New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-19
VEST POINT.

THE "MIDD1Es'" sURPRIsE-A MOCK NAVAL
| BATTLE - THE MIDSHIPMEN'S BATTALION
| DRILL.
| WEST POINT, June 1S.-Turn about is fair
play, and to-day the mddies asonshed the cadets The
sailor boys invited the soldier boys on board to show
them how they "hande the ropes" and manage the big
guns" All the afternoon the barges were crossing from
wharf to igate conveying ladies and gentlemen to and
from the ships. Each boat in charge of midshp-
the savannah at s:sS The Macedonian
the Savannah dashed together by the stern and
the guests who board the latter fgate could OBJ
every movement executed on the other vessel Az
O'clock the mdshipmen Of the Macedonian were on me
deck of that SHIP wearing the fatigue uniform OF blue
flannel, and ready for work. At the command Of Lieut.
Commander McNar, the royal yards were sent up ana
| the sailor boys, Selling hold OF the ropes WIN
| the old tars, went around the decks lively
| Soon after came the order lay aloIt a,,, ana
then the fun began. Lake cats the youngsters climbed
the riggng-2OO of them The sky was black with them
Up they Chamber to nights that make one .zy 70 ooh UP
TO them, living out they on yards that seem no
larger around than brOOmscks Ana now on Doaru .ie
Savannah-nOt to be oudone-the grayJacketed caneus
20 ubberly MP the rigging. TO get view. Their slow
cautious steps the middes way above them on the
Macedonian to shout and wave thelr caps het some Oh
the cadets go up into the mlzzentOp, and two Dolder
than the rest work their way out on the starDoard
T6aPo ca y,G orders s@ f0 sheet home Lay in
Down booms," "Lay down from aoft." The sails now
down, and the mddes on the run Were once e oIo
quently the mlddes went again aloft ana reeeu o
sails The sailOrboys made short WORK OF IT, anu % %
hoard tLe savannah the cadets were the most aston
ished. The middies" were to be exercised III
guunery; no, not that-they were TO hght a
battle Let the reader imagine that around that beani
fql grassy point which slopes down TO ae @ o,n s
Officer of the Deck" Where away =
Look Out" On starboard bow" ,.,
The roll of drum is heard board the frgate There
is huIrylng Of many feet, and now all is still Livery
officer and Inldshipman at ms place the mddies are
rau ed al 20
swab third hatchet fourth boarding cutiass, Iho
enemy approaches. The muskes are ranged IN racks
about the mass rifles swing from hooks overhead re-
volver in racks are placed at hand The sailors
key is ready while the heads of the mdshipmenln
castings that ugly looking weapon ue pr"sS o"SHuI
in, loaded aimed, and now Fire = Let ~
gniet on the Hudson" | don't think It ever will be-
There report and the echoes iLo t me h bce
shore was almost dende eni yc tf t6e earth had
cracked in twain that they were about To he Killed
Your correspondent seized hold of the monkey rail ana
held on II for dear NE Sang, 1ahg Yang IN. s Eu,
deck where most OF the guests had gai.ertu was n,ca
Lieutenant s heard above the roar FIRE by sue
b" Rang wbang. bang more smoke more echo, more
cluching of the monkey rail- more dusky forms hurry
ing 10 and fro and now somebody clutches me It's
stout. middeaged lady In crimson bonnet req dIesH,
and perspiring face. can just make her OUT Il am
SIR can YOU tell whang! bang bang! More
ouchug by both persons; demons seem moving by IN the
Sir will Won tell me how"-Bang bang. bang, bang
the cuchus and smoking have reached the superlatYe
degree.
Vow, a broadside, lads"
Bang.
." O. LOrd"
The middeagcd lady with the pcrspiring face and the
crimson bonnet sat down coil ~ rope. shc bent m
two shut up Ike ldcrkule ner Heels aud her head
came together; she went down like harlequin out OF
sight
Lieutenant commanding" Boarders starhoard
bow" There Is q grand rush by middcs With guns anu
cutlasscs for the stair amid smoke and hurrah
am wishing This cruel the barriers was
at Rocs boarding house. Hurry -curry ON the upper
deck The middes with their cutascs Chamber over the
bow and cut away az the air. yelling and shrekug Ike
COmauehes.
Law downr'-they dodge imaginary shot: now they
board the unseen ship, capture her ana now loud
hurrah. But hark There comes AFT the Welkuowh
sound Of Yaukcc Doodle" from the fife and drum.
1--WE have the enemy and they are ours But
where l. the enemy / look out upon the wafer
She mas suuk-Or perhaps, after all, the real enemy
/, that bumbOat rowing MP 10 the side OF the ilSAc
loaded with had bananas and cheap whisky After TIE
huodless battle the ladies who ever thus reward brave
men gave them their smiles ana their waists Tor the
storm Gaop played by the baud. The boats are now
busy conveying the visitors from frlgde To wharf, Al
this afternoon the midshpmen with their nusksts formed
m huc and embarkiHg barges, marched up the MI ana
gave "a battalion drill on the parade ground. lhc ma
ueuycrs were promptly executed the cadet, app-u1luS
Great expectation hinges on the naval Ban 10 bc gwen 10
evening.