The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-08-09
Prominent West Pointers in Their Youth.

St Louis Globe Democrat: The value Of
thorough training in the science Of war has
been too often demonstrated to be questioned.
At the close of the Mexican war Gen. Scott,
who was not graduate of West Point, said:
II give it as my fixed opinion that but for our
graduated cadets the war between the United
st ties and Mexico might, and probably would,
it's first half, more defeats than victories fall
ing to our share; whereas in less than
two cam: aigns we conquered great coun-
try and peace, without the loss of q
single battle or skirmish." During the late
civil war tho generals on both sides who
achieved distinction were, with rare exceptions.
graduates OF the West Point academy. A very
large number of the cadets, after having served
the term required by law, drop back into civil
life, but there were few classes before the war
which did not contain the names of men who
have acquired fame. Among those who were
1t the academy in my time were Pember-
ton, Bragg, Beauregard, Thomas, Hslleck,
aardee, Mcdowell, Meigs, and A. ]. Smith.
The late Maj. Turner and Bob Renick of this
city, both were there. remember Pemberton
rs a handsome boy with black, curly hair;
genial, companionable, and with decided
talent for drawing and painting. Possibly he
would have made q greater name as an artist
than he did as soldier he was a Phil
ldelphian. and married young lady from
Norfolk, Va, and during tho late war he linked
bis fortunes with the South.
Thomas was martial looking young m an.
bout SIX feet two inohea Az be and we're
for about two years. There was no nonsense
about him. He attended strictly 10 business,
md WAS a model soldier. A Virginian by
birth, he married Troy girl, and when the
war came on he took the Union SIDE Rathor
ever, Bob Chiffon, Lees adjutant general, was
Southern man who married Michigan girl,
the daughter of Gov Mason, and she was
rather the more rebellious Of the two; but
her ancestors we're Virginiane, which may &C.
count for it
man in the corps. He was reckless and
daring fellow, who was always ready for any
sort of racket He was one Of the few who
were addicted to nocturnal excursions to Benny
Ravens ranch, and many were the hairbreadth
escapes he and the other frisky ones had in
getting back to quarters after jolly time at
"Benny Havens'. oh"
Mcdowell was called the Fat Boy, and from
his sobriquet you may know he was good-na-
tured. think it was Josh Billings who said.
" You never heard of q fat man committing
murder; no indeed A fat man never kills
anything that isn't good to eat" Mr.. Mcdowell
married girl from Troy. The way it hap,
pened that 80 many Of the officers were cap
tured by the fair Trojans, they were on Gen.
Wool's stan, and he lived there, and during
the piping times of peace they fell into the
snares Of the Troy girls.
Hardee was, to use current expression. .
good deal of dude. He thought more OF his
shape than his books. His reputation came
largely from the system of tactics which bore
his name. He was = pet of JEFF Davis, who, as
secretary Of war, appointed him on board of
officers to translate the tactics from the French
from whence comes our military science
taking care that he should be the ranking
officer. So the work took Hardee's name, al
though the credit belonged to Benet, who was,
think, Of French extraction and . good
scholar. .-.-s". =
Halleck came Of IN obscure family, but no
was studious and scholarly, and finally
married one Of the Hamiltons, which set him
on the top shelf socially. -. ~. D..
Beauregard was French all over. He looked
like Gaul, acted like Gaul, and his extrac-
ton stuck out every way. He was an excel
lent student and graduated with high honors.
Meigs was, in my opinion, one Of the ablest
men in the army, and his career % cadet
gave promise OF brilliant future &