The New York herald., 1865-06-13
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
Our West Poin. Correspondence.

W., PcNr, June II, 1865
bishop Lee, Of Iowa, one Of me Board OF Visitor
preached to the cadets to-day in oe chapel The &c
ofess partook more Of the character Of lecture Hee
Iam'ar and easy talk. made up OF plain snd prac'cs
n"s ana advice to the young men OF the Ac emy ina
sermon Prosy sectarian, dogmatic and didscc ser
mons, when the line Of argument runs out into th'
seventeenth and twentiethies not very apt 70 bt
reished by the young men OF this generation, and
preaching such sermons very much like throwing seed
upon stony ground which not very likely to take very
deep or lasting root The Right Reverend speaker on
this occasion showed in the Style and subject matter Of
his DISCOURSE development Of broad, homeike COM
mon sense, and good understanding Of human nature.
and carried weight with it,
ROBINSON HOUSE.
As much part Of West Point is the Robinson House
as the ghost is . part Of Hamlet. This afternoon
visited this historical mansion which fingers such
deep and tragic interest from its association with tho
stirring Of the early Revolutionary General
Washington Ia well known had his headquarters here
Under s roof and broad porches here dned and talked
with him the leading revolutionary generals While
ascending the path leading from the river TO the house
Alexander Hamilton aid then OF Washington placed In
his hands papers announcing the capture Of Major Andre
and revealing the raitorous design Of General Arnold
'Whom trust nowf" the great cheftain tearfuly
asked Generals Lafayette and Knox who were with him.
1t was trying moment But need not rehearse the
particulars OF this most painful episode In that great
struggle for national existence and freedom Arnold had
fed only few moments before. Finding his treason
discovered he told his wife his danger, leaving her in
swoon pressed kiss upon his sleeping infant boy, sum-
moned the coxswan of his barge ordered horse and
dashing down the path yet called Arnolds path the
coxswain on foot he made his way to the dock near
which the Hudson River Railroad now cuts its way.
barge bore the breahess painting renegade under
of white handkerchief raised on a stick as flag OF
truce, in safety to the British ship Vuture, lying down
the stream.
-, Two miles below here, on the opposite side Of tho
mansion comprises three buildings Joined to-
geher, extending east and west, and fronting
north and south Nearest the river the oldest Of the
three budingshe original farm house one story high.
The other two buildings two stories high, broad,
but plain and neat piazza from the northeast and south
original appearance both inside and out has been most
carefully preserved There is the low ceiling tho
same beams bare overhead, the same scrollwork the
same polished tiles adornng the frepaces without man
tells, the same wide hail. same absence OF ornament
throughout cbaracterizng anti-revouonary architec-
ture in this country and portion OF the same furniture
In the upper story OF the building 10 what Ia
known as Mrs Arnod's roomtho room where he parted
with his wife and boy In room below arc three PIC
lures on wood said to have been hanging In their early
days from the same places on the wall as nowa One Is
representation of castle in ruins whose fragmenary
walls are covered with creeping ivy; tho second ia
woodland scene, whose design and beauty II there
ever any about It, requires too sharp sightedness and
three deer placdly drinking from very placid stream
In the hall are two very old prints The Cottasers
:aTn o xo Of Washing
ton are in the parler-one from Peel's origi-
nal painting Here are sideboard. clock,
among the original furniture An antique table in tho
hall and quaint chairs OF undoubtcd age arc likewise
cassed among the earlier household relics Seeing all
these, what strange thoughts rcnd the brain-what
strange images like shadows come like shadows depart.
Hero sat and talked and planned hers walked and prayed
tried and patriotic men, who nobly staked their lives.
their fortunes and their sacred honors in the great sug
gle here Joined their eounses and hearts WIN ann IN
breathing presence Arnolds dark and ugly form nits
by and the spirit sbudders at the sight OF the passing
phantom. Now go to the porch into the ontcr air.
The shines upon US, the same mountain sum-
mts look down the same river courses Its way at
feet, the are full Of the music Of BIRDS the
doeth all things well breathe thanks that the country
saved from Arnolds troachery The family of Cyrus
w. Field, Esq, occupy the place. which Ii owned BY
Colonel thomas W. Arden the United States volunteer
service. le.Et .
WEST Porxr, june f0 1885,
And still the examination Of tho graduating class drags
its slow length along Ordinance and gunnery the
subjects under examination to-day, and while there s NO
falling OF In the readiness and correctness OF replies 70
the questions there is the usual attendance OF spectators
whose rather increase than sacksn
the examination progresses.
INCLINED BACK
Among tho faithful in attendance at these exsmins
the perpexng Of catechsm which the cadets
subjected has had deuoralizng effect upon two Of
these new comcrs and quondam aspirants for military
h0nors The refer to have sent In applications for
permission to withdraw their names candidates
''why do you wish to give up entering tho Academys
an officer asked ono Of those young men,
sPlain truth H. aint got enough TO 60 through
here, very freshly answered the youth
.Your fresh answer to mss very much N your favor
trial 1t will be time enough by and by to put your
qualifications TO a test.
nothing change me" responded the young man, ~
am going try the thing and then finally be kicked
out for damned fool, and 60 labelled as damned
The officer argued farther but 1t use- The
young man had fully made up his mind and
fools pass along without such sure guaranty OF
detection ~ here. Young number two Was told,
wishes to go home 70 his parent. Tor the same reason ~
well II there few more OF like catalogue or the
eighty to be examined for admission ono quarter will
thrown overheard before six months are ended. The
only way the difficulty is by competition State
friends OF the Academy have been strongly urging for
years
SWORD nAyoSEr KxKRcrH.
The fourth class, at Ave O'Clock this afternoon, in
presence Of the Board Of Visitors gave exhibition Of
their skill at the small sword and bayonet exercise
Next going through the manual OF this is one Of
the frst things taught In the Academy. Clashng Of
scmetars makes up the bulk Of rectas Of oriental war
tales much OF which, suspect, Is imaeinative Here
deadly intent repe;e with activity, animation and cx
element One has TO be severely alive 10 the rules Of
parry and thrust 10 escape without blood letting.
noRrAR PRACrJCA
Decidedly the most Interesting, novel and exciting ex
hibon Of tho has been the mortar practice this
evening given by the first class In the explosion or
the moftsrs the nery tracks Of their scsttered con-
tents describing mady curious curvtures across the sky
in tho continuous roar Of the rapid firing, IL near
the ofrcpcated reality within the past year in front of
Petersburg. II vivdly real for what was 80
ageeably unreal Everybody was out TO look ~ IT, aud
everybody pleased.
LIEUTENANT 0sSERAL SCOTT.
30 rapidly convaescng General Scott that TO day he
paid visit to Newport. Tomorrow IN his seventy ninth
birthday.
Obituary.
FIRLD MARsHAL MAGNAF.
Marshal MAoHAS, who died In Paris on Monday, May
49, Of an sccutc attack Of peritons born In Paris
In 1901 TIA stud,cd Law until thu are of cchteen when