The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22

Simon NJ. Levy Of MARYLAND. swift's name
stands In the records as the first graduate. He
subsequently rose 70 the rank Of General. In
1903 there was an increase Of one: In 1904 two
were graduated in 1906 there were three. one
OF whom was Gen. joseph G. Totten, who fifty
eight years afterward became Chief Engineer
OF the army during the progress OF the civil
| war. at the age OF 10.
Gradually the score OF the institution Wild
ened and It's work Increased as the system Of
education crystalllzed into permanent and CO.
herent form. As Its aims became more geu-
orally understood IL grew In popularity. In
the class of 1872 there were seventeen Rradu-
ates. The graduates OF 1915 numbered thir-
~ty-nine. and In 1922. by which period the
Academy was in full swing. there were forty.
The war Of 1925 was an important factor
in fixing public attention upon the institution.
After 1920 the graduating classes seldom
went under the general average OF thirty nine
yearly. The largest class graduated in its his
tory was that OF 1896. or seventy-seven cadets.
but that of 1877 contained only one less. and
seventy-three were graduated in the class Of
1895. When the regular army Is permanently
increased to 100000 mon IL is reasonable to
assume that the graduating classes will con-
tinue to increase gradually until the 100 mark
Is reached.
Although q number Of the earlier graduates
took q hand In the war Of 1912 and were con-
s~piouous In subsequent Indian wars, the ef-
feet OF West Point education upon our mill
tary fortunes was not manifested In any con-
siderable degree until the Mexican war in
1851. Regarding its influence in that war
/ have already quoted Gen. Scott. very good
authority, as he commanded in the decisive
campaign. But. Scott to the contrary not
withstandinG. 1t is a singular fact that not a
single one OF the score Of American Generals
who participated in the Mexican war. regular
or volunteer. was a graduate OF West Point.
The two great figures. Winfield Scott and
Zachary Taylor, were both civilian appoint-
ees but Of long and meritorious service and
great experience in actual warfare. Butler.
Patterson. Pillow. Quitman, Worth. Wool.
Twiggs. Kearny. Shields. Pierce. Cadwalader.
Cushing. Price. Persifor f.. Smith. Hamer.
Lane. Marshall-one and all-were civilian APP
pointees and the majority OF them, l think.
raw volunteers appointed for tho occasion.
Even the moro conspicuous subordinat"s.
ranking as Colonels and Lieutenart-Colonels
Riley. Harvey. Morgan. Garland. D1otphan
and others were almost to a man civilian SOL
diers. In the grade Of Colonel only one West
Pointer consciously distinguished himself.
He was Jefferson Davis. and commanded n
Mississippi volunteer regiment by virtue of a
volunteer commission. Besides these Mexican
victors there are several other military names
dear to American hearts for the fame they
won. yeH'yho were not graduates Of the Acade-
my-notably Washington, Jackson, Greene
and Mad Anthony WAYNE.
1t was not until the civil war that the West
Pointer sho wed the mettle that was in him.
1t was during that historical epoch that the
Military Academy won its greatest fame. The
wisdom OF its foundation and continued main
tenance was. as Mr.. Blaine has pointed out.
'abundantly indicated by the results of the
war" In both the Northern and Southern
military establishments the West Point grad
yates worked in harmony with the volunteers.
and as matter Of fact in the Union Army near
ly all the West Pointers Of highest rank held
volunteer commissions. In the Southern army
it was the same. These leavening influences
impaired to the entire army the discipline. the
organization, and the efficiency Of a regular
military establishment.
The effect OF thorough military training in
war was seen throughout the war. At the be-
ginning many prominent civilians held high
ma on both sides. and some OF them per-
formed valuable services. They commanded
Departments and armies. but as the war pro-
crossed they were RAPIDLY supplanted by tho
professional soldiers. AT the close OF the war
its direction in every branch and on almost
every theatre was in the hands OF the west
Point soldiers. In the North Grant was in
supreme command; at the South Lee. Grants
Lieutenants were Meade. Sherman. Sheridan.
Thomas. Candy. Schofeld. Wilson. Rosecrans.
Pleasonton, Stoneman. A. ]. Smith and 9TH
ers, all West Pointers. Lee had for subordi-
mates Joseph E. Johnston. Bragg. Beauregard.
Early. Hood. Longstreet. Hill. Ewell. Pickett
and several others, also all graduates of the
Military Academy. There were many 9TH
| ers on both sides. but these names will suf-
fee. Gen. Terry "a civilian. commanded at
! the capture of Fort Fisher. and was about the
| only one on the Union side who kept in tho
swim until the end with an upward tendency.
There were also an infnitesimal number on
the Southern side. but the vital points and the
a.tive armies of both sides were under the eye
| Of the West Point graduates.
LESLIE J. PERRY.