The New York herald., 1870-06-15
WEsT POINT.
The Last Drill of the
Graduates.
How Stranger Knew All About It-Arrival Of
the president's Family-The Colored Cues
tion Again and Another Religious
Question-Iho Awarding
Of Diplomas To-Day.

witnessed by large number ofspectators includ-
ting the Secretary OF War aud many o.her prominent
persons. The drill Is O rather singular one, and
although there Is good deal that Is really excellent
about the signalling with he flags there is much in
the elegraphy that seems rather useless During the
war insulated wires were made use or In preference
TO all other kinds, and these wires were laid on the
ground, thus doing away with poles. In the drill
to-day wagon was driven about the plains, from
Which, at certain distances. o cadet threw out q
pole to which other cadets at once attached
the wire. This, In the eyes OF many,
seems to be the useless part OF the drill; but
1t is eontcnded that the poles are necessary
when the wires are laid where troops constantly
passing and that drilling the cadets to "lay" the
poles quickly does not In any way deYact from their
efficiency in laying the wires in any other way.
There are those who believe, however, that the dex-
terity shown in driving O wagon about and
throwing poles out OF it is Of q kind which
be easily acquired by any person without all the
formal march the double quick time OF squad OF
soldiers. The signalling, as said before, was the
best part of the drill and anybody who is at all
acquainted with the immense benefit our armies de-
rived during the war from
GENERAL MEYERS SYSTEM
will readily concede thas the cadets should pay
even more attention to it than TO the telegraphy.
1t was at all times very easy in armies during
the rebellion to employ telegraph operators for a
campaign as part Of the force but before the original
corps had become well established it was
very difficult to find officers in sufficient numbers
to perform the duties exccted by the new system.
Messages, during the drill to-day were sent from
Fort Putnam to the Plains by telegraph and re-
peated with the signal flags. At the close OF the
drill everybody expressed himself "hlghly de-
lighted" at what he had seen. OF course
no person not belonging to the Academy
or the Signal Borps understood the signals and
the cadets might just MS well have been waving the
Aags for SPORT without any regard TO messages, and
the visitors would have been hone the wiser. 'That
was very neatly DONE" said poinpous looking, ell
dressed gentleman who wore military cap, as q
cadet TOOK up flag and waved 1t several times
apparently in answer to the waving OF the flag
ON the fort. "What do you refer to, sirs' queried
the cadet. "Why, that signal yoa made, sir. You
answered so quickly and the reply was so rapidly
interpreted by the other nag never saw the thing
done better,n and pomposity put his glasses to his
eyes and gazed al the fort though endeavoang to
READ THE SIGNAL.
"Do you understand s.gnalling9" asked the cadet:
"Ah, yes; vas In the army, you know, but have
forgotten g great deal about it." The cadet knew
his man In a twinkling and was determined 10 give
the stranger the benefit of his knowledge. Taking
mp the flag again lie made signal 20 the dag on the
for, which was answered, and then asked the vis.
tor If he had read 1t. "'Pon my soul, 1t was very
finely done, but really couldn't catch all the mean
10 anything more. for the voice Of his oiiicer
you me, mean + ,sa Sir, Gye M tnaf IT,, ,ag M
signal Which the visitor thought every finely donen
ma &c The announcement 10 the one in the fort,
'.rhere's a donkey Ivy NY SIDE, and the answer
came, =" ! can see the animal without the gasses.'
Can anybody doubt afer this that geese are not
easily piucked at West Po.nv?
ANOTHER CHURCH QUESTION.
the Congressional Committee, or at least those
members who remain ave doing their best to XII
heads, with .nvest4a 4ations" They are o1 Jolly
terms with the Board OF Visitors, and 'worN in'
With item to pelSc!i0n the result Of which
Of the usual Adjective magnificent" Splendid"
perfect 'unequalIed" prenxed TO everything and
babc that they vii. bother their heads about the
Church question, In which General Grant was intc-
rested, put 1t may be that th,y cou d find food
Tor thought in another question in which a church.
MN has somewhat Of an lntcre Z. And as t recalls
an incident MAJ as well begin at the beginning.
that civilian found l0iteling on the grounds was
considered Ii not lnghwayman in disguise at least
lest Ps.a he might % IN sudden IT Of Benedict
seize up0I the place and deliver IL to somebody
who knew what 1t was to be gentcmauly. On sun
days 1t was such pious place that no wagons
were allowed on the grounds, and II a
stranger did not bow and sorape and say
by his actions, III know am poor miserable
wretch. VITO ought to be glad to have you look on
me even In anger he was treated in way that
made him feel that "theres no place Ike homer
after all. In fact civilian, who paid his taxes
- support the institution, was an interloper in
those doors, while the men who goG their
masters of all they surveyed-in their own opinion.
OF course there were exceptions TO the general rule;
but the way the exceptions were made much OF only
mnny. One OF the phases OF this eXclusveness was
ia the church business. The Catholics on the post
numbered more than any one Other denomination,
and they grumbled because they had 10 regular
clergyman. The Cold Spring pastor came often as he
could to administer to ther spiritual wants, but he
was not treatd by many Of the paties IN power the
way that the Cat!oics desired. TINS Was when
''Old Buck" was in tie White House. BY
state cf aIairs and sent a letter to Arch
bishop hughes asking him TO designate clergyman
VINO woqa in WAY be suitable person to
:ssiiaos person" and ID pissdgns Ssa gasnanae las
the commandant, informing him of the
appointment Of Dr. Caro-. The Colonel received the
clergyman IN his usual hospAable way, and for once
the Catholic population were treated, through Their
paSsOr with the same consideration awarded the
Episcopallans taIcugdtheii chaplain: DR.: Caro- on
of visitors were received was Always united In com
mon with the other Clergyman, and continued for
years To be considered as sortef
OFFICIAL PERsOHAGE
as the order from Buchanan virtually made him.
While Coonels Bowman and Beanregard and Gene
ral Cullum were sNperintendents change OF trea-
menb was exhibited towards the representative or
the Catholics regard until, It is said, the
advent OF the present powers that b.. When
the present superintendent took command
the experiences OF the war had shaken
great deal OF The stii.necked contempt OF civilians
out of West Point, although too much Of 1t still
m lins. Many or the sexClusiven regulations that
had previously existed had been gradually done
away with, and reign OF liberahly IN every respect
was l0reshasowed; but DR.. Caro- fell under the ban
Of the new dispensation for some reason another
be was always at the receptions the ceremonies,
OF all kinds, ana had become 70 be iamiiarly known
to almost every visitor who to the Point but Cf
late years he has been dropped apparently from the
lit Of the invited guests. ! have heard a good deal
OF talk about the matter this season, and have en-
deatored 10 athpm the new policy TO the bottom, and
the only thingr that seems to underlie 1t Is that
some time ago the Catholics wanted to have q sort
OF charitable exhibition III Iheiv ch arch TO which the
powers that be OBJ ected. ihe priest, understand,
contended ne was pastoirof the church and The m,-
taly authorities could not interfere with II III any
way, and threatened to appeal 10 Washington.
For some reason OF another the military folks
did not press their objection and the exhibition
was neId Extraordinary to relate, West Point the