The daily Minnesota pioneer., 1855-06-22
Examination at West Point Military
n Academy.

Il.
During the past two weeks the Board Of
Examiners have been putting the students
at West Point through very searching or
deal in the various branches of study pur-
sued there, and also in infantry and cavalry
tactics: The New York Herald says: .
One cannot help feeling sympathy for
the poor cadets, as each takes his stand,
trembling and almost pale with fear, before
the tribunal that is to sit in judgment upon
his past, and decide upon his future. To
the cadet this is an august and important
tribunal. The examination is so rigorous
and the least error and hestancy is so par
ticularly marked, that the student, however
we'll "posted up" is constantly doubling his
own ability to 60 through the ordeal, and
to this very want of confidence, it is obser-
vable, sometimes may be charged the few
errors that occur in answering the questions.
The military drill of the students is thus
described by the Herald
The whole corps of cadets during the
last week have been put through most Sc
we're examination in infantry tactics and cav
airy tactics, in which is embraced the sword
exercise, one the most interesting of all the
branches in the examination Deviating
from the programme of the examination as
originally marked out, and setting apart a
special day for infantry and cavalry drills,
the whole corps, at O'Clock in the after.
noon of each day during the past week,
h0va hoop mo rcholo6 into limo ond avominad
in the use of arms and the management Of
the rein. These exhibitions have been in
teresting, and upon each returning day dur
ing the past week the lady and gentlemen
visitors at West Point have assembled upon
the college grounds to witness the maneu
vreing of the young soldiers upon the camp
grounds The infantry and cavalry drill:
wese well worth seeing. Standing in line
and handling the musket, the arms of the
long line of cadets move with the precision
and accuracy of machinery On the marcf
1 the line is perfectly straight and false mo
ton could hardly be discovered during the
whole drill. The cavalry exercise was
equally interesting, and finer troop coult
scarcely be found than these same cadets
riding on the camp of Mars at West Point
The sword exercises, the most interesting o.
, all, consist of the broad sword and the small
: sword. The first is used in the cavalry
drill, and the latter in the artillery and in
, fantry drill The drill with the small swor(
or foil was admirably carried through, eacl
!, young gentleman appearing to have, in th'
, language of Dumas to Claude Melnotte
carte and tierce at his fingers ends."-
These exercises particularly delighted th'
ladies, and each combatant, as he entered
the lists, has his hackers in the audience O
spectators, who, occasionally, when the con
, test became warm between equal foes, ap
peared to regard the fight with an interes
akin to that which we may have supposed
the old Romans to have felt when the glad
iators armed and equipped, stepped into thu
r arena. Upon the ends of the foil used il
fastened a button, to prevent injury to th'
contestants.
The Rev. Dr. Vinton, of Brooklyn, ha'
been selected to deliver the annual address
which will come off at the close Of the ex
animation and upon the awarding of thu
diplomas. The examination will perhaps
be finished next Saturday, or in the earl
part Of the week following.