New-York tribune., 1879-06-11
THE SCHOOL or THE SOLDIER.
EXAMINATION AT WEST POINT.

EXAMINATION AT WEST POINT.
FINE WEATHER AND GREAT CROWD OF VISITORS
NEW BARRACKS wANTED-How OFFICERS ARE
SELECTED FOR THE CADET CCMPANIEs-A MIS-
TAKE ABOUT THE SIEGE BATTERY DRHL-A
FINE EXHIBITION II THE RIDING ACADEMY.
WEST POINT, June 10.-Eyerything points
to a brilliant closing Of the academic year. The
clouds OF yesterday afternoon passed away, leav-
ing a promise OF clear weather for the next
three days On Monday the arrivals were very Dumer
and to-day every train from NewYork brings more
At the West Point Hotel longer to be had
and gentlemen consigned TO cots in basement and
attic Cozzens's Hotel is filling up. There enough
young ladies present to make the hall shine with
grace and beauty evening, when the grand
ball will be given by the Second Glass in honor OF those
whose places they will I'LL, for the First Glass will
be graduated Thursday large party, composed OF
military officers and prominent Government officials
accompanied by few ladies, is the way here
from Washington. The General of the Army William L.
Sherman isexpeoted and possibly Secretary Sherman;
Secretary OF War McCrary, Secretary schuz AtOr
ney-General Devens and ChiefJustce Waite The usual
address to the graduating class will be delivered on
Thursday by General Pope.
The Board OF Visitors has been reinforced by George
W. Jones' OF Ohio and Robert NJ. McLanc, OF Maryland
who comes IN the place Of General q" Joe ,"
Johnston. The different committees spend n part
OF each day obtaining Information and discussing
the various subjects in hand. As rule, each Board
Of Visitors that here contracts warm friendship
for the Military Academy. and soon finds itself IN
mood to encourage improvements in buildings and
equipments. The daily exercises at the Academy,
and the yearly results, coupled with the fresh.
vigorous, manly appearance Of the cadets. are
the best advocates Of the Military Academy
The Committee on Buildings following in the footsteps
OF predecessors, and with additional force
OF reason, VIII recommend that extension be built
the cadet barracks to accommodate upward OF thirty
cadets. The cadet corps numbers 26S young men,
and the possible number which may be in attendance
approaches close 800. The number Increases with
each new State taken into the Union. It has
already become necessary TO assign third
man to several OF the rooms, which only intended
to accommodate two cadets. This must affect the dis
cipne Of the Academy for the worse because nOtwh
standing the strict military supervision which prevails
here the old saying that "two boys half boy and
three boys boy a Is not without force In its
application TO the cadet barracks recommendation
for an appropriation to complete at least part OF the
and handsomely designed hospital will probably be
made Some fault is found with this hospital building.
1t is being built massvey, OF stone, and seemingly to
last all time. The opinion is rapidly winning ground
among medical that hospital buildings should be
torn down and built OF materials at least every
sixth year. The interest the sum necessary to build
this new stone hospital would suffice to build
wooden hospital once in years, and go far besides
toward payn ng the running expenses.
The Committee Education and Course OF Study
seem TO be very well pleased with what they
and heard and will do little more than to strongly COM
REard is well satisfied with the work OF the past year.
and is felt that the classes have. on an average al
tanned unusual degree oi proficiency 10 SAID That
he five cadets who lead graduating class will show
higher than their predecessors OF year ago
SIrSady been awarded 10 F. v Abbot son of General
Abbot. who l. member OF the Board Of Visitors. He
stands well forward that the Academic Board Is not
likely to change the popular decision.
Their own relative standing Is matter OF mueh specn
az they attain First Glass honors Will supply the quota
OF officers for the four cadet companies OF the coming
aduanl OF the corps. unless he happen 10 nave weak
voice The four standing next on the list are taken for
and The third four for nrstlieutenants. though
most Of the cadets o"S would prefer hr'
little sport was concoeted by some Second
Class last week paper purPoriips TO give 1 the
official list OF appointments and 70 have been " hiYed
or distracted from toe Quartermaster's ohce. was
posted m the usual place for the n o tSns Iuca
who might reasonably expect high offices were reduced
the phrase is the lumpiest men in the class but not
especially high in the order OF academic merit were
Late yesterday afternoon the field artillery drill was
executed the cavalry parade ground and proved one
plenty of dust smoke noise and reverberatng echoes
the heavy rolling gun and caisson carriages MADE
the earth trcmbe when the batteries we're sud
denly wheeled from one position into another.
The cadets who manned the siege battery ON Saturday
and hred ut target about threeqnarters OF mle ds
tant have grievance against those VINO circulated the
fasehOOd that the target got the best OF the encounter
1t was mpossiolet TO sec, without very strong eass
whether the target hit or not Since II was made OF
the shots passed through without kn0ckng out
of position. But tho spectators believed the target was
unscathed ana many cadets thousht me same, reh I
ing that tho rget would not be exhibited at the hOel
this year. Instead OF being poor the fire was wonder
fully accurate. TbrtysN out OF fortyelght shots passed
through the canvas. and three OF them were " bulls
eyes" Every shot Of The hnal broadside took effect
Equally skilful In different way. we're t1e twenty
six men OF the hist class, who took part al
$50 p. ~. today n tGe drlll known 9s p,,,L, the
rfaint than
small balconies side, were packed 10 suioca
ton with many ladies and few gentlemen AL the lo
doorways the scsrOlds or one kInd ana ahothsr Nore
ertemporized ana young ladies and cadets ana young
gentlemen ciyans dress VINO therefore have no KIND
of Importance at West Point were perched upon theSe
shaky seats Colonel BeaomOnt directed the drill The Gu
dets made 10 execute several graceful eVou
tions and then showed their skill with the revolver and
s,bre While in the saddle Balls covered with leather
or they sometimes termed leather heads, were
and two were hung against the walls at the height OF
mounted eayalryman. Each cadet fired az the mead on
the pole at gallop. them drawing DIS SABRE.
hnTso,s belly cut at . head lying the
ground me saddles afterward removed and with
at "a smart gallop. drew sabre; struck az head on
post at the grOuud thrust az the pad on tue
wall hurdle aud at the same time cut az another
head post Nearly every cauet sao"ed
remarksble skill and many wero cheered for
hitting every head IN their course and the heads were
so placed require almost esery possible KIND OF
thrust and cut Last OF all the men removed their
and several times were ordered TO sprlug on aud
on their horses wolfe running. There was only one
nishan A cadet yaulted so nigh the swiftness OF his
scceieraug his motion through the air. that ne
went completely over MS horse ana struck tnl engh
on the ground He was M in an instant ana soon re-
The ladies were not alone in shuddering on
account OF the daring OF the cadets one gentleman
ger ou. aud would rather his son In dry goods
store than daring soldier. ine Held OF practice
the Tnrd Csss mathematics and the Fourth Class In
frooch