The New York herald., 1872-06-15
w EST POM
The Secretary of War Award
ing the Diplomas.
The Address Of General Bellmap to tho Gentle
mon of 1s72-standing Of the Graduates
and the Order Of General Merit.


General Ruger, the Superintendent, had made prep
aratiOns to have the ceremony held In open air on
the grassy plot near the chapel but West Point
officers can no more propose and at the same time
dispose everything just as they see fit than most
mOrtais, and the General learned this no doubt
to his great disgust this afternoon, when a fierce
rain storm set In, ehectualy putting an end to all
the open-air Intentions. The ceremony was very
short one In the chapel Owing to the rain the
visitors In attendance were not numerous and
those who were present were for the most part
friends or relatives of the graduates. The Secretary
of War, General Belknap, delivered the diplomas,
and, after the last "immorta" had been made
happy by the receipt of his shecpskln certificate he
addressed the graduates as follows:-
GENERAL BELKNAP's ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN or THE CLASS OF 1S72-It is a
difficult task, at q time like this, and at
moment Of SO much interest to yourselves, to
but whose utterance seems like the giving OF un-
timely advice; yet plain expression may be par
doned when frankness oflanguage finds its justh-
cation in the interest OF the occasion. As you
enter the regiments Of profession which, in all
lands, has ever ranked among the highest you will
not not forget & tnat you have your country's
to brave danger for her sake, to
tbp ~ sbe eeT ana 70 ner ana 70
to labor in fields OF duty more quiet yet often not
less important, and whether In war or peace to be
OF war have ceased the country expects you to
guard her honor as you would your own, and to
carry her flag with the same pride which prompts
you among more martial scenes. The occurrences
OF the rebellion through which the land has safely
passed have given this academy reputation and
name so high that your work will not be done
unless your efforts bend toward the preservation OF
that unspotted fame. And yet in this endeavor you
will find that all which has been taught yon
hcre-all that you have gathered from books and
studies-is but the opening or the doorway to the
vast resources of that knowledge which will come
to you with experience and years, Men who know
but little OF the studies OF your course are often
sound in that knowledge which time fastens on the
mind OF the observing man. and while your associa
tions may often be with men unearned in books
you may sometimes gather wisdom from them, and
find them no unworthy rivals. 1t is not neces-
sary for me to remind you Of that great
uprising of the people, when, from every field
and freside, and the various avocatiOns Of
business life, citizens OF every calling gave their
services to sustain the nation. Unused to arms,
unprepared for warlike scenes, and unfamiliar with
military movements, they gathered in numbers
OF men who in this academy learned the stern
duties of the art OF war; fought until their labors
closed In perfect triumph These citizen soldiers
stood side by side with men who passed through
the section rooms OF this institution; they marched
to victory under their command, and these same
leaders gladly acknowledge the faith, and bravery,
and untiring energy OF that remarkable body
of men who formed the volunteer soldiers
of the armies of the United States, while that
leader of leaders, the present President, told the
combined forces of regulars and volunteers, in his
final Order:-"iOur battles sieges and marches
have dmmed the usre M o, of the the worlds past military
in defence of liberty and right for all time to Gomez
Recall the names OF those distinguished graduates
who have preceded you in the march OF life, many OF
whom have made their names immortal. Sheridan
and Sherman and Grant and many others still live
whose names are recorded high up ON the column
OF their cOuntry's history. Thomas and Sedgwick
and Reynolds and Mcpherson and Sill and Harker,
with armor tarnished by toll and time, but with
presence Of the God OF Battles Trained here by
teachers devoted to the cause in which they are en-
Soo b" ye % 9 1
appreciate when the active duties OF army life bring
into view the BENEFITS OF the education here con-
ferred. Sadly do we recall the memories OF those
Of this corps of professors who, since last ad
dressed class ofgraduates, have gone from earth.
their graves Jealous faithful, and loving
their Calling we oo recognize 1eo their own best
the graduates whom they taught, and we
say Of them, In all sincerity that they fought the
good fight and Kept the faith" The associations
with them inspiration. Here transpired many OF
those incidents which made the revolution of the
rades Of the patriot army encamped In Continental
days. This lovely stream, as beautiful then now,
held on its face the reflection of these mountains,
while the sun, as 1t moved in its daily course
looked down upon this plain, with its light dark
ened by the shadows OF these same great hills Here
where the memories of the Revolution become more
sacred with the lapse Of time, it is Fortunate
gentlemen that the earlier years OF your military
life are cast. You take from these surroundings
public, and much to make your love for liberty
lasting and secure You read here the stories of the
Revolution, and take from their pages useful les
sons You cherish here the legends which tell Of
the trials and prvations and anxious of those
fathers OF the land, for from them we gather in
fluences which make OF US better men. In the
library OF the War Department at Washington are
many OF the original order books of those regiments
OF the Continental Army which were encamped
upon this ground. The ink that marks those
pages Is as black ever. The hands that
made those records were, years ago. still in death,
feelings when he looks upon those lines written in
the cause OF liberty nearly century ago. 1t but
remains to bid you all farewell The future OF the
country is bright beyond all promise. A career Is
open to the young soldier, which, II he Is true to
himself, will bring no shame but which may be
eventful beyond anticipation. / believe that you
will bear true allegiance to the constitution OF that
country under whose protecting banner you stand
to-day that standard which has been borne
through many trials and which, with its blended
colors brighter than ever, Is not only the nag OF the
Union, but now in reality the flag Of the Free
At the close of the address, during the delivery
of which the Secretary was frequently interrupted
with applause, the graduates and the other men,
bers OF the Cadet corps marched to their barracks
without any formal ceremony. The fact is the rain
put a damper on everything, and everybody was
gloomy accordingly. The graduates Will be re-
leved from duty tomorrow.
THE STANDINGS"
The following are the "standinRS' OF the gradu-
ates in the various branches they were examined
on. The general standing is the order Of merit
in which each graduates
Engineering.
l-Birne. 3O-Van Orsdale.
2-Grifth. 3l-Oge.
3-Blunt 32-Hatheld
4-Carr. 33-GoOdwin.
5-LyOn. 34-WattS
6-Gman. 35-NOrris.
7-ParkhurSt 36-WetmOre.
8--MUore. 37-Allen, l.. @.
9-WoOd, A. Z. 3s-Nichols
1o-yarnum. ao-waker. G.B.
Il-Wallacc. 40-Allen, j.
12-Baker. 41-Dougherty.