The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-11-19
THE UNITED STATES MILITARY
ACADEMY.

New York City. 1t is not city or
own, as many suppose, but Is only q |
post. The post consists of the |
military academy and its attaches. |
The superintendent of the academy is
of the post. Moreover the |
post forms department by itself, and
the department takes tho rank OF a
division. So that the United States
military academy, alone, has rank in
importance with an entire military
division. AT present there are two
hundred and ffty-eight cadets in the
academy. There are stationed here as
officers and instructors in the academy,
about seventy army officers. There
are also stationed here, about fifty
musicians, comprising the band and
drum corps, one company of artillery,
who do the cleaning up of the walks
and grounds; one company of engi-
neers, who improve and repair the
grounds and walks, ETC.. and a detach-
ment of cavalry, who take care of the
horses used by cadets. Besides the Q
are quite large number of men,
women and boys, some of whom are
the servants of the officers, and others
are engaged in the cadets mess hall,
laundry, etc. These, the officers fami-
lies, the hotel people, and very few
others, make up the entire population
of the post. But in the summer, when
the hotel is crowded, and excursions
come here every day, and people drive
here from Cozzen's hotel, and the sum-
mer residences in the Highlands near
here it is lively enough.
In breaking through the Highlands
the Hudson makes turn to the south
east and then TO the south and south.
west, bounding on three sides rugged
promontory about one hundred and
sixty feet above the river. 1t is only
the sides of this point next the river
that rresents n rugged appearance
The top is large, level plateau. Or
the borders of this plateau are situated
the most of the buildings of Yves
Point. This level tract is called the
Plain, and is used for military evolu
ton. One-half of it is gravel for cav
airy and artillery, and the other half Is
lawn for infantry drill and dress pa
rade. On the south end of the plaiI
are the library, chapel, academy ant
barracks; on the west side are officer
residences; on the north end are Trop
ley point and the hotel; on the cas-
side, Fort Clinton and several batterie
of artillery. Southwest, west ant
northwest are the Highlands. Noun
: Independence, right back of barracks
is the nearest of these mountains. Ol
its top are the gray ruins of old For
Putnam, built during the Revolution
by the general of that name. From tn
crumbling ramparts of this ruined for
can be had the most enhancing views
The course of the Hudson for fort
miles, and the entire bend at Yves
Point, can be seen. Ten miles to tn
north is the city of Newburgh. Th
little village of Cold Spring is abor
two miles to the northeast, on the lei
bank; right across from Trople
Point is Constitution Island, OH whic
can be seen the ruins of Fort Constitr
, ton; and opposite Cold Spring are til
To the east and south is wild, uncut
waited, mountainous tract of country
Q among whose woods and rocks stan
some of the finest Summer residences
All these things are on either side, an
: the Hudson flowing down between
Y with its palace steamers, sail boats an
! river crafts of all kinds, gives the seen
lofty beauty which is beyond descriI
lion. This passage of the Hudso
, through the Highlands at West Poin
has been pronounced by travellers on
of the finest river passes in the world
To the traveller passing West Poir
by rail or steamer only part of some {
the buildings can be seen. As /
approaches from the south, he ma
catch glmpses of the hospital, mes
i hall, academy, barracks, adjutant's o
: flee, library and riding hall. Passin
Rouse a thd hRPPjjSaf .bs will Fss the iggl
of Fort Clinton, KosciusSo's mont
ment. AS he reaches the north side
he will see the hotel, few residence
: aud other buildings, and the cemetery
) But the first object that meets the ey
of the south bound traveller rs he near
West Point, and the object upon whicl
the rorth bound traveller bestows
last, lingering look as West Point fade
from view, is the flag flying from il
tall staff on Tropley Point. This bar
: ner which floats so proudly in the clea
sunlight is the stars and stripes, no,
the colors of one of the great nations o
the earth; and it strikes one as EN-
> nently fitting that the very flag TO
which ones fathers struggled in tn
dark days, one hundred years age
should now daily be unfurled to tn
breeze of heaven on the very scene c
those struggles, and should be revere,
by all who see it as the emblem of bro
very, prosperity and freedom.
Before the American war for indie
pcndence, this place presented m a,
traction beyond those presented b
adjoining wild and nninhabiled land.
But during the Revolution it became
place of Importance, and much of tn
stern romance of that war clustere
about West Point. The principal al
traction of West Point to day is thi
fact of its historical interest. NJ. L
West Point, November, Ii, 1880.