The New York herald., 1862-01-13
YHE MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT.
rs ORIGIN AND ESTABLISHMENT.
Present Condition and Full Statistics Of the
Professors, Graduates and Expenditures.
WHAT 1T HAS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY,
&C., &C., 60.

WHAT 1T HAS DONE FOB THE COUNTRY
&C., &C., &c.
While Washington was still in headquarters at New
burg ~ Y, the army Of the Revolution beng not yet
dsbanded he addressed letter, on the l4th OF April
l1s3 Baron steuben, from which the following is an
extract and like letter TO each Of his principal officers
my Dear Baron-A committee Of Congress is appointed
70 what arrangements 1t viii be proper to adopt
n the different departments with reference to peace.
Ool. Hamilton who chairman Of this committee, mas
written this subject, wishing to know my sehti
ents large institutions OF every xind Tor the
interior defence of these States" washington solicited
and obtained the opinions Of the higher officers with
reference such Institutions and these views were en-
bodied IN his report to Hamilton.
COL Pickering then Quartermaster General combatted,
his reply the idea Of establishing military academies
q the different arsenals in the United statesa scheme
thai had gained favor with some Of the ocers he says
that such academy at this time must be grounded
the permanent military establishment for frontier
posts and asena and the wants Of the States separately
of ofcers TO command the defences their seacoass
On this principle it might be expedient 10 establish
military school academy at West Point And that Q
competent number Of young gentlemen might be induced
70 become Students might be made rulo that vacan
cies in the standing regiments should be supplied from
sAence-those few instances excepted where would be
lust TO promote meritorious sergeant
In December, l793 Washington brought the subject Of
he establishment Of military academy before Congress
n bis annual message, and in the following year some
sps taken towards nsructing cadets Of both the
artillery and engineering arms. The academy not,
however, established at this time.
In his last message, December 1896 Washington again
urged the subject upon Congress-'whatever argument
may DO drawn from particular examples, superfcialy
viewed, . thorough examination Of the subject will
evince that the art Of ia comprehensive and
complicated, that II demands much previous study and
that the possession Of it, in its most improved and perfect
state, is always Of great moment to the security
q nation This, therefore, ought to be o Sc
rous care Of every government and for this purpose
academy where regular course Of instruction given is
obvious expedent, which different nations have sue
csssfuly employed" No immediate action, however,
was taken by Congress.
In November 1899, General Hamilton submitted to the
Secretary Of War an elaborate plan for military acade
my This plan is found in volume $40 Of Haniltons
works From the time Of his serving on the committee
of Congress this period he appears given the
subject careful study and his plan thoroughly ex
hausve that compelled 10 assign to Alexander
Hamilton the honor, among many Others OF being the
father Of the academy Besides submitting his plan
the Secretary of War; Hamilton forwarded copy to
Washington who then in retirement at Mount Yer
non and Is interesting fact that the ever
written by Washington, far have any informa'
ton, was his reply TO Hamilton and upon the subject o.
she Military Academy. This letter dated December
H. cn which day he contracted cold from exposure on
horseback TO storm, and the illness thus caused ended
his life on the 14th two days after.
In 1902 Alex ander Hamtons plan adopted by the
Secretary Of War, James McHenry and was recommend
ed by the President Congress- II proposed that the
cbouId cfoffn
school, the school Of engineers and arerss the school
o cavalry and infantry and the school Of the navy
provided for director general and directors Of the differ
ent schools also for professors of mathematics four
professors Of geography and natural philosophy
Ssesors Of chemistry and mneraogy three architects
Sour designing and drawing masters, riding master
and one fencing master.
In 1902 Congress passed the act establishing the Militia
~ Acaiemy. The President was authorized to organize
acorrs Of engineers to consist Of mae six assistants
end "ten cadets, with the pay Of sxaen dollars per
month and two ratons per daytbe number the whole
corps at time to exceed twenty officers and cadets
The said corps shall be stationed West Point in the
etate OF New York. and shall constitute military acade
mythe principal engineer TO have the superintendent
q the same the Secretary Of War to provide the
sary books implements and apparatus for the use and
benent Of the said institution" Approved. Thomas
Jefferson, President. Q.aws Of the United States.)
West Point chosen from the very first, as have
ocen, probably account OF the beauty OF its natural
scenery and also because it the strongest military
poet at that time IN America. Forts Clinton, Putnam
4egs, Webb and Wyliys, which erected there by
Koscinsko and General Putnam had rendered West Point
10 l779, mpregnabe.
THIS great military school was row in its infancy Its
0rst officers appointed under the act OF 1902
lows, yiz;-Jonathan Williams, Major aud supornten
dent William Barron, Captain and Professor Of Matbe
uscs Jared Mansfield, Captain and Professor Of Natural
and Experimental Philosophy.
The only students were James Wilson and Alexander
Hacomb both FiEst eutenans, and Joseph G.. Swift ami
simon NJ Levi both Second Leutenants at the time The
two former Wilson and Macob drafted from the
army, and went through the regular course at the
Academy.
In 1903 the Secretary War reported that there were
then at Wes Point engineer officers teacher of
French one surgeons mate eleven cadets and twenty.
four non commissioned ccers and privaes IN 1904
thousand dollars were appropriated or the purchase of
maps, plans books and Instruments for the War Depart
ment ard the Military Academy" In five years later
ths annual appropriation swollen TO twenty five hun
drcd dollars showing growth in the wants OF the ns
tut,on.
In lsos Col. Williams Chief OF Engineers reported TO
Thomas Jefferson follows ' This institute on was cs
tabshed at West Point in the year 1901 rnder the direc
tion Of private citizen and was nothing than
mathematical school for the few cadets that then
service" AS more recently organized, tie Major Of
Engineers occasionally read lectures fortncations
gave lessons IN the field, and taught the
mcnts generally. The two captains taught mathematics.
During the last year citizen Of eminent talents has bocn
employed as principal teacher" lie is appreheusivo
they shall not be able TO retain him. The disng slcd
Mr. Hasser already designated for the survey of
the coast" In Short" he proceeds, the Military
Academy IL stands is founding barely exist.
ing among the mountains ana nurtured distance out
sight and amos, unknown TO is legitimate parents"
In 1910 Secretary of War Eustis reported that
there were at the academy Colonel, i've
assistants (ohicers), one Professor Of French
and oae Of drawing, iorty-seven cadets, (forty
three Of artillery and four of enginoerng). one
arthccr and eighteen prvates Upon the recommendation
o. Thomas Jefferson made in lsos, the Academy was
nnaly enlarged, and its efficiency greatly increased by
oct Of Congress OF 1872 IL provided that the Mi.
sAry Academy shall o the corps Of engineers and
the following professors In addition ~ the of hs
French lang lage and drawing already provided for viz
One professor OF natural and experimental philosophy
OF mathematics one of engineering and each OF bssa
70 have an assistant taken from the corps Of cadets
Act 91S12, Sec 3-"That the cadets heretofore an
pointed in the service Of the United states whether or
artillery, cavalry, rlemen or infantry, that may In
future be appointed hereinafter provided shall at no
time exceed two hundred and fty that they may be at
tached at the discretion Of the President of the United
Btates as students to the Military Academy and be sub
tcct 20 the established regulations thereof that they sha
be arranged into companies OF commissioned officers
and privates, according TO the direction Of the com
nf be frntn m "A