for breakfast. Guard
mounting takes place at half past seven, and
twenty-four are placed on guard every day.
AT eigt O'Clock the bugle sounds and. the
recltations commence. At one o'clock the
bugIe again sounds, and the professors dis
miss their respective sections the cadets
form ranks opposite the barracks and march
to dinner. Between eleven and one the cad
cts are employed some in riding and others
III fencing daily. After dinner they have
until two O'Clock for recitation and from two
till four they are employed in recitations-
AT four the bugle sounds and they go either
to battalion or light artillery drill. This
! exercise, lasts one hour and half. After that
they devote the time to recitation until sun
set. After parade they form in ranks in
front oibarracks, and the names of tie delin-
queuts are read by an officer of the cadets.
Supper comes next, and after supper recita-
ton until eight o'clock, when the bugle
sounds to call them to quarters, and every
cadet must be found in his room in few
minutes, at study, and must remain 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. Ii during the
night cadet is found absent from hk room
more than thirty minutes, and does not
give a satisfactory account of himself,
charges are preferred against him and he is
courtmartaled.
The use eofintoxicating drinks and tobacco
are strictly repudiated, so is playing chess,
and a great many other things. The pun
ishment to which cadets are liable, are, de-
privaton of recreation, d., extra tours of
duty reprimands, arrests, dismissal with the
privilege ofresiging, and pnbic dismissiou.
Through the months of July and August
the cadets are encamped, and during the
encampment the instruction is chiefly militia
ry.
The furlough allowed to cadets is two
months when they are in the third class.
The pay of cadets is twenty-four dollars
per month and his 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 debts with
out permission.
One of the exercises is described as fol-
lows:
"That part Of the cavalry exercise called
running at the heads and rings, was attend
ed by the Board of Examiners and many
other spectators. The exercise takes place
in large hall in the basement Of the aca-
demic building. This half a very dark,
dismal looking place, with row of columns
only few feet apart i'll the centre, extend
ing the whole length, and utterly unfit for
the purpose for which it is used.
Twenty-eight horses, properly equipped
are led into the hail. Lieutenant Sacket,
the instructor of this department, sits near
one side Of the room mounted ona splendid
white charger. Twenty-eight cadets mem
bers of the graduating class, marchin, and
instantly mounted. Ports 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 a
round and cut in different ways, at these
heads and rings, with their horses on afull
gal!op, The Lieutenant sets the example.
Not stroke of his well aimed sabre miss
es, but 10! as he completes the round, in
consequence Of the curb chain of his bride
breaking, his horse plunges forward against
the board fence, directly IN front af the la
dies and down he goes, flat upon his side,
and his immensely, heavy rider falls with
him. For an instant there is half suppress
ed shrek. when the rider and horse are
both seen to have arisen, ana the promptly
given order "Next." elicitS a round OF ap-
plAuse,
Soon afterwards horse slipped with a
cadet at the opposite end cfthe hall and
am told that owing to the utter unsuitable
ness of the hall, accidents are of frequent
occurrence. In spite of all these disadvan-
tages, from the imperfections of the bail.
under which they labored, all the eyolutions
and the numerous feats, difficult of perform
ance, we're admirably done. They rode
without stirrups, the stirrups being crossed
over the horses neck.