New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-10
VEST POINT LIFE.

THEORETICAL GUEEERY-BATTERY PRACTICE
WEST POINT, June 9-The graduating cadets
have had a very good audience to-day. Most of the
Board OF Visitors the Secretary OF War, and host of
ladies' were present, occupying all the available chairs
and even encroaching upon the seats reserved for
the Board The subjects Of mineralogy and
geology were exhausted before The questions
given were much the same on Saturday Al the con-
clusion Of this portion Of the examination. no time was
lost but the first section in Ordnance and Gunnery
called n The first cadet questioned told how 10 disable
guns and then the in which they could again be
made seryiceabe. He also explained the composition,
manufacture, and qualities Of gunpowdeT and gun
cotton and gave their comparative inertia While he
talking other members OF the class working az the
blackboard drawing diagrams and making calculations
Algebrac formulas were given to show how much
cannon ball will devate under certain circumstances
The engineering class recently built substantial
ina gnary forts and to-day the cadets, gun
ners, have shown how to most efectuallY demolish
them. The merits Of the different metals for manu-
featuring cannon have been discussed. They
have learnt how guns made, and the
names OF all the parts. The Remington rifles have
been placed the second rank and the altered Spring
field rifles have been made superior 70 Them Various
guns, cartridges and other munitions Of war lying
about most murderous profuson. we're explained In
very familiar way. About half Of the class were exam
ined to-day The Academic Board occupied portion Of
engineering The last section In the geologic sciences
acquitted themselves the surprise and pleasure OF
their examiners, very favorably compared with the
first section.
This AFTERNOON a drill at the seacoast battery took
place The cadets OF the first and second classes under
command OF Lieut. John NJ. X. DAVIS, handled the heavy
guns with great deKtery The guns, two Parrot guns
of 10 and s-nch calber. and two Rodman guns OF Is
inch, had lately been painted. aud consequent
~ required a little strength and time 70
work. Being heavier, too, than those used IN the
previous exercises the cadets bad 10 work slower hut
they were loaded and fred with considerable rapldty
They pred them back put In the powder, hOised the
big shot or shell 70 the muZZe and put in, aud then
1t must have been warm work; the spectators on
the bluff behind the battery found " very lncomforta
BILE standing under the hot rays OF the sun,
and did not stay long. The hrin9 was
very good. One ball from Goldman
gun fred from the night piece. could be watched It's
eure course, and seen TO strike the target ana
nearly demOlish IL.
Five OF the cadets OF the graduating class have been
unfortunate be detected out OF their rooms AFTER
taps." They are under arrest, debarrcd frum
hotel. hops and the grand ball, and will
probably have 70 remain here for week after
their classmates have departed. A large number OF
ladies' with several officers Of the post and others about
this afternoon, The expedition ORGANIZED by
Lieut. Thomas H. Barber and his brother omcers High
land Lake Is beautiful place for such excursions, being
about six miles from CoZzens's Hotel and easily acces
sible by "A zoe driving road lately built.
Gen Sherman has again disappointed his friends
here Itis nov stated that he will not be here until
wednesday TIE event tomorrow will, of course, be
~ arrival OF Gen. Grant.