The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-20
THE EXERCISES AT WEST POINT.

The exercises West Point prior to the final exami
nation very interesting. On Wednesday Of last
week the cavalry exercises took place letter in one
OF exchanges thus describes them;
In the afternoon at balfast four about half Of the
graduating class were drilled LA the riding hall In the
presence Of large number of spectators The hall
new, and quite conmodious being about two hundred
feet long by fifty wde and il far superior any riding
accommodations which the Academy had previous to last
year There two galleries erected for the
daton of the audiences and they are hardly az oommo-
dious as they might be- though they great con-
venience.
About half past four the section 10 be drilled appear
ed equipped for the exercise, and mounted very fine
stud Of horses provided by the institution They first
trotted round the in double line and then at
fast gaop rushed round the course like whirlwind
til the solid stone building seemed TO shake to its
foundation The wheeling, halt, forming in line, and
other movements performed with great accuracy,
and elected much admiration
1.-The next operation was a drill in firing and the
sabre exercise to the unnitated novel and inter
esng proceeding. About six feet from the wall in the
centre of the building at either side placed stand
ards bearing resemblance to gallows, the ann of
which extended the space between the standard
and the wall On this suspended ring, about
two or three feet above the head of a rider passing
under it, In a line with this placed other stand
ards with heads made Of CLOTH supposed to represent the
heads Of soldiers waiting to have them cut Off Further
smaller standards, with cloth caps, supposed
likewise to represent soldiers kneeling the ground
while cloth caps the ground supposed TO
bc soldiers lying down. trying to get out OF the reach
of the sabre The exercise consisted in riding furious
ly round the in sections Of four time. After
riding round once each of the dragons would level
loaded pistol and re at OF the standing soldiers he
rode furiousy by him then, returning the pistol to the
holster the sabre drawn with the rapidty of light
ming and stroke made for the next man. recovering
in time poise the sabre and they dashed by to carry
| off the ring the point All this is done with the
consumption of less time than it takes to relate it, and
| is really very exciting spectacle. The sabres went
through the rings with precision that would have been
/ slightly disagrccabe had they been aimed at man s
eye and the stuffed heads OF the imaginary soldiers
ceivcd thumpngs which could only have been endured
| by themselves Human nature could not stand such
| usage, the Irishman said, without falling.
After rather lengthy continuance Of this exercise
the order given to dismount and in less time than
it takes write the word the whole troop terra
| irma At the word unsaldle, the nmbIe fingers work
ed sklfnlly for minute, and the troop stood by
their horses having simple blanket in place Of saddle
At the word mount many heads there dra-
goons might have been seen bobbing in the air and final
y settle quietly the top of firm bcdies seated the
blankets The previous sabre exercise then repeated
and the class proved proficient without saddle stir
rup with them, and the scarecrow received
| other terrible pummelling
1.-THE grace and with which the class rode, the
precision of the craftsmanship and the perfect GOODNESS
displayed throughout the whole of the exhibition
pronounced exceedingly creditble, and adequate
suit to the vigorous excton and woul song Of white
| pants necessary to the operation