The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-15
THE BRAINS OF WEST POINT.
NEARLY ALL OF THE PROFESSORS
GRADUATES OF THE ACADEMY.

F;katnhsa Of Sho Mes VINO Nhlo Use Rlhest
Military Academy in tho World-Their
Services in the War OF the Rebellion
ana on tho FrontIer-The MeR Who
Train tho Cadets-Vvho They Arc and
From what Quarters They Came.
Wrsr Po1Nr, June 13.-The organization OF
the Military Academy is modelled after that OF
Tho Government OF the United States. 1t may
he said to have departments answering to the
Legislative Executive and Judicial depart
ments OF the Federal Government The Super
intendent Is selected by the President from
among distinguished officers OF the army. He
IA the chief executive officer OF the Academy.
He serves for four years and then returns 10
the army. The body OF professors is selected
nv the President and confirmed by the Senate.
There arc seven Of them. Only one or two
ara changed at ono time, so that the
Board always continues. and Is made
M OF old and experienced members.
They form tho conservative body. and have
functions similar 10 those Of tho Senate and
the Supreme Court OF the United States. The
army officers. OF whom about fifteen are detail
od avery rear to relieve a corresponding num-
Der returning to active service. are the House
OF Representatives OF the school. and may be
said to return to the people. who gave them
mower within a given time. They bring with
them tho aspirations Of the army, and are ire
ouently somewhat opposed to the conservative
sentiment OF tho Academy. But after becom-
ing acquainted with its methods they yield to
them. The body Of professors. however. are.
like the Senate. usually unbending. The pro-
fessors are by law wholly Independent OF the
Superintendent. Their decisions. under the
statute. cannot be overruled. even by the lresl-
dent OF tho United States.
Very little is known by the people OF the men
who are maintaining the reputation OF the
Academy as the first military school In the
world. Their merits are worth canvassing.
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Col. John N. Wilson OF the corps Of engineers
IN superinten dent OF the Military Academy. He
0ucceeded Gen. John b. Parke and is 81 years
old. Col. Wilson bears remarkable resem-
blance to the late Leut-Gen. William J.
Hardee OF tho Confederate service. author
of the standard text book on tactics
The Colonel has a humorous face and a
grizzly moustache and goatee. His per-
ceptiye faculties are strongly developed. He
has heavy eyebrows and true military bear
ing COL Wilson was born in Washington in
1887 He had military tastes when mere boy.
He tried to secure an appointment to West
Point but was at first unsuccessful At this
time he was a page in the United States Sem
ste Afterward he accompanied Duke Gwin
to California. They went there by way OF
Panama. making the journey over the
Isthmus upon the back OF mule.
Wilson next went to Olympia ". T.,
and In 1855 was appointed q cadet to the Mill
tary Academy by the Delegate from that Ter
ritory In his last year at the Academy he be-
came first Captain OF the corps. He graduated
in 1860 with Horace Porter. James II. Wilson.
Wesley Merritt, and others. Col Wilson served
throughout the war. He commanded a sec
ton in Carlisle's battery on the battle field OF
p,,I De-, nd carva6 in the mammalian M
paign. At the battle of Malvern Hill he was
moving toward the crest of the hill on which
the Federal artillery was forming. when Gen.
Fttz John Porter directed him to go in bat
tory to the right"
Col. Wilson replied: You mean to the left
mo. SIR" said Porter. -" mean the right"
II beg your pardon. You mean the left"
NO sir. mean the right" repeated Porter.
Wilson turned to his mon and shouted: Go
in battery to the left. Timber to the rear.
Commence firing"
TWAS the right thing to do. Gen. Porter saw
his mistake and gazed on Wilson with admira-
ton. You're right" he said. and l was
wrong"
Double Shooting his guns with canister. Will
son moved down the enemy's column under
Gen. John B. Magruder.
Before this he had been breyetted Captain
for meritorious service at Gaines Mills. Fol
Major He was next transferred to the Topo.
graphic Engineers. He took part in the Mary.
land campaign on the staff Of Gen. Mcclellan
along with Merritt, Custer. and Forsythe, and
was engaged IN the battles of South Mountain
Antietam. and Charlestown. Gen Mcclellan
In his report spoke in high terms of his cour'
age and ability. In the winter OF 1926
he was engaged as experimenting engineer in
the construction OF the defences OF Harper's
ard ha fANU mn ha "a
the Academy as assistant professor of Span
ish Then he returned to engineer duties. He
was at the siege OF Vicksburg. and was super
intending engineer there after the capture OF
that city by Grant. lie afterward took part In
the campaign against Mobile. on the staff o.
Gen. Candy. and was brevetted Lieutenant
Colonel OF the United States Army for gallant
and meritorious services at the capture o
Spanish Fort.
After the war he had charge OF improve
ments OF the Hudson River and OF harbors OIL
Lakos Ontario and Erie and in Oregon ant
Washington Territory. In 1892 he was as
signed 10 duty in the Office OF the Chief OF En-
gneers as SUPERINTENDENT of Public Buildings
and Grounds at Washington. where he re
NAMED until ordered to duty Us Suporintend'
emit OF the Academy.
COL Wilson'S STAFF.
Lieut. William C. Brown OF the First Cavalry
10 the Adlutant OF the Iost lie is sharp
featured young man OF good executive ability
He has had considerable experience on the
frontier Tho Adjutant ia to DO succeeded BY
Lieut.. John NJ. Carson Of the Fifth Cavalry
Carson Is tall and fine looking. He Is a son o.
Major John NJ. Carson, Washington CORES pond
ent OF the Philadelphia LsiJer. and clerk O
the Ways and Means Committee; the man who
coached Major Mckinley while steering hi.
Tariff bill through the House. Carson grad
uated from the Academy four years ago, anG
will not go on duty as AdIutant until July !.
Capt. William F. Spurgln Of the Twenty
first Infantry. is the Post Commissary Of SUB
sistenoe and Post Treasurer He is man
framed like Gen. John Sedgwick.
The cadets frequently shout: What even
has been OF the most Importance at the Mill
tary Academy"
All reply: Tho relief OF Gen. Dsconten
ct Mess Hall and tho advent OF Gen. Spurgn.
SpurRin wVs Mt one time O cadet at Wes
Point, and knows how to aIiay discomfort.
The Assistant Qqartermasteri s Capt Charles
leon Wheh no took command OF the army o