Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-31
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Personal "reminiscences efCele-
brafed West Point
Graduates.
Globe Democrat.

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 General
scott, who was not graduate Of West
Point, said Il give it as ny fixed
opinion that but for our graduated
cadets the war between the United
States and Mexico might, and probably
would, have lasted some tour OF FIVE
years, with, In its first half, more de-.
leafs than victories falling to our
share; whereas in less than two cam.
palgns we conquered great country
and q peace, without the loss of sins
gle battle or skirmish." During the
late civil war the Generals on both.
sides who achieved distinction were
with rare exceptions, graduates Of
the West Point Academy. A yerv
large number of the cadets. after
having served the time required by
law, drop back into civil life, but there
were few classes before the war which
dld not contain the names Of men who
have acquired fame. Among those
who were at the Academy in nv time
were Pemberton, Bragg, Beauregard,
Thomas, Halleck, Hardee, Mcdowell
Meilgs and A. j, Smith, The late
MAJOR Turner and Bob Renick, of
this city, both were there. remem
Der Pemberton as a handsome how
with black curly hair; genial, compan.
lonable, aRd with a decided talent for
drawing and painting. Possibly he
would have made greater name as an
artist than he did as a soldier. He was
2 Phlladelphian, and married a Young
lady from Norfolk, Va aud during the
late war he linked his fortunes with
the South.
Thomas was a
MARTIAL LOOKING YOUNG MAN
aabolt six feet two inches. AS he and
| were the two biggest in the class he
T was my file leader for about two years.
! mere was no nonsense about him, He
attended stricly to business and
was a model soldier. A Vireinian bv
b,lrth,he married Troy girl. and when
the war came on he took the Union
sioe' Rather suggestive of the inAu-
ence OF wife. However, Bob Chill. |
Ton, Lees Adjutant General. was a |
southern man who married Micbioar |
girl, the daughter Of Governor Mason
and she was rather the more robellious |
OF the two, but her ancestors were |
.lirglnians, which may account for
Bragg prided himself on being the |
ugilest 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 tol
Benny Havens' ranch, and many
were the hairbreadth escapes he and |
the other risky ones had in getting |
pack to quarters after a Jolly time at
Benny Ravens, oh.
Mcdowell was called the Fat Bow
and from his sobriquet you NAV know
he was good natured. | think it was
> osh Billings who said: "You never
heard OF tat man committing mur>
der; no, indeed. A fat man never
kills anything that isn't good to eat"
Mcdowell made good soldier, never.
theless. He, too,
MARRIED A GIRL FROM TROY.
The way it happened that SO many of
the officers were captured by the fair
FrGlans, they were on General Woods
staff, 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 express
sion, a good deal of a 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, although the credit
belonged to Benet, who was, | think
Of French extraction and a good
scholar.
Halleck came Of an obscure family.
but he was studious and scholarly.and
inally married one of the Miss Ham
lions, which set him on the ton ahoIf
socially.
Beaursgard was French all over.
de looked like Gaul, acted like a
Jaul. and his extraction struck out
n every way. He was au excellent
student, and graduated with high
honor.
Moigs was, in my opinion, one of tho
lblest men In the army, and his career
IS a cadet gave promise of a brilliant
BALTIMORE, MD.-Dr. Irwin H, FL
ieridge says: II would recommend
rial of Browns Iron Bitters In All cases