New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-08-27
From south CarOIinn.

tphoAp'Hs 49, - -A"f1' ~ iS'T'
T,.he Editor Of the ysp yati,nal Era:
SIR: Ny communications, thus far, have
brought me to the end of my first year at the
Academy, and now we come to the events
of the second. In June Of 1871, the proverb-
ial silver lining, which the darkest cloud is
said 10 have, began to shine very family in
the West Point armament, and l thought
that at last the darkness Of'my cadet life was
to be dlspelled by the appearance above the
horizon of another colored cadet. And, in
deed, | was not disappointed, for, one day,
l was greeted by the familiar face and voice
of Mr.. ii. A. Napier, former fellow-student
at Howard University. Soon after his arri-
val, and admittance, the corps. of cadets,
accompanied by the ''plebes," took up quar-
tiers in camp-'plebe camp" to the latter,
and "yearling camp" TO us who had entered
the previous year.
During the cadet encampment, there are
certain dances given three times each week,
known as "Cadet Hops" These shops"
are attended by the members of the first and
third classes, and their lady friends, and no
'.plebe" ever has the assurance of dreaming
of attending the chops" until he shall have
risen to the dignity of a ''yearling"-third
classman. So long as was ''plebe," no
one anticipated any such dire calamity as
that would attend the "hops," but as soon
as l became "yearlng," and had perfect
right to go, if l wished, there was a great
hue and cry raised that the sanctity of the
RI IN ho Nj, tai L., x1,o IL
ored cadet.
Meetings were held by the different classe 8
and resolutions passed to the effect, that as
soon as the colored cadet entered the shop
room, the shop managers were to declare
the shop" ended. and dismiss the musicians.
But the "hops" went on undisturbed by the
presence of the colorcd cadet for two Or three
weeks, and all began TO get quiet again,
when, one day, my brother and sister, with
couple of lady friends whom they had come
to visit, came to camp to see me.
This started afresh the old report about
the ''hops," and every one was on the gui
r:re to get a glimpse of "nigger Jim and the
niger wenches who are going to the hops >
as was remarked by cadet who went up
from the guardJtent ito3spread =. the alarm
through camp.
In few minutes thereafter the "gentle-
men" had all taken position at the end OF
the company street." and, with their opera
glasses, were taking observ atoms upon those
who, as they thought, had come to desecrate
the ''hop" room. / was on guard that day,
but, not being on post at that time, was
sitting in rear of the guard tents with my
friendS-that place being provided with camp
stools for the accommodation Of visitors
when a cadet corporal, Tyler, of Kentucky,
came and ordered me to go and fasten down
the corner of the first guard tent, which stood
a few PAGES from where we were sitting.
Invent to do so, when he came there also
and Immediately began to rail at me for being
SO slow, saying he wished me to know that
when he ordered me to do anything, 1 must
''step out" about it, and not try to shirk it.
| said nothing, but fastened down the corner
of the tent, and went back to where my
friends were.
In a few minutes afterwards he came back,
and wanted to know why 1 hadn't fastened
down that tent wall. told him that had.
lie said it was not fastened then, and that
he did not wish amy prevaricatiOn on my
part.
then told him that he had. no authority
10 charge me with prevarication, and that il
he believed that l had not fastened down the
tent wall, the only thing he could do was to
report me. 1 went back to the tent and
found that either Cadet Tyler or some other
cadet had unfastened the tent wall. so
fastened it down again. Nothing now was
said to me by Cadet Tyler, and went back
to where my friends were; but we had been
private soldier mc to us and said, at is
near time for parade, and you will have to
20 away from here" Inevcr was more sur
pri>ed in my life, and asked the soldier what
he meant, for surely thought he was either
drunk or crazy, but he said that the supern-
tendent had given him orders to allow no
colored persons near the visitors seats DUR
Ing parade.
asked him if he recognized me as n cadet.
He said he did. then told him that those
We're my friends, that / had invited them
there to see the parade, and that they were
going to stay. He said he had nothing to do
with me, Of course, but that he had to obey
the orders of the superintendent. l then
went to the officer Of the guard, who was
standing near by, and stated the circum-
stances to him. requesting him to protect US
from such insults. He spoke to the soldier,
saying that he had best not try to enforce
that order, as the order was intended to APP
ply to servants, and then the soldier went
of and left us.
Soon after that the drum sounded for par
ade, and was compelled to leave my friends
Tor the purpose Of falling in ranks, but prom
ising TO return as soon as the parade was
over, little thinking that should not be able
to redeem that promise; but such was the
case, as shall now proceed to show.
just as the companies were marching OIL
the parade ground, and before the guard was
dismissed. the "oflicer in Charge" Lieut..
Charles King, Fifth Cavalry, came to the
guard tent and ordered me to step out OF
ranks three PAGES to the front, which did.
lie then ordered me TO take off my accou-
trements and place them with my musket on
the gun rack. That being done, he ordered
IN fala MIA 10, bo of tho