The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-18

der that officers OF the army may DO qualified to make OBJ
scrvatons in remote localities 10 which they often
sent and furnish correct and valuable data for scientific
and practical purposes.
For further information in regard to the wants Of
this department reference may be made to the report
of the commission appointed under the act of Con
gress of June 81 1860 Senate Doc No 8, page 142)
where the subject fully explained by the professor to
whom this department is ntrusted. The statements
therein contained are recommended TO the favorable con-
sideration OF the War Department.
1t is regarded highly important that practical in
sructon in the of Geographic instruments be given
each year to the first class before graduating, and the
Board Of Vsters recommend that apparatus for this pur
pose he procured and competent instructor be employed
Since the transfer of Captain Benton to another post,
the instructor OF ordnance has been performing the duties
OF chief of the department with less than the compensa
ton to which he seems entitled
The instructor of ordnance and gunnery member of
the Academic GARD Band chief of separate department Of
instruction. but the present incumbent having merely the
rank of lieutenant his compensation less than that OF
the assistant professors who assistants only ana VINO
are all his Juniors in army rank.
The committee appointed under the act of June 81 1880
herenbefore referred to, recommend in their report age
l3 hat the instructor Of ordnance and gunnery receive
the pay and emoumens Of captain of engineers and re-
ceive in addition thereto twenty five dollars per month";
AS assistant professor OF ethics the present instructor
OF ordnance received as Is usual the pay and enoiumehts
Of captain of engineers. When transferred to higher
department with responsibility and labor, the com
pensaton owing TO defect In the present law, was re-
duced TO that Of Lieutenant Of artillery.
As the just claims Of this department have probably
been overlooked, is recommended that the officer in
charge Of the ordnance department be allowed the pay
aud cmoluments proposed by the commission above re-
In the department of practical engineering the removal
Of the detachment of sappss and miners Is most serious
disadvantage The graduating class, who in two weeks,
may be called upon to execute works Of field forthca
ton and construct temporary deiences, have no
knowledge OF these subjects except that which Is derived
from books They should constructed and, far
practicable, assist constructing the various kinds Of
sap gabions hurdles palisades &c, that they, in time,
may be qualified to instruct others. Even small mum.
Der OF men would be Of great service in this branch OF
instruction
DISCIPLINE.
comparison OF the present state of discipline at the
Military Academy with that which formerly existed within
the recollection of members Of the Board who have been
connected with the institution has satisfied them that
great change to the derimen of the service has taken
place.
Even during tho examination exercises and presence
Of the Board of visters number of cadets, including
several of the graduating class when required to perform
evolution not perfectly agreeable 10 them fell out Of
the ranks and proceeded to their quarters For this Of
fence they were placed in arrest but the act itself
one which would not have been committed il proper
state Of discipline and subordnaton existed in the nsti
tuition.
In seeking explanation for the Generalization which
appears to exist the Board have no difficulty in discover
ing amply sufficient to for the present
dition of things is found in the fact that for
time past the War Department has apparently paid no
spect to tho recommendations of the Academic Board but
has repeatedly rcipstaed reapponcd cadets found de-
hcient or<snlisscd for violation OF the rules.
As the importance of this subject required that should
be distinctly presented to the department taken
procure evidences the academic records and the
opinions of prominent members Of the academic staff.
A communication was addressed to the superintendent
Of the Military Academy, by resolution Of the Board of
Visitors, requesting copy Of 1.-THE Of all cadets
who had been rensated or rcappointcd within tho last
year with the time such cadet discharged resign
ed and the causes therefor together with his full aca
demic record and the elect OF such reinstatement upon
the discipline Of the academy
With the reply OF the superintendent were included
copies Of letters from the late Secretaries of War contain
ing tho action OF the department upon the recommended
ons OF the Academic Board as TO the disposition of those
cadets who not proficient at the examinations of
June, 1860 and January, 1861. whose conduct the
opinion OF the Board, untitled them for the army.
The superintendent in transmitting the information ask
cd for accompanied the documents with the following
marks
IA careful examination of the records of those cadets
herewith sent, to scholarship and dement, up to the
periods when the Board made their and
the same particulars as to all Of those who are still
connected with tho institution will enable the Board Of VI
sters to form correct opinion to the effect discipline
OF rensetng reapponting cadets who, after acareu
examination, have been pronounced not proficient"
who have eycecdeded the utmost limit of demert allowed
by the regulations Of the Academy.
.RestOratiOn to the Academy after recommendation for
dismissal by the Academic Board, has unquestionably
been prcudcal TO discipline Tho hope of being rein
neglect Of study than Incidence and greater disregard Of
the regulations of the Academy than has arisen from
nray vicious S o, careless habits 1s the
those TO whom is intrusted tho management of this
national school, should be committed to other and
more competent persons failure on the part
Of government to sustain the Academic Board in
their official acts discourages them in the per-
formance OF their duties while II encourages those under
their charge acts of characterization neglect Of
duty" s..s-,u,...
dent exhibit tho fact that at the examination in June,
1890 nineteen cadets were found mot proficient and all
but three recommended to be dschargcd-threc to
be turned back All OF the discharged cadets have been
returned TO the Academy.
Several OF those cadets had been found deficient pro-
vious cxamnatcns some in addition to deficiency had
been reported extremely inattenve TO regulations and
opinion expressed by the Board that they c"ue ho &C
comIlish their course Yet, Notwithstanding all this,
aud in direct opposition TO the opinions of 'e Board tn
! cadets returned
1851 six have n rcappoincd 20 enter this June Three
were rrnstcd to continue with their respective classes
innf in Iunpnr and 49,
~, "o -ssr this June.
'One OF the cadets rcappontcd to cntor this June
shown by his academic record to have had 252 cmeris
IN period of six months while any over 100
would have been sufficient TO the penalty Of dis
missal tFng the latter part OF his lac deled the
authorities of The Academy altogether and had kept
in close confinement.
Several of the who have been rcapponted we're
reported by the Academic Board to posscss capacity
whatever tor acquiring tho course under tho most avora
bic circumstances
The endorsement Of the Secretary of War the report
OF cadets pronounced nOt proficient in January, 1861
exhibits tho fact that, contrary to the recommendations
OF inc Board two cadets were permitted TO with
their respective classes.
The Superintendent, of the Mi tary Academy was in.
structed inform the discharged cadets eleven in num-
bar that should their respective members Congress
think proper to renomnae them they would be reap.
pointed and permitted to return to the Academy June
next"
III other words, the recommendations Of the Academic
Board were not only dsrcgardcd but the Superintendent
was placed in the hurniaiing position Of being himself
tequircd to inform the discharged caets that il ronen
| mated they woad be rcapponted.
10 cnaDle the department To form correct opinion OF
rhe nuy Of stating cadets found deficient by the
Academic Beard, the following extract from ccmnun
cation addressed TO the President Of the Board Vstcrs
ut his request By the professor OF mathematics is sub
mtted:-
Case Nc. l-ncclared deficient in June, 1859; recon-
nendcd for discharges turned back fifth cou, Sc
stands twenty in class OF twcntysix members
Case No. 2Deficient in January, 1859; discharged
appointed in June 1850: deficient in June, lSeO;
mcnded for discharges permitted to go on with his class
OF doubtful proficiency in fourth class course June 1861
ccxamned by Academic Board stands to foot Of
class.
Case No 3DcHcient in June, 1850; recommended for
discharge turned back fifth class couise Of doubtful
proficiency in fourth class in June 1851 rccx
amncd by Academic Board stands M foot Of class.
Case No 4-Eefcient in June 1859: recommended for
discharge; turned back reeXamned June, 1901; and
focrd deficient.
Case No. 5.--Difcient in Jane. 1860 recommended
for dschnrsc turned back rcexamncd III June, 1851,
found deficient.