The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-11
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
The Artillery School Exnmination-A Search
ing Ordeal-kesuIts of General Grants Fore


ing Ordeai-kesults of General Grants Fore
sight.
Correspondence Associated Press.
FORTRESS MONROE, April 9-The annual
examination of the lieutenants and non-com-
missioned officers who have been under in
struction during the past year at the Artillery
School of the United States Army commenced
at Fortress Monroe on the LIST instant, and is
now progressing.
The examination is conducted by q board of
artillery and ordnance officers, presided over by
Major-General Barry, the commandant of the
school and of the post of Fortress Monroe.
The examination is very thorough and search
ing. Each officer is called up to the blackboard
in true West Point fashion, and is there required
to demonstrate some proposition or problem
relating to the subject on which he is being eK-
amined. He is closely questioned over the whole
range of the subject, and is made not only to
state the facts and dcta of the text, but also to
give the reasons for them.
The subjects which are the course of study at
the Artillery School are military, constitutional,
and international law, military history, military
engineering, ordnance and gunnery, and the
study and actual practice of the drill service
and mechanical manRuvres of every variety of
al tillery used in the United States service.
The examination in this last-named subject
consists in each lieutenant being required to
drill gun detachment with each kind of gun;
to perform the numerous mechanical operations
of mounting, dsmounting, and transporting to
other portions of the fort the guns and their
carriages, and to give the names and uses of all
the numerous implements, equipments, and
separate parts appertaining to them.
That the examination is very thorough may
be taken for granted, when it is stated that each
officer is about three hours on the stand.
At The close of the examination parchment
cert fcate, signed by the commandant and by
all the instructors, is given to each officer who
passes the ordeal of examination successfully.
Last year General w. L. Sherman, General of
the army, came from Washington to Fortress
Monroe for the express purpose of delivering
these certificates or diplomas. On that occasion
be spoke characteristic words of commentator
of the school, and of encouragement to the
Young officers who were then about to graduate.
| This year it is expected that both General Sher-
| man and the Secretary of War will show their
continued confidence in the school and its OBJ
| jects by coming to Fortress Monroe for the same
| purpose.
The Artillery School is the creation of Gene
| raj Grant, who when Secretary of War, availed
| himself of the opportunity TO supply, by its
| establishment, want long felt in the artillery
arm of the service. The school has now been
| in existence for two years. and is fully justify
| ing the hopes and expectations which its
! warmest friends hoped and predicted for it. Its
success is due in great measure to the per-
sonal efforts of its worthy commander General
| Barry, who is one OF the most accomplished
artillery officers in the service, strict disciple
marian, and who gives the matter his undivided
attention.
The academic year closes on the first of May,
| and the officers who have been under instruc-
tion, and who pass their examinations success
fully, are sent to their respective regiments. A
new detail of officers from each of the five regi-
ments of artillery are then ordered to report to
General Barry at Fortress Monroe for the next
years course of instruction.
There can be no question of the fact that the
artillery of the army, and the whole army itself,
is greatly benefited by the work and results OF
the Artillery School.
Burning of the Steamer Kennebec.
The steamer N. p. Banks, of the Norfolk and
Yorktown line, arrived here at p. NJ. to-day
and reports the burning of the steamer Kenne
bee at the Gloucester Point wharf this morning
From Captain McCarrick and Mr.. Trower, the
mate, we learn the following particulars:-Th
Kennebec was from Baltimore bound to West
Point, York river, with a cargo of freight and
passengers. She arrived at Gloucester Point
about daylight, and while the crew were dis
charging some freight, fire was discovered
proceeding from the vicinity Of the boiler. AL
hands were at once called to eXtinguish it, but
go rapidly did the flames spread that it was will
difficulty the passengers could be saved.
One of the men informed us that 1t did mo-
seem to him more than five minutes after the
alarm was given until she was one sheet o.
flame from stem to stern. The passengers were
unable to save any of their baggage, and some
of them had to come ashore in their night
clothes. The Kennebec q side-whee
steamer Of about 500 or 900 tons, and ran frou
Baltimore to West Point in connection with thu
Richmond and New York River Railroad. Sh
burnt her lines and drifted off on the flats
where her hulk now lies, burnt to the water
edge.