The New York herald., 1868-06-04
WEST POINT.


At precisely nine O'Clock this morning the examl-
nation Of the graduating class was begun In the.
main room Of the Library Building, which, o. everJ-
body knows who has ever been here, and WEIGH
everybody who has not but intends to be here some
time or another will know s located at the souther
y end of the plain used for the evolutions OF the
cavalry and artillery of the Post. say the exami-
nation was begun 'precisely'' at nine A.
N. for the simple reason that it could
not have been commenced otherwise after
the time for its inception haa been fixed
by general military order. This can be the more
readily understood when it is taken into considera-
ton that man who wears uniform here and calls
the United States government by the vulgar appela
tion of "Uncle Sam" does everything he has to do
with military precision He gets up in the morning
at certain hour by military order; dines wines lin
the Dlhuous sense) in military order, ana dresses
ana sleeps by military order. The only thing know
OF just now that the officers and cadets do not do
here by the same general principle is irtng with the
ladies' and even at this early day of the summer sea-
son the horrd rumOr has crept about that this nno-
cent military amusement is also to be prescribed in
ts iiraits. II the order is ever issued l would
not give straw for the Superintendents head
WHICH, everything else being equal is quite indispen
sable to him at the present time of all others.
THE EXAMINATION.
The Board sat until three O'Clock in the afternoon
after having once commenced the business of the
day, ana succeeded by that time in examining in
engineering the two first sections Of the graduating
class. Below will be found the names Of the men,
bers OF these sections the subject Of the questions
that were put to them and the demonstrations they
were required to make. The FIRST mentioned subject
aiter each name s that Of the questions the second
that OF the demonstrations:-
FIRST SE(rTION
neutrality-suspicious. in water. Golfer dam,
pneumatic pile, NC. In addition, Marshall Ininutely
uescripcu on the black board all the movements
made in Grants campaign IN Central Virginia in
burg.
cation. - ' "'' - -o' ''''
g. Knght-OutwOrks.
a. SaVage-FrOntier and sea coast defences
8. Fletcher-Strategy bases and lines Of operation,
objective points, &c Fletcher also gave detailed
uescripuon OF all the military movements made at
the battle OF Sadowa pointing out at the same time
on map OF Bohemia, the various positions occupied
by each of the opposing armies during the seven
days. campaign, and at the various stages of ali the
ngts that were had, and concluding that the cause
OF the Ausrians' defeat at the final battle was that
tney were BADLY commanded ana not moved with
ceierty and that they failed to improve the advan-
aees that were offered to t9em by certain positions
6. Bass-Trenches and trench materials He also
described mlnutely the movements made at the bat
le OF NasnVllle by Sherman At the close Of his de-
scription OF the fight this cadet created no little mer
rlment among the examiners by turning about, when
rpedhiiE oi teHcfdl Scn0neld'S fne QenefalSfp
the battle. and saying very firmy, FOR which the
General deserves great deal OF credit" The new
war minister shouldn't forget this compliment in his
Official dispensatiOns.
:. Hoxie-Military positions and posting troops of
dinerent arms. lie also described minutely the
movements made by Napoleon in his campaign OF
1914.
s; Mackall-Feld forti1cations lines continuous
the plans of the battle OF Antietam lie said
the defects in the battle were that the
attacks ON the enemy were not made
v IA nr fYunr info
time so that while the federas were attacking The
enemy IN one place Lee was enabled to reinforce the
army which were not being attacked. An additional
defect he alleged, was the tardiness of General
allowed to he overwhelmed and but for Which Gene |
era Lees retreat towards Frederick might have
0. Willard -Enllading and counter batteries
10. Metcalle-Mililary mining.
SECOND SECTION.
L. Johnson-Ennlading and counter batteries,
strains on roof truss
2. A. i: Morton-Foundations, comparison of the
p0iygonal baston and tenailled system.
5. W. y. Ha-Encente and Outworks: sim ple
crown work; tale de pont.
=. Barnett-COnvOys, machines and projections:
siege OF Fort Wagner.
.. heatl-Communication in permanent works;
campaign and battle OF Gettysburg.
o. Casey-Three periods OF attack in sleges; battle
Of Ausieriiiz
:: lioward-Positons before rivers for offensive
ana defensive actions, explosion of mines.
5. HaBlon-Obstacles In held fOrtifica;ions at
tack ON The Wing OF an army; Backwater battle
y. fcchet-Mihtary mines, enlladiDg battery OF
four guns
The Board OF Visitors (who be il known have no
vote or voice whatever in fixing or determining
upon the merits of the cadets examined they beng
SIMPLY Official VISITORS appointed to make report TO
the country of what they and hear in their on.
cal capacity arc very loud in their praises Of the
secuohs Already examined. Three OF the Visitors
General frankn and Professors Peck and CoppGe.
are Old graduates OF West Point and, in speaking OF
The examinations already made frankly confess that |
the study or miliiat, science as pursued by the |
cadets ot The present time is very much in advance
of tic methods employed in their day to inculca,e in
the Students mind thorough knowledge OF the art
OF war. In their time text books were considered |
great ana almost indispensable supports 10 |
Now thorough ai.,nn master, of the art, while
earn from text books, parrot-ike. In the various
departments of military and civil engineering ca
pccaily ami the study of the great hattIe. or
ancient and modern times they are made thorongbfv
TO excel, from lectures delivered, Of which they no
allowed to take notes. The rest is all.hea"yorr
hence Tue vast superiority OF the new over the old
system of Instruction.
Tiir "PLEDs.''
The 'plebs" are beginning TO report Themselves In
goody numbers, giving promise that the fourth class
Tor next year viii be at the start very large one |
But do YOU know what 'pleb" isy He is a Young |
man, probably fresh from school, with a great degree
OF confidence In everybody he sees and everything
ne hears; He Is what Anthony Trollope would call
'hobbledeloy"--a human being OF the masculine |
gender, and, Of course, singular person, in more
ways Than one-who, having hid farewell 20 child. |
hood has not fairly reached the FIRST stage of what is
commonly called manhood. He is much given TO
thinking. with poets OF an extreme sent-
that s'there IL no place like home.,,
and, consequently, when not at that delightful
spot, be II where IL may. acts about the same man.
ner as any creature does when deprived of ITS natural
element. He always wants his mamma or his papa
10 be just wherever he Is within the call OF his
voice, so that If any naughty boy looks at him
he can find refuge IN protecting arms. sbg
brother comes In good sometimes In default of a
but then big brother isn't mamma after
AL, no how you make IL. outside Of the home circle
the pleb--and particularly the pleb who has been
brought up In the cOuntry-sees everything through
glass, or without glass, very darky; albeit his
credibty IN the existence OF plentiful supply OF
the mix Of human Kindness I'm every human breast
IS such that some people call 1t ''guRbility." by
some fatality or another the pleb's papa, or some
body who knows papa, mas strong influence with
some member OF Congress, or the man who boards
and lodges for four years 'at the other end OF the
avenuc;' and papa or papa's friend sees In papa's