The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-15


The West Psans Military Academy.
our WEST POINT 0onRzsroHDHHon. II
WEST PoIr, June II, 1856.
The Ezasinstio~ q Cannon Practice al tie large.
-Ivassy DriR-7Re Trials Of the "Pleos"-Ne,c
B1ldimos at Wta Point-7Ae Walks and Promesades
0this Plaos-Morumest TO Dade and his conpsand-
Coszens Hotel DO, dc
The examination OF the cadets at West Point increases
in interest 1t draws to close. IL win probably be
terminated On Monday or Tuesday next, when tho an
nus address viii be delivered BY the Rev Dr. vinton Of
Brooklyn.
Mailing visit to thu Poiat on Wednesday, found the
6rst class before the Board Of Examiners being question
ed upon the subject Of "arlsry" which embraces the
construction and use Of the CANNON its power cApae
ties and s advantages upon the field Of battle In the
afternoon this class examined In ethics and passed
through the ordeal triumpAantly.
The great attraction of the day, however, was the
practice with the siege gun" as the exercise Is
termed, which began at O'Clock in the afternoon.
This exercise ia firing at target, placed mile
distant, with eighteen FOUNDER canncn. During the
past week or ten days the afternoon Of each
day has been given to practics in military tao
tics 10th cavalry and infantry These exercises have
been commenced at five O'Clock in the afternoon of
each day and have been the mau feature of the exa
nation At the forenoon and afternoon in
the library few ladies and gentlemen usually pre-
sent but since the evening drills commenced all West
Point have turned out from day to day to play the part
Of spectators.
The drill Of the gurnrs" (if the exercise may be
thus calsd) Wednesday afternoon is well worthy Of
description At the hour appointed for the opening Of
the cannonAde large company Of ladies and gentlemen
had assembled upon the brow Of the hill overlooking
small rampant breast work Of earth, behind which
were ranged six cannon of good sized cabre The site
of this the north side Of the government grounds,
as the Crow'sNsst. On opposs bank Of Hudson,
ON the west side OF the river, stood large
from tho mussles Of the osnnos few minutes afs.r
five O'Clock, squad Of seout forty cadets, taken
from the first and second Glasses Of the As.
roundabouss, came marching from the barracks
the Camp Of Mars or the parade ground OF this post,
The at this time, from the brow Of the hill was
scmeshng 70 challenge the highest powers Of the vster
west and its rays aoated brilliantly upon the rih uni
forms Of the officers and the gilt buttons Of the
Even the rm,ment itself lent to the scene
dark cinudB resting In the southwest and east the
rays Of the sun falling upon them tinted their edges
that they appeared standing athwart the sky wall Of
fire. At your feet the Hudson lay like mirror reflect
ing upon its surface panorama of the shors-nature
thus presenting double picture Of herself In front Of
that rising up dark and s against
seemed to be conendus with each other in throwing the
longest shadows Behind you At the distance Of two
post the library chapel and barracks their castsated
turrets looking out from among the waving foliage Of
the summit Of nil that rises some two hun.
dred feet more above the barracks, stands out the
f. cs ,ae tS
the trying days in the struggle for Independence Ar
pods treachery This picture Of West Point at the
tms that the squad of cadets filed beside the
to test their power as markamen At the and OF
their leader The company divided into sectous six or
each oedsnce to the nsxt order each sec.
tion stood ct their gum 1t but the work of mo.
ment to charge tue gun, ram the charge home,
ard ard place the gun capped and pr%sd ready for,
suit himself, awaits the order to Arso when it
blsus away With report that makes every thing
day sitter noon-in all between thirty ana forty guns
Gun followed gun with the interval of minutes time
the Re port went rumbnS, grumbns echoins, th1nder
ing, among the hills and the river, till the very
mountain forests all around seemed resonant with ths
music. During tbs afternoon the target
could ascertan was mot once hit but the balls struck
all round it, and near it, in many instances that the
ing" Every ball as 1t hit the bank whsrs stood the tar
ger about two fest square In apparent size to tho eye
from hs place q firing ssk ; up such dass that
spectators The firing being ended, tbs cadets were
marched back again to their quarters and the company
presently taxing their coaches and ntsges back again to
Cozzens Hotethe favorte and fashionable resort Of
At O'Clock in the evening the entire corps of cadets
again mArshaed into line for infantry drill Tnis
exercise Of the cadets that can hardly be comp-
ments too highly. There is not. perhaps company
OF soldiers in the land that take the palm from the
West Point cadets In exercising witt the muskst.
l'ne at once as If each joined to he other
and the wboe directed With the preclsaca of,machi
ing De ia sing front, &c each In turapslormed
~iia ae regularity Those who witness thsn infantry
JUG &c Of the drills Of other Soldiers.
One Of the exercises which attracts about much at
1,vsa l.ru svf1 nf tnn g mia mr.
These unortunaes have the hardest task Ct all
the at the acaesm when once in the hands Of
college What is Known as "hazinso in college life has
its meaning snd application to West Point well as to
they may well BE- termed, upon being admitted are d.
vic ed into squads and handed to the graduates TO
eri in the use Of srms These "psbs are each after.
two hours they made to their position at the col
ge by the hardest kind Of work Wednesday, afternoon
the entering ciRss called out usual and subjected
their ORDEAL At the head of each group numbering
from three to six stood the cadet in his uniform from
appearances the terror of his little army The "plebs
were in their civic Dress their varesated Of
white and black broad brmmed Panamas and beavers,
in their uniform Of white and gray The positions OF
these "plebs are sometmes ludcrous, their ranks ex
hibipg all sorts Of angles Here Is one who, deeming
his s'ambton over.eaps itsel and he bends back TO
degree that marks him as good subject for ground and
treiy upon setting his foot in the right position tor
gets his carriage, and stoops TIL he becomes
there Is another who, dsvotng his whole mind to the
proper management Of his arms, holds these shoulder
appendages as straight . ramrod and leaves
his body and legs to take Of themselves. Tho
who think 1t such easy matter to jump into the
proper Drill OF soldier, upon making . trial will per-
baps be cured of their delusion. The "plebs' were
marched and worked and drilled until the psrspt-
ration stood in large drops upon thamths squad here
is standing upon leg, like many ducks in thun
der storm and ain, in this the young commander is
struggling hard to set the toes OF all in the right drec
ton 1t Is stated that all sorts of pranks played off
uron these snow corners" which are regarded in.
itiation s'crosspg the line" between the hearth
stone of home and the life Of the student. This "hax
ing" however must be taken 40 matter of course
1t bias been the custom Of colleges since they have had
history The "plebs" Of this year will in their turn
revenge themselves upon the "plebs'' OF next.
An improven emit Ia no. being made upon the grounds
Of Paint In the 0rectinn of 4 riding b all.