The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-25
SUMNER RETREATS.
WEST POINT.

Panic SUMMER isiters 10 the Poiai-The Cadet
Eneampment =" Depiting Piebes " - Trial of
Bre.ch Loading Car6ines Cadet Hops-1Ns
Recent Examination, &c.
think you are about right in the opinion that the
panic has inserfered sadly with summer recreation
this season. No doubt there are many votaries of
the fashionable plan of shutting up the front part of
the house with the idea of humbugging friends that
the family has gone to the country" "A great
many this year content themselves with going but
short distance from the city, and in fact everybody
Is obliged to radiate at distances regulated by the
length of the purse. Thus one ruralizes at Hoboken
ut the expense of six cents ferriage; another ad-
yances step and takes shilling sail to Staten
Island, or to Long Branch for fifty cents and on;
bhe distance and pleasure increase together until
you reach Newport, for six weeks, and spend all
the money they have and more too. OF watering
places near New York, think West Point is one Of
the best You have the bracing atmosphere of the
Highlands excellent bathing in the Hudson, romantic
rambles on the hills, and the surrounding Revolution
airy "reminiscences, sufficient to recuperate physical
weakness and keep up q good patriotic feeling.
Then it is so near the city that many come up and
spend a day or two and run back without
losing much time by the journey. You can come by
the in about two hours, if you got an express
train or by the boat in about three. The pleasant
est way by far is by the boat. You start from New
York at seven and reach here by ten, having break
fast on board at total expense of but dollar and
auuarter II you come by the cars it costs you
dbiar and you don't have any breakfast a chance
to sec the beautiful scenery OF the Hudson. You
might better pay the extra quarter and come by the
boat considering that you get your breakfast in
and only have 70 get up an hour earlier.
One great attraction Of the Point to the summer
visiters the encampment OF the cadets, which con-
tinues from the middle Of June until September,
rain shine and is fair sample of the soldiers life,
with the exception of better ratons no fighting, not
very hard duty, and fine chance TO see the ladies
resident or visiting on the Point. The encampment
this year is the west of the Parade ground, the
cadets quarters occupying about two hundred and
fifty feet square, unshetered by any but few young
trees planted the posts Of the sentnels by the
kind forethought Of Major Delafeld. 1t gives the
young gentlemen, however, an excellent idea OF
camp lie. There is cadet officer OF the day taken
from the first class with his adjuncts q corporas,
sergeants and guards, aud the duties practiced
"a they would be in active service the guards being
kept 70 strict accountability. The recitations with
the exception of infantry tactics are suspended du
ring encampment, the duties being mainly of militia
nv and somewhat arduous character. As early five
o'clock the Parade ground may be seen studded with
plebes," or the new cadets, being drilled by the
older cadets, and the way they are put through is
enough TO excite the comisseration OF the behoder,
and the most decided objections of the pebes."
good story is told OF young sereant Of the third
exercising them in the double quick step; one OF
them was not precise enough in his movements and
the serieant addressed him thus. Be careful now,
Mr.. Smith; obey the order quickly or you will put
out the whole squad"
At eight o'clock there il a morning parade and
during the day arms TO be cleaned artillery practice,
and work at the batteries. The third class Of last
year, now the second class made some good firing
with tha SEQ "a
way, their first trial with that battery. The
evening parade takes place at about seven
o'clock just before supper and is viewed in
fair weather bv many. the visers of the hotels.
The cadet battalion does not now appear to the best
advantage because the best class has just graduated
the worst class IL just coming in and the furiough
class is still out But with these disadvantages
they present very fair appearance, and are by no
means unappreciated by military men. / noticed
Captain Garland, of your Light Guard at the pa
rade the other evening. He came up on the yacht
silvie with party Of friends, and appeared TO be
much pleased with the battalion. He Is, by the
way a graduate of this institution.
One OF the favorite amusements of the old cadets
IL thsto deypg plebes," by which phrase the un.
initiated may understand " bothering new cadets"
A favorite time for this sport Is at night when the
plebes are placed on guard. One genius this year
had diagram made OF the location Of every plebe
in the camp, and had fine sport playing
all sorts of tricks on them. number OF
young gentlemen are now under arrest, awaiting
court martial ON charge OF lassoing "plebe" while
on guard and dragging him some distance. II was
very fine fun for the boys before heygo caught but
may be somewhat Of a serious matter for them They
seem 90 take the matter very pleasantly, however,
and their tent is always the joest in the camp. In
spite Of the risk Of punishment though the practice
OF devilling plebes" has been carried on from time
immemorial, aud doubtless will continue: When
'plebe gets put on guard for the first time in the
night he naturally feels somewhat nervous, and sell
dom retains any very clear impression OF the multi
plicty of orders which he receives. Ten chances to
one H. in his trepdation, he does not run the
porai through before he has a chance 10 give the
countersign. Only last night one of the 'plebc"
sentiuels had fierce encounter with one OF the cor
porals, upon whom he charged bayonet without Civ.
inu him chance 20 give the countersign, aud would
have run him through had not the corporal proved
10 be the stouter Of the two.
"pleb" has q far more exalted idea Of the rig
ors necessary on his post than an old cadet has.
The other night few jolly spirits, stopping at one
Of the hotels rowing about the outskirts OF the
camp in search of fun, when they were challenged
by one Of the "peb" sentinels, "Who comes there?"
evil you take drink was the answer. The vir.
tnous "pleb," however instantly cried halt" and
shouted Corporal Of the giardlr The company
were obliged TO halt until the corporal arrived, which
no little time, the cOrporals generally know
the ''pleb's" post, aud supectiug some deviliinr.
have no very great desire interfere with IL. On
this occasion the corporal advanced 10 hear what
the company wanted, when one OF them asked,
"What sort OF weather will It be tomorrow The
corporal replied with some dignity, that that
'ratner out on ms sphere on DUTY WI you Ike
o drink" said the other. "Now you tak," .ad the
corporal, aud after hearty swig he babe the CON-
pspy pass unmolested.
An old cadet sentinel was one night on guard,
when he heard footstep approaching, and soon re-
cognised friend from the hotel. The following
eolloquy ensued -
"Who comes therel "
"a friend"
advance friend and give the countersigu."
Take swig from this bottle"
CTaking a swiq) Friend, the countersign il
right-pass."
The camp this year Ia called camp Jefferson Da
Wis, In honor Of the Secretary Of War The cadets
this summer, usual, have had a series Of cadet
hops In the Academic Hall, which, for want OF a
better room, has done very well. The hops have
been thus far very well attended by the ladies' Of the
Point and those az the hotels, 10 whom as well a. ~
the cadets, they are welcome pastme. The music
Of the excellent hand IL little attraction. The
hops n0minally open 10 all the cadets, bat are
attended generally but by the higher classes, TO
whom the ladies' seem TO accord the most Of their IA