Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-06-19
wBsr POINT AcapEMY.
TnE ExAMlNATloN AT ruE MLIrARY ACADEMY Al
WRIST POINT.


WEST POINT ACADEMY.
THE EXAMINATION AT THE MLIrAnY ACADEMY AT
WEST POINT.
/ WRsT PioNr, Tuesday, June G. $50. s.,
The Quiet and secIusion of this romantic place
;syearly disturbed by an examination ofstHe Mil
ilaIy, Conducted underline Inspection OF al board
oil. visitors, when all the various departments of
the Academy in turn ubiecteito rgoroiis tests
of the iislitutoh., is pleasant duty for liz.
members of the Board aptl.a still more pleasant
study for the Unofficial iookef mn who nlesllre
ly observe ami enjoy such portions OF the system
as suits his individual taste.
The 1oveliest season oil The wear in one ef fhe
most romantic places in the world. where ali is
beautiful IN art or nature where one is surrounded
oy relics oil the past, possessing the charm of hiss
torlc INTEREST," where tke carriers OF, commerce
noat ny ON oneiuf the great actions of the world,
would alone reward the traveller, oven withcuttle
opportunity of studying theflnechanism aud the
moltve tlowerof noiltiinsrnutioni like this
The West Point iHtary Academy was founded
early IN the present century, aAdt expanded into
It's presehtSystem under the adnihstrallohaHf Col.
rhayer, of tie Engineer Corps, which terminated
about twenty years ago. 'fhs Distinguished officer
had studied all tile great military institutions of
Europe, AMI acquired that knowledge oil stheir gen
etai principles wh CHI enabled him. without imitat
ing their details, tofound an Academy second to
none.
There are now pengaged here seven professors
(civilians) and about thirty officers, uclug as IN
StrIctOrS. The number oil caIetS Is all0ut TWO
hundred and fifty, but the rgoro OF the examinations
reduces their number. None but excellent ScIiol-
and energetic men can stand the test, and not
more than about one third Of, those receiving APP
poininents graduate. Deficiency of scholarship
is the general cause of failure.
Many of our most gallant officers in the late war
were among these wLosdId not graduate. So high
is the educatont that aman will learn in six months
enough OF tue military art be ascapital regimen
tai officer. ,&%.Af
Oh Thursday the lstof June, the board of Wis
itorS were officially received. The exerci>es this
day consisted of military when The cadets
displayed the results bf5the. admirable aIilhng
which they.had received. Ca Friday the class in
Cavalry, under Capt. Sackett, delighted tile eyes
of all beholdsrs with ,bttIiaul spectacle.
Few OF them Will ever lurgei the splendid APP
pearance of that officer, whose achievements have
not been hunted TO the peaceful drill ground.
The Infantry drlilof Moniay, The OH, waSeven
more finished thanithe lHecedIIg review. follow
squares were 1otnet, volieys bred IL by one
piece, evolutions made With mugIcat celertty and
precision. lPrubably no regiment of'guarlS tie
English service. though they might have more nm
posing appearance, could equal LIEN ia precision
and raplity ofnluv eIlemt. But the peculiar prom
inencc and the immense military vOlue of West
Point does not consist IN the mechanical bodily
training, which is of comparatively easy attain
nent but IN the systematic and rigorous course of
scientific INSTRUCTION.. No one witnessing The re-
citations under i.fuf Mahan, ON Friday, AMI the
mathematical examination of Saturday, could help
oelg SIuck Will lne WONDERFUL pefleclOnt 10 which
il has here been brought. To speak of West Point
mathematics ispefhnps snpeTfuous but the Divis
ion examined by Professor Church and Assistant
Professor Peck, Certainly showed minute nc.
iquaintance with principles and applications 0e q
very extended coufse, which exceeded any previous
notion thatweaad ever entertained, of how laccus
rate, and yet how comprehensive knowledge was
impaired during the slace of two yeats. The
course takes cadet, acquainted -uut with the ruE
dimeEts of etincation, and during the first two
years, carries him through series OF mathematical
works and French. The Succeeding 4wo yeaiS, ARE
devoted TO Astronomy, Natural RhiosoplIy, Chem
lstry, and the Art of War in all.its braneIesh AT
The end of four years, cadet lisa man educated
III the principles olaSfience, the applicationgul
them in all their phases 10 hisrrolesson, his mind
trained TO concentrated thought, to Tegllof e.er-
ton, and correct reasoning process, his wiLdrled
TO self7command, andof military knowledge ample
enough TO prepare him for tiehighest staff duties
These officers given toour amy inspire that con-
idence whicel contributes more to victory than
lgTage-shot or bayone,s. -.5i sssas;z
r. Colonel Lee, the Superntendent,Athe Chic
| Engineer of Scotrs armY-who won three brevets
LIN the Mexican ,war--M hose person and whose
bearIng alone show what he must belt IS need
Hess to say more than 10 state what is tie present
state of this institution-'a action, Iiot words.'-N
| Y. Times. sie
D. !. s.a .f- aafe b "a {. = j.