Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-02-07

U. s. MILITARY ACADEMr,
West Point, Jan. is, '55.

West FONT, Jan. l5, 55.
Mr. Editor During my late leave OF
absence from this post. a desire was man
Tested by numerous of my friends and ac-
quantances, many Of whom are doubtless
readers Of your valuable paper, to receive
information concerning the appointment
Of Cadet to the Military Academy. Since
returning to my post, have received sew
eral letters of inquiry to the same pur-
pose. My situation will be my apology
for not replying to these applications indi-
vidually, as Cadets are almost pruverbial-
" known for their severe and combining
duties, and the Stinted measure Of their
leisure moments. With your kind appro-
val. therefore, propose briefly to furnish
the information sought. throug Oh the col
umns of your paper.
The candidate for admission is appoint
| ed conditjonally by the President of the
United States, and previous TO being nd
mittcd, he is examined both by medical
and an acade mic boaEd-af;er which, il he
possess the requisite degree of education,
and is physically qualified for military du-
ty, he is received His warrant is not,
| however. issued to him until after the an
uary examination. when. if his progress in
studies be such as to afford a reasonable
guarantee Of his capacity to master The
whole coursc-his general military bear.
ing and moral department being at the
| same time nexceptionable-he receives
from the War Department his warrant,
emitting him to call the privileges and con-
sideraton OF a Cadet"
The law provides that each Congress
sional District shall be represented al the
Academy. In addition to this. twelve ap
pointmeuts cat large" are made annually
by the President; and these are as gen
| eral thing, though not exclusively, CHI Jsen
among the sons of deceased officers OF the
| Army and Navy. The other appointments
! are made according to the recommendg-
tons of members OF Congress and when
ever vacancy occurs, in any district, the
! Representative from that district virtually
| appoints the candidate for admission, in
asmuch as the President, from the list of
all the applicants many of whom are Of
! ten supported by wealth and influential
friends, invariably selects as the incum-
bent whoever the Congressman may re-
commend. The NJ. Cs. " good graces"
are therefore to be sought as the essential
means of obtaining ingress into the Mill.
tary Academy.
BY late act of Congress the Acade-
mic term has been increased to FIVE years;
and as l entered in June, 1851, l shall
finish the course in 1856, at which time.
the vacancy will occur in your district
Any time, therefore, between January
and June of that year will suffice to apply
for and receive the desired appointment.
The applicant must be between and 81
years of age, and at least FIVE feet in
height. No candidate can be admitted
who is afflicted with any disease which
would render him unfit for military ser.
vice, or who may bring with him I" any
disorder of an infections or immoral char
acter." So far as education is concerned
it is only necessary that he should be able
to read and write well, and understand
the various rules of arithmetic.
Permit me to advise my friends Of your
District who are DESTROYS Of entering upon
Military career. to reject deeply before
assuming the duties and responsibilities of
West Point Cadet. 1t is true. our
Academic course is NOT excelled, if equal.
led, by any College OF similar Institution
in the United States. The most profound
and beautiful theories of science-tbe nj.
cest mathematical enigmas-the universal
laws and combinations of nature@-the
immusable principles Of Philosophy, mo