The New York herald., 1871-02-15
WEST POINT ACADEMY
Report Of the Congressional Committee on
tao Troubles Among The Cadets.


WASHINGTON, feb. IA 1871.
The report Of the Committee on Military Affairs
concerning the expulsion OF cadets from the West
Point Military Academy came up In the House to-
day, end was the occasion OF rather lively discus
sion. West Point Ia by no means iavorte OF the
Rouse. There are 50 many gentlemen who served
officers in tie volunteer forces who were snubbed
by regular army officers during the war against
tho rebellion that the very mention Of West Point IL
sura TO arouse their temper. As previously
stated, the committee recommend the passage Of O
re :o,urior directing the Secretary OF War to con-
verc OF inquiry for the purpose Of ascertain
Ing what members OF the first class were insti.
gators ana leaders III the affair OF January ut
The Academy, and that they be ut once dismissed.
Should this resolution be adopted It Is believed
Cadet Frc1erick Dent Grant, the son OF the Presi
dent, viii be among those TO be dismissed. General
Slocun,, member of the committee, Ia his speech
to-day inilmaoed that young Grant was one 0! the
insriga,ors and leaders OF tho mob who committed
outrage the three boys belonging the fourth
class. lie read from the testimony OF cadet Grant TO
show that he was N the habit Of using his influence
with lis father, the President, to have cadets who
had been C,cd by court martial and dismissed rein.
stated. one or these was cadet shortelle who had
been found guilty of grossly insulting OF the IN
Der OF the FIRST class. The following Is the testimony
gi1en before the committee by young Grant,
Cadet Frederick D. Grant sworn and examined by
Er, AsVef:-
question. State your age, residence and position
Answer. i am twen'y-one years OF age reside in
Washington, ID. u, ana am private In the drst
class.
O. state az briefly as you can what part ycu took
in The sending Oh OF these boys.
a. Cn The ID II January, while we he'd release
VI.
to buttermilk. where he got drunk. lie retained In
Mr. anu pao evns na he s ss q sos
down again. Mr. Daton told him not @
TO The effect that ls was all right; that he
! had arranged with FlicSlnger, that ne had him
under his control so tnat he would 60 what he totd
him 10. AT the sendnes inspection at the first
lief Ilckinger answered, .'Ah Hga,o The sentnol,
however si.reced tnt al was not Right, and 50 Ie.
ported 10 the corporal
gully OF fslsshood ana held meeting for the pur.
pose Of taxing measures to eApsl them lrom The
A. Yes, sir. There had been great many court
r1aItais before that, and our Of twenty-nre that
had been dismissed within the last ten years only
q. You divided your class Into three squads. who
were 20 take care Or these poysf
Q. Tne principal part OF the class were engaged IN
A. The whole OF 1t.
O. Are you member OF that classi
O. You TOOK part In the affair, the same as tho
a. Yes. sir.
By Mr. Slocuul--Q Speaking about tho number
OF In which sentences have been remitted, IN
how many Of these cases have you applied tor re
mission OF the seniencesf
A. Only three, Sir.
@. What were they?
| A. One was the case Of Mr. Clark class Of Ises.
He was dismissed for going down to butternilk.
wrote lester TO father, tut lie took no RDtion upon
| 1t. Mr.. Johnson remitted 1t And the other w0
cases Of Mr.. Groom and Mr. Davenport. wrote to
| have their sentence renitted, as they were not
guilty OF any offence. Their sentence was RENTED
| TO suspension for one year.
@. Whar we're they charged WITH A. Conduct
unbecoming an oficer aad gentleroan tho specil-
cation was for erasDg report; they did not erase
It.; at least, understood they did not. ana out Of
time-thres OF them for lying-the two who were not
guilty were sentenced to be dismissed and only ore
be innocent and that was Barnes.
9. DO you recoileet The case M Of shoitees
a. That was another case about which wrote;
9. Yos wrote on about that' 3
A. Yes SIR
O. Hc was reinstated?
a. Yes, sir.
q. These four cases are the only ones you can call
to mind?
a. Yes, sir.
By Mr.. Asper-onestion. Were you present in the
room calling up these boys, and what part did you
take, personally, IN sending them or
A. Twas merely In tho room; | was appointed
eight men Ia The committee to which belonged.
z. Did you have meeting on the day OF the Cd, In
which you heard testimony In reference to these
x. we had q meeting OF the class. think. on
tie I'd. We had enough testimony to convince me.
q. The boys were no. presentat any oil these meet
a 4. no, SIR.
O. Tney did not know what was going on7
a. No, sir We didn't intend TO do anything until
we were satisfied that they were guilty.
q. Who we're the moyersg
A. There were no movers
q. VINO were the leaders?
a. No one all acted together.
q. Did you see anything about yo.encef -E
q. There was none That saw; only remember
seeing three men touch them. and that was only 70
wake them m wan was sv not T9aShy a. as i
they mad been lying and that they knew It, and that
we were gong 10 send them on; we took them up
the road toward Fort Putnam and sent them or;
didn't sec them touched going np.
q. The talk gong up WAS rather menacins than
otherWife towards the boys
A. Idid not pay any attention to 1t. believe
something was said II they came bach. In the morn
Ing they would be tarrec and feathered.
u Was there lot considerable talk all the time OF
that klndS
A. believe taere was.
Q. ehat tncs would be tarred and feathered IL
they came back2
A. Yes sir,
q. Were there apy other threats?
4. Not that heard.
2. were they not told to rrn7
a. Perhaps SO. They ran about fifty yards.
u were anv missiles tlirownY
A. None whatever
Q. DID not some Of the boys have rocks in their
A. did not see any
General Slocum gave 1t es his opinion that this
matter OF renstatng cadets who had been tried ana
found guilty Of offences which demanded their dis.
Ifissal has demoraized the Academy and ruined Its
discipline. General Butler appeared as tho apolo-
gist OF the Grst class. lie did not think
the committee shoud be so hard on The
boys. "Ion know how y is yoursel2, SAID
Butler, ''au3 you should not forget that y0u were
hav nj wa NJ