The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-17

the Academic Board, In January following
he IL subj eoted to another acadenlicst exa n.
inatlon, and II he passes thIi one
SUCCESSFULLY he receives q warrant a. a oad ,t
and 10 required 10 sign articles blndink hini.
self 10 serve the United States eight years
from the time OF his admission to tho acsd
envy unless sooner discharged. The age for
The admission 10 the academy Is between
seventeen and twentytw two years. Cindi
dates must be unmarried, at least ivs feet Ia
height. and free from any deiogmlty disease
or inhrmity which may reuder them unit
Tor military service. They must be we'll
verssd In reading. writing, including orlhog.
raphy, In arith mettc, and have knowled 20
Of the elements OF tue English grammar, OF
descriptive geography, particularly OF this
country and of tho history OF the " nitsd
states. No provision Whatever Is made for
the payment Of the travelling expenses OF
either accepted or rejected candidates for
admission to the academy, bat the pay OF a
cadet 10 $40 per year. beginning with his adj
mission 10 The Institution. He must wear
the prescribed uniform. the cost OF the outfit
for which Ia about 500"
Are the duties SO aevers aud the studies
20 hard that more than half OF those who en-.
ter fail, as sou have slatedr
"Yes, the work is very hald. The actlvi-
tics have no break throughout the entire
year. Work beginning with the Il ret OF Sep.
tsmber latts TO the end OF the year. Alter
few days consumed in examinations another
term begins, which lasts till the 3ist OF May.
Then come examinations which last till
about the middle of jane. from whence,
until the middle OF August, the cadets live
Ia camp on the plain. During this period
10 regular studies are pursued, books being
largely thrown aside FOR prac'ioal work, such
&c surveying, astronomical observatla aus.
etc. Practical survey ing In the field duriog
the seeson OF camping outaptly supplements
the studies IN drawing. The study OF mill.
tary tactics comprises practical Instruction
ia the schools OF the soldier, company and
battalion, and in artillery and cavalry. With
the third year the successful cadet IL al
vanced to the study OF natural aud expert.
mental philosophy. chemistry, mineraloy
and geology, freehand drawing and land
scspe In black and white constructive aad
architectural drawing In ink and
coloTs while tactics are continued aud practi.
cal military engineering added to the
hard work OF the period. La the past year
the scope OF studious pursuit Is enlarged by
the ADDITION OF civil and military engineer.
Ing ard the science of war. tue Spanish
language, international, constitutional aud
military law, outlines OF the history OF The
world, and technical instruction In ordnance
and gunnery and signaling. Along with
these aud other suhj ects OF book study comes
practical instruction in the construction OF
pontcon and spar bridges in laying out field
and siege work., In astronomy, sdcye log,
military recounoil sanoes, field te'egraphy,
signaling and OF course tactics AS regards
the last named, care Is taken that each day
sdds TO the cadets acquaintancss with these
throughout the whole course OF four years.
From September 10 the 10Th OF June cavalry
drill is practiced a. We,t Point with great
assiduity. The exercises are carried on In
tire plain when the westher is suitab G. aud
during the eeveriiy riding Is taught IN ha'l,
erected for the purpose. A perfect SCAT on
horseback is secured 10 the possession OF
every cadet by the course pursued,
which comprises the performances OF
surprising feats, IS for example,
picking up bjfc's from the grolnd when
the horse is at fnll eallop without alighting.
Mfn are exercised in attempts 10 uuseat one
another while on horseback, the use of the
revolver and saber under the same circum.
stsncss and in other ways serving the OBJ.
Jet OF making them proficient in the EN-
pigment OF snch instruments Of war as are
carried by cavalry in actual ser yice. In
fsntry drill is prscticed throughout Ssetem-
Der; in October, artillery drill. Daring the
The cold wsatber CT November. December,
81 q down 10 March -, the cadets have tar
get pratiee under cover. In the second half
OF March infantry drill prevails Ga April
] artillery drill begins ard lasts throu e.h out
the ensuing two calender months. Infauiry
diill is then resumed, aud a'teroa'ss with ar.
tillery drill 10 the end OF August"