New-York tribune., 1868-07-06
VEST POINT.


HISTORY OF THE POST-APPOINTMENT AND AD-
MISSION OF CADETS CLASSIFICATION OF
... CADETs-MILITARY SCHOOLS OF EUROPE-
CADET LIFE.
AS many of the readers of The TRIBUNE are
doubtless interested in the proceedings at west Point
send brief history Of the Post compiled tom
Kindly furnished by Major Boynton Adjuant OF the fos
author Of the History of West Point and u 8 Military
Academy a work that have referred 10 in making up
the article The United States tract at West Point III
sudes O5 acres land the title TO which was secured
nv purcbase West Point proper originally granted
10 Captan John Evans but having been vacated by h
~ was afterwards reassumed and held 10y the English
Crown On May IT, 1723 by Royal Letters Patent tract
including the northern portion of the Point ana emDrac
ace acres Of land was granted to Charles CoDgreye
upOn condition that within three years nc OF s
shond settle and cultivate at least three acres
S Ierv FS acres OF land described in the grant
The first settlement at West Point may thereloIe o'1
nom mis- perlod on March 25 l47, another portion OI
he Evans grant adjoining the southwest corner OF the
Conrreve patent and embracing 81 acres Ol a.u va
patented 10 John Moore, on like condition OF setemSnt
within three years The patent OF CongIeNe havlg
been purchased, IN later years, Dy Moore Wa a. @ 90
phen Moore merchant of Caswen County, Nc IL p ap-
pears that petition was presented 10 sd ' rn nm
latter, praying that the Unlte9 STATES "On hn 90
chase West Point, which had already Oeen n, 50
Iong occupied for public purposes. ON TINS peu5on
Gen Hamilton, then Secretary Of the LIeasdy sur ntGe "a
Favorable report June TO- 1890 He quoted the OPINION Oi
Of Gen Knox Secretary Of War as set forth by il
in report to Congress dated July 81, 1885, that Wes
Point is Of the most decisive Importance 70 tDe Ei
tne hUE'Oh both the patents held by stephen
Moore we're to the United States on the pay en
of ConCress ulv 8 OF the same year tract adjoining
sts s MoSSe ST Sef oS GGBEfsS c on &
sum of $4,000 Along in l775 fort was 9lt on aa
Rock Island in honor Of French family who resided on
in its vicinity about the year l,zV t t'e cniitton @
tne island received, and has retained 10 Ihe Pres5 M
day o.. the q, nNnS M5g i7s. Washington then in
command at NewYork. wrote Cen Putnam ., may, nay
lands are in bad situation and the garrison on account
of arms worse would nave you send big taleI Lou
spared TO see and report such alterations as may DC
Judged necessary for putting them INTO NJ ana p0c
ositiOu FOR defense" On the lst or June Gen. ScIuE
Submitted his report detailing an inspection OF fors
Montgomery PoiS ISSt 10 Also am account of
inspection OF Fort Constitution, ana strongly ccohenu
ing the establishment OF battery az Mes rG r @
the passage Of vessels down the rYer WhIe al s
same time easy communication by land or water could
Lord stefhngs report were transmitted by WASHINGTON
On June 10 the officers IN charge at Fort constitution
little delay as possible Col Livingston IN reply. cdneI
attention 10 the omission IN the copy o. the G
Throwing NJ a work point called West Point dlrecty
opposite 10 which would be easy Ot access 70 our enc
aid tbs effcent officer could obtain your Excel
eney's appreciation. work should De III imlIeoiattg 9
thrown up on this place Inc fIOYlhcia oOnSnSIoi @
took up the matter aud the following resolution was
Rss I'd Uraruno1sy eouH;iee he appointed
% dsuse and eauy ato sEsea'0a s.s2 MsA',I-' a o ~
iss H5i.oa RIVER o. annoying DE saeaL, Up, il taei
tas@ssiyss fr igiayiag ne ehlrgs Incident ,hersto
H. E.,fsai ar I9s M 3 ,s W P.asS bs al csssss
The proceedings Of this secret COMMITTEES have been
papers Of his grandfather General James clinton
Anong GtnS Iing m ~ 'ge & ~ , ~, - ~ n ~ az ~
Fort Washington Fort Montgomery and al POiopeps IS
land by means either sngy or combined. Of pTeshirs
booDas and chains aud eEsrnsde rise And at The same
time they addressed letter the Communicating Chief
soliciting lns advice plan for the defenses Of Hud
SON. Ryer which they alleged had unfortunately
too long neglected To this Washington replied, detailing
his order to Lord Sterling and adding that he had re
Them the best possible footing lie had reason 70 sup
pose they were IN olerabe order 70 receive the enemy
On the same day Lieut. Maehiu dispatched by him 70
Col Clinton the Engineer Of the works IN the Highlands
On Ist Of July. Washington wrote Putnam 90 lam
persuaded II General Howe Is going mp the river he VIII
make a rapid and vigorous push b. gain the Highland
passes" Early IN October The British general embarked
his forces ostensbly for southern expedition, and
design Putnam caught in a trap; 1000 troops
landed day Verpancks Point the garrison at once
Point aud the March Forts Clinton and Mont
gomey. Gov clinton came TO the rescue adjouung the
Legislature then in session at Kingston and collecting
such militia could be assembled and he hastened 10
defend Fort Cintonhe had hardly time TO reach the fort
and return scorIul refusal 10 surrender when the at
tack began The little band fought brayely but were
forced TO surrender when darkness closed around them
many escaped through the Highlands-Cinton crossed
the river IN boat The enemy burned Notifications,
vessels, and munitions OF war
learning the capture Of BurgOyne, the enemy aDan-
doned the Highlands after 20 days occupation, and
returned 10 NewYOrk. The Americans soon after reoc-
cupied the works gain the subject OF forying West
Point came up on the application OF Gen. Putnam, a
committee appointed by the Provincial Congress 70
confer with him relative 20 the necessary works 20 be
constructed for the defenses OF the passes In the High
lands The committee met, inspected West Point, and
agreed should be extended the river,
fort should be built there and water batteries con
struced both sides OF the river On the % OF Febr-
!ary 1873. contract was entered into between Hugh
Hughes, Deputy Quartermaster-Gene OF the UnHed
States, and Noble Townsend Co OF the Sterling Iron
Works for the building Of chain of 900 yards opgeach
link feet ongiof which tho United States agreed TO
pay every tun weight of chain. West POirt now
became place Of Importance TO the Americans Forts
were thrown up the hnl and water batteries built
norton Of chain wa not many years raised from
fhe river and sold 20 The Cold Spring Foundry ASs0ca
fion and worked up The principal work the eastern
angle OF the pain West Point had early In June far
dvanced receive its garrison, and was named Fort
Arnold On tile 25th OF July, 17T9 the headquarters Of
The Comm transferred 10 West Point,
and there remained until the 2h Of November following
On August 8, 1880, MajOrGen Benedict Arnold in-
Gfrueted from general headquarters at Peekskil 20 pro-
ceed 70 West Point and relieve Gen Robert Howe OF the
command Of the post In pursuance OF this order Arnold
Rrfyed GA the 5th and established his headqharters NJ
tn" Robinson House. Real aud Imaginary grievances
had already unsettled this 0icers attachment 10 the
cause Of the Beyonton The story OF the treason % & S
Arnold Is too well known 10 require speaking OF oDy
briefly here Under the signature OF |" GnstaYut nc
opened correspondence with SIR Henry Clinton, Oter
Ing 70 betray bis trust Gen Clinton could not 1all 10 %
oestand the rank and position Of the writer and seeced
Major Andre. brave and accomplished officer VI MS