The New York herald., 1870-06-03
WEST POINT.
The HOtbed of Heroes on the High
lands Of the Hudson.
The Reception Of the Board Of viEtors-How It
Was Done and How 1t Was Enjoyed-A
Grand Review and the Examine
ton Begun-The Hop
at Cozzens'


The reception OF the Board OF Visitors took place
yesterday with all due regard TO the regulations OF
years ago. which prescribed what ought always TO
bs done by the West Point high mightnesses to
show their extraordinary regard for the gentlemen
who appointed by the President every year to get
their board and washing free for three weeks or So
In return for which they are charitaby supposed to
md fault with nothing they see or hear within ra-
dius Of ten hall miles Of West Point
THE OFFICIAL VISITORS.
The Board This year are not whit better In any re-
spect than their predecessors have been for the past
nve years-which Is NOT complimentary to anybody
and dare say they are as well aware Of the fact AZ
everybody else who has made their acquaintance.
Ihey are, as were their predecessors OF last
year, quiet set OF individuals who know very lit.
tie about military matters, II they know anything at
all, and who are quite willing, have no doubt, as
long as they are well treated to pronounce every
thing, from the superintendent down to the merest
private soldier on the list, perfection itself.
They express but very few opinions upon
what they do, hear and see, and when
they do venture to tell each other or
one OF the officers what they think about anything
that strikes them In their Official rambles they
always take care to go over well beaten ground and
only talk decidedly about what the officers them.
selves tell them ore facts. Under the circumstances
1t was not surprising that from the moment tney
were ofaciay received yesterday they began to
smile bengnly upon everybody who took them by
the hand or who didn't take them by the hand, but
contented himself by standing at a respectful dis
tance mere spectator; and let 1t be understood
that do not include in the category the orderly
whom one OF the Board misook Tor a general ana
wanted to be remembered TO his family.
THE OFFICIAL RECEPTION.
Indeed, the reception seemed to please them eX.
ceedngly, II was very solemn affair In the eyes
other the cadets did not shed tears the occasion
II happened IN this wonderful way: Ali the officers
put On their best frock coats and epauets
ana forage caps, Rrded on their peaceful
swords, all glstenng from fresh contact with soap.
stone, and wended their way to the supernendeni's
marched two by two to the military hotel on the
post where the officers and friends OF the cadets
stay ana az M walked ak up the steps amid the admring
into bewitching positions on the stoop. They actu-
ally took or their hats as they entered the parors.
ors had evidently not got posted as 10 the
fearfully grand honor that was to be conferred upon
them, and had not made preparations accordingly.
Where were they-at least where were the majority
That was the question. The bell boys were ready 70
swear earth that those Of them who had arrived had got
up bright and early, and could not be snoozng.
but more than that they knew not. AdJutanJ Boyn-
ton was the
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
and did his hest TO find lu Board, but his failure
was painful to wihe:s. Admirable Admiral Porter
portant Itiamar something Or OTHER, from Wiseon.
SIN, was not yet on the hotel register. However all
horrors have an ending some time or another, ani so
nad tnat or the reception, for good-naturel DR..
Newman suddenly came out In all the bloom
OF OF, his yonthfulness. ana then came three
were in ecstasies at once. They all shook
hands with the Board and welcomed them to the In.
tails brass puons dd he aSa Sa1
utteraole things. Then came scene OF extravaganza
saas New TSqd Yors ays s ANY o 6n
the steps, hat In hand, and called for
can It be believed ?carriages and, as
they drove mp one by one, the visitors and tile pro-
1essors got into them and were conveyed away to
Inspect the "curiosity shops' Of the Academy. The
the master OF ceremonies drew long breath. When
the Board arrived at the shops they were toted
about and made much or ana then were driven to
that taxing the Board OF Visitors 10 the superia-
tendents house Is always considered
AN INDISPENSABLE NECESSITY,
Tor reasons which are obvious as we'll as courteous.
And the Boards always appreciate the fact al least
And they couldn't very well have done otherwise
Tor there was very tempting display Of wines and
e on qap sae tSes IN the pGo which
BY any person outside outside the the caae. 5 ''espa p..
quest, did overcome the temptation to drink and be
merry If tney could, after the fashion Of the fox who
ewore ne wouldn't eat the grapes he couldn't get.
They had no cause to complain, however for cadets
are supposed to be honorary members of every lem
table with pitcher OF water on 10, where t.ev could
have enjoyed plenty OF cold comfort If they had so
desired; but they didn't. Thus much for the lecep-
ton.
After enjoying the brief hospitality OF the snpern
tary hotel. where it regaIed itself with good
dinner ana then broke into individual pieces
and took stroll until hve o'clock, when a
which they .'assisted,n as our French friends
would say. The review, is need scarcely be aid,
avery fine one, and the gray went through
Ill the required movements in a way that wonld
have made tears come to the eyes Of Colonel James
Fisk, Jr. There was little rain while the corfs
were out. but for this fact there would have
been large gathering Of spectators.
The examination virtually began this morning
and the subject which the professors tried their best
TO puzzle the first two sections of the 8 adnating
at the head OF the ratio studiorum Of the f,urth
years Term. The members OF the two leading sec.
Cadet Holden, who was yesterday badly hurt dur
ing ,s cayary va S charge and d. could not attend
whole showed tnat the cadets had not been Alto al
gether Idle during the past year, but 1t uid not come
up to the standard OF the first sections Of the class
which graduated year ago. The following are the
which they were catechsed The frst mentioned dare are
the demonstra tons on the black board, and the
second those upon which they were questioned. It
may be added that the subject Of engineering in
science Of war as illustrated in the construction OF
ned fortf1catlons, outlines OF permanent fortfca.
tions, sterentomy advanced guard and outposts and
mechanics OF engineering.
FIRST SECTION.
J. Greene-Campaign and siege of Vicksburg- Solids OF
equal resistance.
Quinan Geomeirical stairway EnGisdins and counter
batteries
Chaplin-Dinerent sysem iron bridge russesobjec
and uses of the Tenaie dem.lime, way and
other outworks and detached works or permanent
forfcatiops.
g Holden-In hospital Not examined
D. PafreySea coast deences OF the rped States Srae
gical positions and general principles Of strategy
a. WerOperatena OF siege up 70 the second parallel and
position Of enfiadipg and counter
pneumatic piles and pneumatic calsson
.. Wood-Campaign and battle of Gettysburg Pre- minary
sproaches.
Different systems Of lines of feid works.
3. Dennison-Battle of Nashville Military mining.
TO- Rnckwei-Campaign of 1914 tNapoeon) Frontier and
city tefepces
eEuoND srcTION.
Posty Iron roof uss, points o. support-Outworks
Of prominent fort,hcationa.
3 Reed-Four gun emf aiding bat.ery-Para retreat
homer-Nspoleons Campaign, lsol-Foundations.
q. B,rr0ys-Campaign Of Antietam Military mining.
q. Birkb<imer-Nozets Method-Anaysis OF redoubt OF
"a p,ace YEA " ns cvseea way anu uasefses'