The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-09-12
The Boys at West Point.

paper. giving reninis 'ences OF cadet life
at the West Point Military Academy
The following are extracts:
T"e first cade, | ever hoard Give the
word OF command was Alher, Sydney
Johnston. and tho impression hrs appear
! ance made or me is "a clear and Jis,;nct
now rs II ~as then His s,sl~art form
and well developed muscles gave an ap-
appearance Of great strength, while lis
gentle manners and bene> olsnt counten
ance indicated man Of the tende,es, A.
fec'ions II rd TO arouse 20 anger. he
WAS ever ready to espouse The cause Of
tie oppressed. His robe nature endssr.
ed him to his felio~,cade,s and his 1850
c'a'es IN af'er life. On one Of the hires,
pages Of history must he w,i,,en .he
deeds OF this gallant soldier and true pa.
triot.
Le""idas. P"'k, .'ll and s:rsight as n
arrow. VAS lie orderly sergeant Of nv
company Scrupulous!y sric. in the dis,
charge OF his dutie', retiring in Gis man
ners, aud devout member, even then. Of
the Episcopal Chnrc'r, De invariably com
mnn'ed ihe respec' Of US all.
Robert Z. Lee held tbe two Offices in
tie corps usually filed. bv The hes. sold.
'e's OF The c''ss-se'Rea"t m"jor ard al
J"la"i. He discharged the du,ies # ,hess
Offices with ze~! and fidelity: HIS per
s"""' appearance surpassed in maniy
beauty that "f any o,her cadet 10 .be
r"'r' Though hrn in his position, and
Pe'lec''y erect, he had none Of the s,iff.
ness 3" oksn assumed by nsan who affect
TO he very suict in their IDEAS Of whs, is
'"'Iijarv. HIS G"b., beau,ifu, and svm
me'nc@', io"k-d as though they had come
from 'ur' ing ia'he his steps .~as 80
elastic as If be spurned The ground upon
~h'ci he rod lie was nolei among his
, c'sssma. .es as q grest s,ud-ur. and "a bs,.
'"g PISSED through he trying Ordeal OF a
military school ~i,h"u, a single demerit
mark ( generally gn' I5oa ve.r)-
Dn''' & Bob Lees stay al Wes, Point. I
sm satisfied TIA, he never swore an oa,h.
tasted drop Of arden; sprj,s, nor used
he weed IN any shape or torn. The
same vrt"es OF Sbsinence may he a,
tr'buted 10 Charles Maso" :. hn, ,bi,k
"Ch"r'sy' occasionally ls, alp An OATH :
a. least lie l"oked IA IL he did. Mason
was in Lees cl.ss, sod in, n,-lIec,u.lIv had
n" superior at he Point. How veil J
can rscoQ"ct his brieh', piercing eve, glen.
ming and ''sn@ppi"9" with sxci,en,en. "A
he stood a. The black board. demons,rs.
ing some intricate and beautiful malhe
ma'ical problem. Mason early left the
arny. and has since sought and e.ined
that distinction in civil life which bis tai
e"'s and pure character en,i,lsd him 10
tie ~as for long uns Com mi.siorer O
the Pa'en' Office. chosen foi his scien,i6e
atainnen,s. and filed with ability fo
several ye's a place on the suprem.
bench Of Iowa.
Jo'ePh z. Johos.on had q great dea
OF the military spirit that pervsded ,b.
corps, and which WAS infused by MILO
Worth. He was no, remarkable for BIZ
s,uaious habits. aud belonged TO a f..
set. Of which myself Vas an active nom
her. Few Of ,ha, set escaped arrest, con
hnsmsu, and cou', martial. Joe John
''on vas one Of 'hose genial spir Is tha
gave zrst TO cadets life. Fol, Of ,mb;
''on and desire 70 excel, he was ye
read, to join a scon,ipg p.'ty to Butter
milk Falls. the residence Of the i'm Iaor,s
benny Hsvsns. His appearance was YER,
military, and when under arms, no ms,
looked more the soldier. He wss YER,
expert IN the manual Of arms. and carried
NJ" muaket 90 perpendicular that il leaned
little too much to the front Though
we recos osnizsd his ia,s... ,.,.;. va b,,i,
dreamed he bad the mili,sry genius ht
has sincs displayed .s commander.
Ny old friend and class mate, John d
Mag'ndsr. was perhaps the most elsgan,
aud df'hngue cadet At the Academy. in
,h1t day. and 90 not believe West Point
has ever had his equal. He vas a 6rst
rate soldier. OF like appearance. and very
strict when on duty ss .officer Of he
day." nsvs, failing TO report the sligh,es,
violation OF regulations, even though tho
delinquent wss the most intimate friend
and room mate. This trai, in his char
actsr ! have rsason TO know from psrson-
81 experience. John vas for the corps
the -a'bi,sr Of things elegant. the giass
Of fashion,"