New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-13
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
COMMENCEMENT AT WEST POINT.

REVIEW or THE CADETS BY THE PRESIDENT AND
GENERALS SHERMAN AND SHERIDAN LIGHT
ARTILLERY PRACTISE AND HEAVY ARTILLERY
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE STANDING OF
THE CLASS OF 1878.
fFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
WEST POINT, June 1.-THE nOtables of the
Nation have at last TO do honor TO the Military
Academy's graduating class President Hayes, Score
OF War McCreery AttorneyG Devens General
Sherman aud Northumberland Sheridan arrived here
this morning. and duly heraded with grand ga
Lutte and escorted to their abiding place
by q company OF cavalry The President also
had a moments glance at the cadets as they
stood rigdly in line before their barracks,
as his carriage whrled by. All of the officials menoned,
except General Sheridan, taken to the house
OF Maior-General sehO6eld The sightseers explored
all the many beautiful paths through the woods fringng
the Hudson visited the cemetery where Scott and Custer
and many other Of the Nations heroes are buried and
stroled the grassy meadow wherein the cadets
drill
AT o'clock in the afternoon all visitors official and
non-ocia assembled at the side OF little pain bare
grass on end Of the grounds to witness the
light battery drill Some fifty Cadets under command OF
Major Piper were detailed display the proficiency OF
the Academy members in the handling Of hight artillery
The pieces were ten-pounders aud each drawn by
four horses There ten cannon in ALL and ten calls
sons The cadets handled the cannon but regular army
soldiers the horses. For an hour the drill went
on. All the eyOutlOns that battery OF artillery
would have to go through with in battle displayed
There was the slow march in file az If on country
road; the sudden qGekG,nng into RAPID galilOP as
battle che swift dePloynS into INTO position osd
marvellous quickness in loading and firing Frequently
there would be change OF position I'D the battery Wit
moving from the spot where II was situated The
cannon would be reversed, the cassOns would rattle
To what the new rear and the cannon would
again begin to thunder At times the battery would be
hurried from end Of the field 10 The other, the
horses galOpng madly aud the gunners holding on to
aud would again be fred All the processes OF
medatey in front Of the President and other ohcai
visitors Mr. Hayes had his black cloth coat 6uttoned
lightly his breast aud stood with clasped hands
drill General Sherman evidently deeply interested,
stood there keenly watching the evOlutions, mean
while keeping his nervous hands buried deep
lily with friend concerning the drill a2d MT;
Devens and MI. MeCreery chatted with friends, and
President end warmly shook him bv the hand He
finally had almost General SchOhelds carriage
to escape kindly greetings Getting in the carriage,
he bowed his thanks and was driven away.
President late in the afternoon received the cadets
TN company with Generals sherman sheridan aud Sch0-
field secretaries McCreery and Devens The review
took place beautifully level piece Of ground lying 40
base OF the hills that overlook the place on The west
Across this lawn the cadets IN ther WeHknoWn gray
jackets and white trousers came marching healed Dy
the President ana stoou III "a lohE auu hlulOs,
able line before him. After going through several
President and the officials with him. the President and
party advancing the line Of cadets and passing in
front and back of It, Then at the request
OF the President the battalion vent through
ifs usual complicated drill The cadets marched I'm
every kind order, aud held their meanwhile in
tie various positions Once they all went at double
quick In columns before the President All OF the drill
vas done without the assistance Of music In marching.
The marching excellent, and the cadet officers
seemed thoroughly acquainted with their work To the
civilian there plumbers. At the conclusion
OF the parade cadets marched back 90 their barracks
Al the parade the cadets today their standing
In the class revealed 20 them Mr.. Derby, the head
man the class. OF the late Lieutenant j. q.
Derby OF the Engineer Corps. better known under the
name Of " John Phoenix" "a one OF the
bumorists OF the land The next IN
rauk: Iusk. Hobbs. Mcneil, server, Petit, and
Howard have had no relations connected with the
The elias. started with I62 members, and subsequently
was Increased TO 175 by men In higher classes
falling back. IL Is evidence Of the thorough
ness Of the Academys course. that only forty
three Of these were graduated to-day.
several men. who had passed all OF the
four years examinations up 20 the OF the past week.
failed pass tins and had the bitter dsappOnt-
ment being told to-day that they would be rejected
They did appeara the parade after the honor we're
announced.
The graduating class without their muskets marched
In the graduating officer, saluted HIM, ana then
broke for the last time rs class. They then
went 10 OF the parade ground, and as the lower
classes passed heartily checred them. Tney wound up
their rejoicing by hlnging their hats IN the AR.
graduated the standing being gyen on general merit