The New York herald., 1868-06-20
WEST POINT.
The Last Parade-The Graduating Glass Re-
Hevsd-Preparing for the Homeward March,
The Hop Aboard the Practice Fleet.

The Last Parade-The Graduating Class Re-
Iievsd-Preparing for the Homewurd March
The Hop Aboard the Practice Fleet.
WEST POINT, June 10, 1sos
The end has come. The bright, beautiful month
that four years ago took four and fifty young plebes
by the hand and ushered them, trembling, into the
unknown paths OF West Point has to-day marshalled
them into the army, with sword at side and shoulders
god-adorned, to fight the battles and defend the
rights Of the Union The drum has beaten its last
call to parade for the class Of '6s; the bugle
has resounded Its last note for squadron drill in
their willing ears, and the favored resorts, the hooks
along 'Flirtaton," where such sweet converse has
oft been held with fair loved the shades beneath
old Fort Put, the rambe along the shore side all,
perhaps, will know them not forevermore. There is
gadness in every heart, there is a smile ON every
face; yet amid the universal JOY there universal
sorrow. Old ties that have been strong from their
BIRTH and made stronger In their strength by months
of toll and labor, have been broken by blow that
was expected to carry with 1t but happiness without
alloy, and yet which has been the cause Of regret,
pain and weeping. Friends that have been made dear
by mutual Joy and sorrow have taken each other by
the hand may be for the last time on earth, and
though gladness has filled each heart to overflow
ing as the hand became tighter in its pressure tears
have stolen down many a cheek, and a something
that could not be accounted for found depressing
every breast.
THE LAST PARADE
The last parade Of the graduating class took place
this evening" an immense crowd OF spectators being
present on the occasion. When the battalion OF
barracks, as usual before parade the graduates in
their respective companies stood In the rear ranks
and without their muskets. The parade once
formed, the usual movements were gone through
with, and the band gave forth its melodies with Its
accustomed sweetness; yet there seemed to be-it
may after all only have been fancy-yet there
seemed to never SLIGHT tone OF sadness about
the notes which fingered mOurnfuly in the echoes
as they crept through the mountains and came back
with redOubled Sadness as though knowing that old
friends they knew were going away to hear them no
more and they were reluctant they should 60.
Again. in previous years, the order relieving the
first class from cadet duty and appointing the new
officers Of the corps was read, and then Adjutant
Dahgrens voice seemed to trembe never 80 slightly
as he gave for the last time the command "Parade
dismissed, !" and he and his fellow officers sheathed
their cadet swords never more by them to be drawn
from their scabbards. Then the band poured forth
a sweet home air that sent every ones mind back
almost nvoluntarily to his boyhoOd home, and every
graduate to feel that the days spent away from low
ing friends and beloved scenes had clOsed and as
the trumpets sounded loudly and the cymbas clashed
still louder the class marched forward from the
left behind them at once their old ranks their titles
their commands and their friends. The class Of '6s
was no more, and 'e9 had entered the arena of the
honOrs yet to come
Need say that there Is confusion IN the barracks
sound N Of Voices ali nS 70
as wpg 70 ye ae sSa
ended and the list Of friends increasedS That
trunks are packed to bursting, and addressed to
places far, far beyond "cadet limits;' that boxes
have been matreated with horrid volumes which had
threatened destruction to many clear head for
many month; that packages and bundles and va
lises stuffed with remnants Of four years. clippings OF
learning piled In every corner OF every graduae'
room, all labelled "U. s. A." and ready for trans
portation many miles awayf Home is the burden
OF every song; homeward every heart seems burst
ing to CO. and hOmeward tomorrow every graduate
will wend his way.
The first class had o squadron cavalry drill this
afternoon which attracted quite number OF specta-
tors, and seemed to entertain the middies very
much. It Ia said that the artillery drill which was
had the plains here day before yesterday one
OF the best witnessed the post and that the pieces
were dismantled, put together again and fired in
thirty-six seconds.