New-York tribune., 1869-06-15
WEST Bnts.T
WEST POINT.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.

THE ENGINEER CORPS.
WKsr POINT June 14.--One would hardly
Aave expected It, but Mr. Bee ohers to the grad
mating class yesterday was aurng the early hours of the
nornlhg the alabsorbnE topic Of conversation. There
we're many who hSi the pleasure OF hearing the great
IaIpit orator, but there many others who were
forced tIe portcO Of the crowded c mel with
oar hearing h and hy these the arrival Of the papers
VITA their reports Of the sermon was heartily Welcomed
in feQs miaates not copy was left on the news
Boys hands, anxious everybody TO see in print
what is universally conceded be the most interesting
The rost efctve address delivered at the Point
Nj Beocher and his sermon did not long mOnopolize
tbOugts of his visitors As the hour approached for
the morniug arrive, everybody ptoe for
the first sight OF Mr.. COlfaX and Gen, sherman. When
the c. Vbhard's whistle hesrd, there was rush
from the lower hotel, and the dock swarmei with
PcoFh; and when tie distinguished officers OF
Government lanAed they found it difficult matter 20
the crowd and reach their carriages In safety
They arrived IN OF the Library just the clock
struck ten aud they appeared salute Of seventeen
guns was from the field battery IN honor Oi tho
Presidents arrival Cen sherman was not sainteu, H
he came with hs superior in rank, TO Whoin aO0
the honor is due, according 20 army IVeoa''on' us,
On their arrival at the hotel frey we're Teee'&eW & U{ d @
officers the post and greeted by PTtSloc" artr Vel
most of less distinguished cz%Is ms CiiaS look Wen as
does also Gen sherman who bears the Wegnt o s ot
stars aud the heavy and Is no more abashed
nv ibe al,Xy Of beauties who surround him thaI Il t.fy
wore Nu-fN.
49,, win nm The General is accompanied Dy MS V"o
charming t s. the Cadets Of the Second Class
1racticcd firing from the seaeoa o9tIely' y r6 lG
pieces H ia nunber-iHree FarG't anu In'ee shell
,'yjy., 8rO pounds. The target placed at a point
,,tIi' SrCI. tie northern end OF the point. Every
piece well served aud the firing would nave reheeteu
Crn Grapr cen sherman aud the Board Of Visitors
Witnessed battery practice with much interest me
ladies turned ont IN large numbers lining the sac Oh ne
hin overlooking the battery and behaving m most
line beginning 10 the end OF the noisy exercise
Therefore, has decided that the second class won the
bat understand that challenge has passed between
tine hrst ahd tine second ana ah9'het rue 9 s ia
over and nothing remains bat determine the standings
Iy combining the results of the four annual examinations
o} tb. class IL may not be for me to speak of
suhoCt which has been very prominent among the many
discussed the Academy since the adjournment Oh OU
cltss ast year-Oue OF paramount Importance TO tne
country and OF intense interest 10 the anoous % oss %
West Point. refer TO promotions ID the OOrPS VI LII
giuccrs - q, ooo, o,ase bova
Corps Which, necessarily, has always been the first IN
cured in IT, they have filed by promotions IN order,
aud subordinate positions left vacant supplied by APP
pnHtment from the graduating class OF the Academy
The Of Congress reducing the army puts stop 70
al promotions IN the Corps and iorOds an aPpoh5mens
of Engineer officers until change IN the law shall be
fhereioc DE appointed in the Engineer Corps although
looking forward with pride to an appointment Ia
this scientific corps have suddenly been deprived 9 one
very strong incentive 10 effort and among the GHefeht
ent at the change ~ their prospects beoIe Songess
took the action Of which mention has been made GER
of am aprpuutment into the Corps enter which,
al the pary salary Of s5O each had strivcn hard for
fourteen years could he increase unless accident
should send him up to CapanGyi ne pay 0i a BTsve
the Second Lieutenant and the First
the In all stan corps Ohcers too who
fes o scnt pay, have been looking toward with
painful anxiety to the time when promotion with It's
hGe increase Of income would enable them perhaps to
send their boys college, 10 replace the wornOut
furniture Of their homes Now the prospect for cadets
aud for officers OF the Engineer Corps Is gloomy Two
Of the latter, TO whom promotion was due as reward
Or faithful service have their commissions Withheld Just
as they reaching forward 10 take then Two euten
and two captains. who have remained in the army
rank hud opening closed by the iron gating.of an
ao, u Congress erected one knows how by whom.
some are waiting little longer in hOpes that a change
in the law may he madeand, II this change is not made
they will De forced 20 resign.
As remarked above it not known how promotions in
the Engineer Corps prohibited by law but the
matter will doubt be investigated during the next
Of Congress. At the last session resolution was
introduced N the House providing that promOnOnsn the
corps Should cease This was lost and similar resOu-
tOn in the Senate met with the same fate. When the
sd OF March the prohibition IN unaccountable
say Incorporated IN the Army Dill and II was passed
session, at least OF the Committee being in total
uOrauce Of It's existence in the bill
The Engineer Corps now consists OF Brigadier-Gen-
eral CuOnel, y Lieutenant COonels % Majors Cap
tais First Leuteuants Second Lieutenants and $50
enlisted men, the latter forming five companies OF EDgi-
ueer rsodiers The companies, made up Of picked men,
regularly Instructed IN practical engineerng to ena-
BILE them time OF to oversee volunteer troops while
throwing
nucleus foF engineer organizations They have regular
studies and TeCiaOns from textbooks every day, and
are drilled in every department Of practical en-.
giuPeTiug On the @th Of June, 1865, the
on GUY m i % % The baitdIo f oI & g
neers q constructing Notifications, 49, making harbor
and improvements 3j; Surveying the Great Lakes
Lighthouse Beard. on stas OF Division and Department
Commanders aud as instructors at Military Academy,
retired p late graduates Of Military Academy leave
All Government surveys aud explorations, except the
Coast Survey conducted by this corps under the
retary Of War, aud by them, under tho direc-
ion Of the lighthouse board all light houses are
details OF officers for The examination OF railroads the
Commission report upon the condition Of the Pacific
railroads, for instance. numbering among its members
two majors OF the corps, Gen. G. X. Warren and Col
Williamson. Nearly an the national boards appointed
decide upon the propriety Of building import
oosed u tat part OF engineer officers i'm the case
Of the commission that have recently examined and APP
Of The corp ere graduates Of West Point THIS fact at
least ~ the opinion Of Congess aud such bodies as the
n, Orleans Chamber of Commerce, gives an assurance
M strict leegrty M the discharge Of the duties couhded
- lhe o'eis ana tne iaet oty n.S ecen5y gwen OK
OrsOh 20 us "luhsitsS 20 !Hlfust 10 boaia OF m
z"oer officer, appointed by tLo secretary Of War the
3mporant duties involved ~ the mucAIeedod improve
ltmay be- readily IN by the above statement moa-
yer u is in dca.s, that The purely military duties Of
lhe Engineer Cops are but small part Of their laOors,
anu that any OiOE aimed az the efficiency OF the corps
Will he fe disasiEously IN hundred ways IL hoped
that sot action viii be taken at an early dag by Con-
regard 20 The bin so strangely pushed through at
Engineer Corps Will be restored both for the sake the
pubc seryire aud Tor that Of the faithful officers
suffering from tie effects OF hasy and iuconsderate
lam reminded as close tbs letter that we have with
Us at military post al this time, the President
the VePIc-idcIt and the General ~ the armies of the
United States. remarkable circumstance IN the history
The Cadets hop tonight given by the Second to the
Graduating Class Wits very brilliant affair and was
attended BY the President, the Nice.Prrsdtnt, Gen.
Mrs. Oolf.x. Cons. Mcdowell Hunter Vocdes. Under.