The New York herald., 1877-11-04
WEST POINT.
General Sherman at the Nursery Of
American Heroes.
WANTS OF THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
Drilling in the Assimilated Tactics
of the Three Arms.

wxsr Poxr, Nov 8, 1871
General Sherman arrived here yesterday At one
O'Clock, whom The storm was al It's height and a
drenching rain falling render texremely dis
agreeable to be out OF doors. The General was &C
compaped only by Colonel Audenried Of his staff. and
reached this famous nursery OF military heroes as un
ostentauousy as though hc were merely subatern
officer instead OF the commander OF the United States
army. He was met In Garrison's by Major Wherry,
General Schonelds assistant adjutant general who
cored the great smarcher through Georgia. 10 tho
headquarters OF the superintendent OF the Military
Academy, where he will remain guest during hts
stay here The usual artillery salute due 10 the Gen.
erals eminent rank ordered, but as he did not
the cadet gunners had chance 10 burn POWDER and
when the General did arrive he would allow the
men TO be turned out again.
As the afternoon advanced tho weather grew
brighter aud cleared on about halpast three o'clock,
AZ which hour your correspondent had the honor OF
some conversation with the General who s TO all ap-
pearances stout and healthy ever Notwithstanding
the iallgues Of his late tour OF inspection In the
Indan country and the Pacific slope He and
General Schoneld we're both standing tho ..stoop"
OF tho latter's quarters Tho veterans conjcc-
turing wnat might bo the opinion OF "Old Probs" as
to the Of having fair weather. Sherman cast
sharp glance the mountains across the gIens,
and up and down the river. The scenery, notwith.
standing the marring effect OF the abated Storm was
lovely The rich autumnal lines or the golden and
brown foliage, mixcd here with spots OF obstinate
evergreens which adhered to their colors with the
truthful constancy. were strikingy beautiful
"You graduated here General" remarked
The great commander paused moment aud replied
somewhat thoughtfully:-
Eyes, graduated here from the Academy"
Here his eyes dwelt upon the green esplanade
whereon he had SO often in his boysh days partci-
pated in scenes OF mimic war; whose bare recollection
filed him with an aectionats gratitude for the place
of his youthful studies.
ut Is lovely spot this; quite equal, should say,
to anything In Europe"
'Yes, indeed. It is beautiful" re)oined the General,
and unsurpassed by the Rhine scenery or anything
in the old Continent: yet it not by any
means lovely as the scenery Of tho Columbia River
That is charming have never seen 1t surpassed nor
perhaps eQualled."
~ expected to see, General, q more imposing style
OF buildings Tor the the person.
mel OF the Academy. They do strike one as being
so spacious similar establishments in Europen
Sand yet they as large as the Polytechnic They
roomy enough for the purpose, and answer we'll
enough At present"
IMPROVEMENTS BADLY WANTED
the requirements OF West Poin. says that add
uonal barrack room 10 required for the
cadets; three OF whom sometimes now
occupy rooms that were originally Intended for
two Major Wherry. In connection with numerous
friends OF the Military Academy regrets the paucity
OF Congress in granting such sums OF money as are
required by The present condition Of affairs in the
college. Grants are grudgngly made at irregular In
tcrvals, aud the result Is patchwork style OF arch
lecture that does but little credit TO the country The
nnx Qntfn nj Ia tw nfnI huIf
ished deteriorating from tho effects OF the weather
There Is no room to spare IN the old hospital, and
should any epidemic unfortunately visit the Acadomy
II would be necessary to put some OF the sick
barrack rooms.
The water supply is inadequate 10 the wants of tho
establishment. Last year this necessary element
short that for several woeks Of 1t had to be
hauled from distance in order TO make up the deh.
ciency, and this year also there about deys
in which the Same laborious operation had 10 DO per-
formed. II ire should break out 1t would be very
DISASTROUS for there is no water that could be
available IN sufficient quantines 10 exnguisn IT, An
estimate amounting TO some $4,000, for tho
purpose OF bringing water from tho Ground
Pond,n q mile and a haif distant from
Wost Point, lingers before Congress, and there
Is no saying when IL ever. will be acted upon Be.
SIDES the want OF water there Is also great want of
drainage on the northern side Of the grounds. Here
for the last sixty or sevonIy years. It has been the
iling them up that way then covering the whole
with earth. This practice must, time, breed
connection II may be remarked that during the last
couple OF years there have been OF lever
and aRue than were ever known before IN the same
space OF time.
FAMILIAR OBJECTS AND TROPHIES
On the way TO General Scho6ed's quarters your
respondent could not ai to many objects worthy
Of note that are familiar to those VINO know West
Point. Gong westward by pathway from the hotel.
the rihed gun battery, overlook
ing the river toward the north. IL Is neidwork,
cIed with ga0ons and Iacines traced and executed In
manner which reflects credit on the engineering skill
OF those who constructed It, short way the
OF this is the elm grove, where there Is number OF
bronze snd IRON guns trophies Of the War OF indepen
dence the wars oIlSl2 Of Mexico and the late rebellion
portion OF the great chain which once belonged to
the huge boom that Intended 10 close the Hudson
against British vessels during the days Of the Rovo-
luton ID IN good state OF preservation. There Is
also section OF Blskely (Engsh) guns, once
mounted In Fort Pulaski; Two carronades from Hilton
Head an eignt-Incn Blakely gun from Fort Morgan
all taken from Tho Confederates-and pieces Gil
morc's thirty pounder Parrott gun. which discharged
4,6o6 projcctiles against Charleston. There is a
variety OF trophy guns, among those from Vicks-
burg being the we'll known "WnistlIng DIck,' an
English Whtworth piece, and fine Armstrong rifle
captured at Fort Fsner Not the least remar kable
battery which nred the last previous to the sur
render oi Lees army. The Museum 0i Ordnance and
Trophies contains many relics OF the past that
ceedIngiy noteworthy did time admit OF describing
coors OF the Fourth regiment OF United Statos
infantry. These comprsc:-ihe first flag car
red, l794; retained at reorganization, 1905
1ippecanoe, 1911; Games Pen, 1886 Thlon.
alosassa, 1885; okeechobee, 1885, palo Alto,
1sl6; Resaca de la Palma 1896 Monierea
1916, Vera Cruz, ls47 Cherubusco, MoIlno del Key,
Cnapucpec, Cty OF Mexico. In The rebellion: -
YORKTOWN, Games Mil, Malvern Hill, Bull Run No.
Antetarn, Fredericksburg, Chancelorsviic, Gettys
burg, Wrapping Heights, Wilderness, SpoItsy Ivana,
Petersburg, Lees SURRENDER II any other regiment
whether American foreign, show a more honor.