The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-13
w EST POINT.
Proposed Reunion of Northern and
Southern Graduates.
AN ERA OF GOOD FEELING.
Examination of Graduates in Ordnance
and Gunnery.

OF all the graduates oil the Academy next June,
and the passage Of a resolution by the alumni CALI
ing upon all graduates TO meet accordingly is the
subject Of much discussion here to-day. The idea
is 10 bring about general iraternizarion between
the West Point officers who were loyal
to the old nag and those whose record
during the war the nation, to use Professor Davies'
words, ''has read in tears;' when "from the
sunny memories OF many joys common to them all,
and from the grave OF all painful recollectiOns
never to be disturbed by thought. by word or by
deed, there will spring up closer brotherhood, q
purer patriotism and a more abiding love OF coun-
try.n ! said that the appeal and the resolution
have created discussion among the officers. 1t
would be more correct to say that there is much
talk about the matter rather than discussion, for
have faled to find any one as yet VINO is not
heart and soul in favor OF the project.
The anniversary OF the battle OF Bunker Hill nc
West Point In 1875 then, will be day long TO be
remembered by not only West Point but by the
entire country. There are few people who have
an idea that the southern graduates will nos In
any great numbers accept the invitation extended
by the alumni; but these peoples fears are ut
terly groundless. l have ascertMned from the
very best authority that many OF the graduates
who were prominent
LEADERS IN THE REBELLION
are not only willing to meet their old antagonist
OF the Union army. but anxious to do so; that, in
TACT, letters have been received from many or
them expressing a hope that the dead past be al
lowed to bury it's dead, and that all graduates
should meet next year rs Americans, without any
distinction as to section OF country or aught else
tnat would render the meeting an unhappy one-
so it will be seen that Professor Daves' appeal
nas Vote thu e va a1d sa the
fought SO nobly to crush the rebellion
extending the right hand OF fellowship to those
who believed they were doing their duty con-
Scentousy in doing what they did, Is not only in
harmony with the views OF the ex-Confederates,
out meets with the cordial appreciation Of the
federal officers. 1t used to be the common saying
q few years ago that had the settlement of the
after war questions been lett to the soldiers OF me
Witnessed the turmoil and distress and OPP
Created there for Their
q the graduates Of West Point next year from the
South and uhe North cannot but tnaugurate
AN ERA OF GOOD FEELING,
which the army will not be the losers BY in the
reconciliation among the leading combatants OF
the war, but, in the opinion OF the officers here It
LIT s :s 81 msn V sSss
by those by whom it has been made-by the Old
war horses OF the late strife. The frst move
looking to this glorious reunion, thus Durying
forever out Of sight the spites and harreds OF the
past, which were the cause OF 30 much bloodshed
and the desoation OF so many homes had to beg
made by federal officers, rom the very nature OF
things, as it would be absurd, as heard certain
party to-day contend that 1t would not be, to ex-
pect the ex-Coniederates to make an appeal TO DO
taken back into the Iod. The conquerors, and not
the conquered, have it in their power to be mag
unanimous, and while forglving the enemies to
forget the causes and the struggles that made
The movement has the hearty approval OF Pres-
dent Grant, ana learn that, as a member OF the
alumni, he wiz be here himself at the reunion
oaDNANcE AND auNNERY
The examination OF the graduates In ordnance
adjourned this afternoon, all the sections OF the
class but one bad been disposed Of There 10
sineefinS, which is paid ''pi more asse en-
ton TO by the graduating class than this.
artillery battles, to speak, where the cannon
played the most prominent part, and did the most
to decide the issue and from this, as wen as the TACT
that the artillery branch OF the service to day il
gradually coming TO lie looked upon as the
branch OF the service par ercclenc 1t is not to be
wondered at that the first class is always very.
thoroughly taugnt on the subject. Yet strange
to say II cadet who comes out first in this study
should happen to receive the maximum merit AL
lowed to IT, he would only get $50 merits, whereas
one who would get the maximum merit in discl-
pine mathematics or engineering would get
500. But suppose this question OF merits is one
which the Academic Board know better abou: than
anybody else, despite the seeming absurdity OF
placing Yunnery on par as a study for a uture
officer of the army with the meagre study VI law
ana ethics, each being given $50 merits as a max
splendidly: Two or three of the cadets,
answers as they might have been: but none of
them were 80 bad as utterly TO fail In their exami-
on the even those who not
and grasp oil their subject which at any other
place than West Point would be considered
perfect. The explanations given OF the way
powder is manufactured the materials used
In making II, the differences between the
eo oader the masss q ss
and so on were very interesting. Besides giving
answers questions as 20 these and ike snolects
each cadet was made to draw on the black board
representation OF the particular thing described.
For instance the cadet VINO Was examined on the
subject OF
BEEEcH-LoADERs AND METALLIC CARTRIDGES
not only had to tell how the cartridges were made
pieces Of which q Sreecn.Ioader Is made.
ms hand examine i and tell INV what kind Is was
its advantages over less improved styles. ana to
which the gun was composed to give their uses
and to indicate what particular features OF the gun
Were th ,n most sd prominent 10 the way OF utility
and metallic cartridges was asked, (Which do you
think the better invention Of the two-tne breech-
loader or the metallic cartridge ~ He replied at
once, al think they must 60 hand in hand" the
cadet showing by his excellent answer that the one
could not be OF much use without the other. The ex-
animation Of Others as TO the proper way to get
good range IN artillery firing, the iorce OF projec-
apparently gave much pleasure TO the of,cers
present other than those who are attached TO
the post, many Of whom attended the Alumni
cadets who were examined to-day in ordnance
cannot be described in words 1t Is the last
those who passed to-day have now really no study
to bother their heads aoout any longer, and from
now untl the day they graduate nothing TO worry
them other than the usual military exercises. The
last section OF the class VIII be examined to-mor-
row morning, and on Monday the third class
VIII be examined In French. The probabili-
ties are that the ''standingsn OF the graduates
win be made public on Monday when the diplomas
will be awarded, AND that the class wiz DO re.
lieved on wednesday,
sKIRMfSH DRILL.
mere was skirmish drill on the plains this af
ternoon, IN which the entire cadet corps TOOK
part. mere was an Immense concOurse OF specfa-
TORS the most interested OF them all In most
pronaoiiity, being the plebes, many OF whom had
never seen nlitary company before their arrival
BARRACKS mctng tne plains. eagerly noticing
every manHuvre thaS was made with an an xiety
picsuIeu on tnelr races which could not have BEEN
gIeateI nau me nght been going on In d0wnrigny
earmesL WIN pau cartridge Instead OF blank The
aepioying Oh the skirmishers over the plains was
a., very pretty sight and the constant banging OF