The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-11
CADET SMITH Ar WEST POINT.

women, met Tor conference and prayer is
Elm shade beside the spring.
CADET SMITH AT WEST POINT.
THE TESTIMONY OF THE oFFIcERs-1SsUBoR-
DINATIoN AND INEFFIcIENcY-A FINAL DIS
MIssAL.
The New York Sun of the 3lst ult. gives
the following facts relative to the standing
and final dismissal of Cadet Smith at West
Point: James W. Smith, the first colored
| cadet appointed to the Military Academy at
West Point, was dismissed after the June
examination, having failed to pass an exam
lnatlon In some of his studies. Recently the
| Sun received letters from South Carolina
| charging that the prejudices OF the officers
at the academy led to his dismissal; and TO
ascertain the truth Sun reLorter went to
West Point TO investigate. He aecosted a
soldier thus:
Were you here before Smith was dis
missed?"
Yes, sir; have been here many years"
"Can you tell me why he was dismissed?v
well, believe he didn't Dass in philss-
ophv, and some other studies"
"What kind of fellow was hers
1.-The soldiers thought we'll of him, but the
cadets didn't. They used to laugh and
poke fun at him in riding hall, and in the
artillery drill all of them refused TO Join
hands with him when the cannOnisrs were
ordered to mount. This is danger
Gus, once in while, for sometimes thew
mount when the horses are on a fast
trot. But he used to run on as plucky
as you please, and alwsys got int
bis seat without help. Some of the officers
used to try to make them carry out the drill,
but it WAS no use. i never saw one of the
young fellows give him hand to make
mount. He was proud negro, and had
good pluck. never heard Linn complain,
but his back eyes uEed to flash when be was
insulted, and you could see easy enough
that be was in KILN humor. But after
the first year he kept his temper pretty we'll,
though he fought hard TO do it."
Capt. Robert ii. Hall, the post adiutant
said: Young Smith was bad boy.
NATURALLY BAD.
His temper was hot. and his disposition not
honorable. can assure you that the Off
GERS of this post did everything in their
power to help him along in his studies as
well to improve his standing with his
comrades. But his temper iDterierred with
their efforts in the latter direction. while his
dullness precluded his passing through the
course of studies prescribed.
X. he was always spoken Of IS very
bright lad.
Oapt. III. He was not bright nor ready.
He lacked comprehension. In his first year
he was very troublesome. First came his
assault upon, or affray. with another young
gentleman Cadet Wilson, but the
court of inquiry deemed it inadvis2-
BILE to court martial either Of them. Then
he was insolent to his superior on drill, and
being called upon for an explanation, wrote
deliberate falsehood. For this he was
court msrtialed and sentenced to dismissal,
but subsequently the findings OF the court
were reversed, and Cadet Smith was put
back one year. This fact accounts for his
good standing ON the examination next be-
fore the last. You see, he went over the
same studies twice.
r. What was Cadet Smith found deficient
in?
Capt. II. His worst failure was in natural
ana experimental philosophy, which en-
braces the higher mathematics, dynamics,
optics, mechanics and other studies. He
missed very simple question in optics, and
the examiners, who were extremely lenient
with him, chiefly, believe, because ne was
colored and not white, tried him with an
other, which was also missed.
r. Is optical science deemed an alb
solutely essential branch OF learning for an
officer of the army?
Capt. II. 1t is useful to engineers. tor
instance. But that is not the question. In
most educational institutions OF the grade of
West Point, the standing OF student in his
studies is decided by general average ofall
the students in which he is examined.
Here each branch is considered separately,
and if the cadet fails in any one he cannot
pass. will assure you once more that i'm
my opinion Cadet Smith received
AS FAIR AN ExAaIINTIoN.
as was ever given 10 any STUDENT ii any
thing, he was a little favored.
R. What was his conduct In the last year
of his stay at the academy?
Capt H. Good. He ranked 20 in a class OF
46 in discipline. Discipline is decided by
the number of marks a cadet receives in the
term. Ii he goes beyond certain number
he is expelled.
X. This record seems hardly consistent
with his previous turbulent career.
Capt. II. OH in the last years ofhis service
be learned to control his temper, but he
never seemed happy unless in some trouble.
II. Have you any more colored cadets?
Capt. II. Only one-Henry .. ripper, OF
Georgia. He is well built lad, a mulatto,
| and is bright, intelligent, and studious.
| r. Do the cadets dislike him as much as
| they did Smith?
| Can't. H. No, sir. am told that he : more
popular. have heard of no complaints OF
| Ill treatment. / have no doubt he viii get
through all right. And here will say, that
| had Mr.. Smith been white he would not have
gone so far as he did.
Other officers of the post concur with
Capt Hall, but the enlisted men seem to
svnpathize with Smith. One of them said,
81 don't believe the officers will ever let
negro get through. They don't want them
| in the army"
Cadet SIN this career for the three years of
his service, was indeed most unhappy one,
but whether that unhappiness arose from
\ the infirmities of temper, or from the persist
ent prosecutions Of his comrades, can
not be authoratively said. One OFF,
Ger attributed much Of the pugnaeity which
Smith exhibited early in his course to the
injudicious letters sent him by his friends.
| In some of these he was advised to slight
| for the honor of his race" and others urged
him to brook no insult at the hands of the
| white cadets. The mental duties which the
i ssplebes- are called upon to do in their first
summer encampment were looked upon by
| Smith as personal insults thrust upon him,
Then the social ostracism, to a lad of his
/ sensitive nature, was almost unbesrsble,
and an occasional outbreak is not TO be
j wondered at.