The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-16
Reception Of the Midshipmen
by the Army Cadets.
Awarding of the Diplomas by
General Grant.
THE THREE STARS" OF THE CLASS.
THE GRAND HOP.


of brilliancy beauty and attraction. The sum- which
even in his most petuant humors has never been
known to bear i'll wiz to diploma day, from be-
hind the eastern mountain tops this morning all
glowing and smiling, with clear blue sky before
him and all about him. while gentle, cooling breeze
has served to temper his sometimes too ardent greet
ing.
THE VISITORS.
Steamers that came up the river steamers that
came down the river and boats that piled from the
railroad shore opposite this point to the western
shore, all brought their quota Of visitors by the hun
dreds, until by noon there could not have been less
than thousand persons on the post who had come
merely as lockers on during the ceremonies OF the
day. Anlwhere under heavens all the generals with
one star and the generals with two stars came from
would puzzle even cadet TO ascertain. To be sure
there were many whom West Point calls
her sons, and who are known by sight to every
prattling child for miles about nere but who the
obscure stars were was indeed mystery. Besides,
there were hosts of colonies and captains who didn't
look as though they had ever peeped into Casey or
Upton tacically and in default of better category
were set down by ways as the disbanded of the State
National Guard to whom Fenton and Marvin gave
some time ago everlasting leave of absence without
rank, pay or commutation whatever. But the la dies
Why they swarined as thick as bees and were twice
as btzZng. They seemed to spring up from the
ground wherever you went, and were attired in as
many cOors as the rainbow. In Filtration Walkv
they occupied every nook and resting place. and when
Grant was handing out the diplomas they formed in
line OF battle just in front of every unfortunate who
happened to have secured seat along the pathway,
puIposely to have good view Of the ceremonies.
THE MUTUAL GREETING.
The mddies were the first to give the ca diets
brothery greeting from their ships this morning and
about half-past eight O'Clock the Savannah's dogs
barked forth sante of twenty-one guns, while the
national standard was run up to the masthead and the
band on board played the ''Star Spanged Banner
The effect of this novel sight in these parts was
superb. The echo Of the cannOns roar could be
heard for fully minute after the report rolling like
distant thunder behind the mountain heights, and
one echo scarcely had died away when it was fol-
lowed by.anOther and another until the salute was
ended, while ever and anon despite the
detonations that seemed TO shake the earth
at every shock from out the cloud OF
smoke, which hid the vessel from view as II by
curtain of lace trembling in the breeze, the sweet
strains OF the land music waited to the shore
clear and distinct. At nine O'Clock Battery Knox
returned the naval greeting with twenty-one resound-
ing responses, and thus formal recognition Of each
sters presence made by both the schools OF the
army and navy.
ORDER OF THE CEREMONIES
shortly AFTER the salute had been given and re-
turned the following order was issued:-
SPECIAL ORDERs-No. 90.
HEADQUARTERS .. $. MILITARY ACADEMY,
WEST POINT, n. w. June 49, 1868. I
The presentation OF diplomas to the graduating
class will take place to-day at three O'Clock. AT
half-past two ?. NJ the corps OF cadets will move
Brevet Colonel II. NJ. Black, escort the bat
talon OF mdshpmen to the general parade where
the ceremony will take place as follows, to witt
l. Formation ON the general parade first class to
be separated and arms stackedl.
2. Music by the Navy Academy band.
3. Awarding OF diplomas to the graduating class
OF cadets by General U. s. Grant, commanding the
4. Music by the Military Academy band.
5. Address by Professor Henry COppee, LID, Sec
rotary OF the Board OF Visitors.
9. Benediction by the chaplain.
T. Federal salute thirteen guns from the siege
s. Return OF the two battalions 10 the front OF bar
racks, where they will be dismissed.
g. At the close OF the evening parade the corps OF
cadets under the command Of Brevet Colonel II. NJ.
BACK Will escort the battalion OF midShpmen TO the
south wharf. BY command
Brevet Brsader General PITCHER.
EDWARD &. B0YSToN, Brevet Major, Adjutant.
THE ARMY AND THE NAVY SHAKE HANDS.
That portion OF last evenings order relative to the
meeting OF the officers Of the army and navy at the
superintendent headquarters was faithfully ad-
hered to at the hour Northumberland o'clock; ana
punctually to the minute the Academic Board and
military staff the Board OF visters and the oicersof
the army and navy visiting at this post repaired to
Gen. Pitchers residence, where the officers the fleet
were formally welcomed in few words Of greeting
by the superintendent. general introduction here
followed after which every body made himself per.
fectly at home and the army and navy chatted and
refreshed themselves together as Though thew had
all been schoOlboys under the one master and had
never been separated from each other for a single
Gay. Generals Grant, Schriner Meade and Robert
Anderson were OF the party.
THE RECEPTION OF THE MIDDIEs
Ine CADET corps, IN pursuance or the order OF the
morning. given above, under command OF General
black, az two O'Clock proceeded TO the south wharf
cadets Hr r'us,npineh andeu In ,neir D9a's. Inc
r IN ore" up m line on either side Of the
roau ana the middes, with their band at
a me- n Tea. OF their line OF march, passed
meanwhile until the end OF the cadet column was
reached when they halted, and the cadets took the
head OF the march, the two bands preceding them.
On reaching the plains they were formed In line
facing north and south the cadets TO the right and
the mddes TO the left Of the placed for the &C.
commodation OF
AWARDING THE DIPLOMAS
where were seated General Grant and the academic
ceremonies was imposing in the extreme
The long line OF cadets at parade rest, IN
the right OF the stand, with the suns RAYS lighting
up their muskets and breastpates like diamonds;
the dark outline OF the midshipmen stretching
into semcIrcle TO the left, their white gloves SEEM
ing like some long white ribbon run along the front
Of the column the crowd OF visitors outside the lines
OF the facing sentinels; the surrounding mountains
throwing their great shadows half over the plain,
leaving the other III up by the sun as II for contrast
!he group Oh artllerym@l near the napslan hWalllR
the signato make the rocky passes reyerberate with
a thousand echOes-al combined TO form a tableau
that needs only to be seen never TO be forgotten.
AZ soon az the proper formation OF the corps was
completed the graduating class moved out from the
ranks, stacked arms and marched In single 1e 10
the 'front.' or the orators stand where they formed IN
company order and received their diplomas General
PITCHER calling out the name Of each graduate and
General Grant presenting the diplomas as the hon
ored 0irs stepped forward. The General made no
remark TO the graduates In giving them the precious
parchment but when cadet Fitzpatrick came for
ward WIN an empty sleeve dangling az his side (lie
having lost his right arm two years ago in an ari-
lery practice, he spoke few words OF encourage
ment 10 NM hut III such low tone of voice that his
words coud not be heard The following are the
names OF those who RECEIVED diplomas
savage, nan W 7. Batchelder,
Bass Morton, \. T.. Fowler
paysOn, DensOn, ID. :. Pope l.
Knight, Deshlet, Ditch,
IIoXie Barnett, IInskina
Metcafe DahlRren, Weeks
Mackall, Shoemaker, Russell + W
Morrison, J. c. Forbush. FITZPATRICK
Marshall, Whppe, March
Heath, Howard, Coombs