New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-08
UNCLE SANS YOUNG WARRIORS
GRADUATION EXERCISES AT THE MILITARY
ACADEMY.
EXHIBITION DRILL IN THE SCHOOL OF THE
BATTERY-LrGHT ARTILLERY-oLD An
TAGoNIsTs ON THE BOARD OF
VISITORS.

TAGONISTs ON THE BOARD OF
VISITORS.
West Point n. " June 7 Cspeci ,D.-Rain ana wiha
last night swept all the hills and valleys ce'r anu
left an atmosphere sweet with the odor OF the i"i
and moved by gentle breczes that tempered "e "'"
OF the sun. As the time fer the first class 10 e'"u"
draws near and sor the "ycarlng" class, the 'h"'
class to 20 on furlough the cadets OF those TWO
begin 10 feel natural exutatCn OF course IL """io
be entirely out OF keeping with the traditional oe's
of frstclass to show his feeling IN any '"'''o
but the "yearlngs" can, without shocR"s 'r""i"o''
now and then give vent TO their enthus'"S"' 'o' va
these stariit summer nights squads OF them may oc
casonally be heard on the pam si"si"s "i ~
OF sSevep Hundred and Thirty Days
seven hundred and thirty days
We've beon in barracks here;
Seven hundred and thirty days,
But June il drawing near.
Seven hundred and thirty Gays,
In plebc and yearling year.
seven hundred and thirty days,
But furlough now is here
On tho Board of Visitors OF late years tnere mas
GENERALLY been some old soldiers who fought against
each other In the Civil War. This year General
Joseph Wheeler the one time dashinG cavalry leader
OF the Confederacy, and General Res, OF Minnesota
former Commander In Chief of the Grand Army, are
members and a reminiscent talk between the two IS
always Of interest to those who hear H. Ihe o'h'i
day the two Generals talking down In the mess
and General Rea said:
General, do you remember that day charged
you for four miles and captured your inspector
Ceneralf"
yes. said General Wheeler laughing softly Il
reckon you wanted to catch ME that day.
1--WE did, replied General Rea- "Where were
your"
"wenn said the famous Confederate. al was aoo"t
ton feet AWAY from YOU when you gathered in my
Inspector General"
@The dickens you werel' exclaimed General Rca
and the boy had TO bring in another bottle OF beer.
This morning the first class was examined
natural and experimental philosophy, and the END OF
Adjutant Carsons perfect schedule OF EXAMINATIONS
was reached, although this does not by any means
mean the end of the graduating exercises inc way
the young men ratified off natural and experimehtq
philosophy was marvellous. One young man weighed
the sun and analysed 1t. and told other Things con
corning It's secret life In an offhand manner, as IL
he were accustomed to size up solar systems every
day fro a phlosophic standpoint. Then the nrs'
class went out to Fort Clinton and showed by actual
work what they knew about scientific and practical
military engineering. They ripped out the side o. OF
the old earthwork and built II up again: they aug
defences against cavalry They then rugged up field
telegraph line and talked with each other over H.
nam and ene ON the u" green ampars Of
Clinton were signalling back ana lor'h 10 e"eh
At Is O'Clock the war Of the light batteries
began upon the plain and all the moHman casd
woke Gro Nest, storm Ming anu QuIio
aloud to each Otier up and down the rlver. ,Ionu,
Of dust and smoke filed all the plain name ieapeu
through the obscury and the earth shook WIN the
tread Of the gallOping horses and the rolling OF e
Raw wheeled calssons. Through the smoke ana
din Of the mimic combat went galloping ever Leu
tenant Dyer his bugier by his side sounding every now
and then piercing notes which directed me
Of the batteries. The exercise was called In oihca
parlance "school of the battery-ght artillery, and
was for the special dedication Of the Board OF Wis
itors man. even II he is entirely without military
ardor can not but feel his pulses quicken at the
dght Of Night artillery drill and one who sees Such
drill at West Point sees such drill In It's mghesI
perfection. The cadets handled the pieces In
manner which showed that thorough training which
no Other military school In the world can equal
Hundreds OF people from the surrounding country ana
ali the guests down Cranson's came ont TO see the
drill and were well repaid.
At O'Clock this evening Mr.. Koehler, the In
sructor In gymnastics and master Of the sword gave
an exhibition drill In the new gymnasium To those
who remember what the athletic department OF the
academy was In the old days. to-nights drill was
especially gratifying. ms 1t showed to what state
Of per.>st.on the department has been brought by
Is due and is accorded by the officers Of the academy
to Mr.. Koehler The cadets fenced with foils anc
gabrss, vauted, swung Indian clubs. boxed ana dlo
lots Of other things In the athletic llne doing all OF
them well and most OF them extremely well. II was
the plebe.n fourth class which Mr. k0ehler OK
hibited In the drill too. and not the older cadets
Tomorrow the plain Will be covered In the after
the pomp and circumstance OF war, Tor there
viii be battalion drill OF the entire corps.
Among the arrivals at the Point to-day was Gen
eral Rufus santon, who graduated here in le40