Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-06-18
Communications.
Correspondence Of the Charles City lntellieencer
LETTER FROM WEST POINT.

WEST POINT, N. Y, June 5, 1868.
FRIEND HILDRErH Have you ever
sojourned among the "Hightands Of The
Hudson ~ If so, | need only say that
they were never more attractive than
now if not, it will be useless for me
to attempt description of the many
noted objects that are in and about
this place. have now been here five
days, and each day reveals some new
attraction of nature or Of art. To in
crease the enjoyment of visiting the
various objects of interest, the wealth
er is most delightful-the clear atmos-
phere enabling one to obtain distinct
view Of distant objects.
The Mountain House." on the Cats.
kill Mountains, was distinctly visible
from the cars of the Hudson River
Railroad. Though some ten or twelve
miles distant, it seemed not more than
three or tour miles off. There is prob
ably no more healthy location in our
country than this. 1t has passed into
proverb that Cadets never die" This
may be due in part to the system Of
instruction but | think the locality
has much to do with it.
The Annual Examination commenc-
ed on the lst inst, and will continue
until about the middle of this month
The Board Of Visitors" some seven
teen in number, has some men of note
among its members. The most prom
inent are, Henry Barnum Of Connec-
tieut, Ralph Waldo Emerson of Mas.
sachusetts, Prof. Jackson of Union
College, and Prof. Hubbard of Dart
mouth College. The Board are expec-
ted to be present six hours daily to
witness the examination of the cadets.
The examinations are conducted by
the Professors and their assistants,
and are thus far very thorough and
satisfactory Judge to the official Wis.
itors and visiting friends who are here
in crowds. -.s.
Lieut.. Gen. Winfield Scott is spend.
ing his summer here, as usual, and
seems in good health and spirits. The
Board paid him q visit in body, a
day or two since, and had a very
pleasant time.
Maj. Gen. Stoneman is here, and
seems none the worse for his recent
raid in Virginia. He is a modest man
and has nothing in his dress or bear
ing that would mark him as militia
ry leader. Is not true mOrM accompa-
MED by modssty! The most unassum.
ing and modest man have met in a
long time is Ralph Waldo Emerson.
What pleasure to walk with him and
taih VIII utu Ou oSCm ~ tcdu
his soul. in his countenance--noth
notwithstanding ambiguous-noth-
ing suspicious but beaming with be-
nevolence and purity-you are attract
ed towards him as the representative
Of higher, holier type Of humanity,
than you meet in the common walks
of life. 8 d
Among the attractive exercises
here, are the military drills. From five
to seven O'Clock p. NJ, each day. an ex-
ercise in one of the following: in in
fantry, in artillery, in ordnance, IN
cavalry, or in the use of small arms.
The exercise in flying artillery was
the most interesting and most excit-
ing military performances that one
could witness, apart from actual bat
tie. The roar of the guns, the rat
tling of the carriages, the dashing
horses, the bugle call, the clouds of
smoke and dnst, all portrayed the
"pomp and circumstance Of war;
War is q dreadful calamity. But