The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-03
THE OLD MILITARY ACADEMY.
a Poorly Equipped Institution Prior
to the Outbreaks of the Civil War

TO the Outbreak of the civil War
At the outbreak Of the civil war the
United States Military Academy at West
Point was not the great school Of tactics
it has since become The cadets were
fewer in number, the buildings were old,
unsaniJary, and poorly equipped for class
room work, and the superintendent was
seldom 4 man OF rank or distinction IN
his profession
The small battalion of cadets. however
worked hard under depressing Influences,
|nd the most famous names on the roll Of
,.ie old army are almost all those of grad
yates of West Point The pGoTly-equipped
and endowed school taught several things
with great thoroUghness; it taught manli-
ness, it taught honor, it preached allegi-
ance to flag and country. in the class
room, too. if not always on the parade
ground, were to be found earnest fnstUuc-
tors: men Of ability, even of distinction
IN their various caIIings. Charles Robert
Leslie, Z. A, was for short period pro-
lessor Of drawing at the United States
Military Academy. and equally famous
names in other professions can be found
among the men filing chairs at West
Point II aHte-beIIum days In a word. the
school had H0urished up to the outbreak
Of The civil war. despite the indifference.
and even the distrust of the nation at
large. and the haIf-hearted support It re-
ceived from the authorities at Washing
ton.
At she beginning of the civil war the
cadets at West Point were still wearing
when in dress uniform the obsolete shake
and the quaint high-colIared coat of the
Mexican war period At the outbreak OF
hostlities the small battalion was fur
-g.1F4 vrag.s Il.
ton Of all the cadets from south of Ma
son and Dixon's line.
Then the army officers detailed for duty
at the Point were almost always those
VINO had been disabled in action. and who
were expected TO act as instructors while
recovering from their wounds
There were months when many of the
officers on the academic staff Hmped
painfully, used canes or CrUtcisa.; OF both.
and when cadets from the upper classes
did fully half the section work in the
academic buildings. There were DAYS
when even the officer in charge was only
seen at parade. and not always there. for
it sometimes happened that. having given
the command, Guides posts the cadet
adJUtant looked in vain for the blue coat
ed officer whose duty it was to receive
the parade. and, seeing none, had quietly
directed the senior cadet captain to fall
out and take command
There were weeks and months when ca
diets of the upper classes were excused
from all military duty except Sunday
morning inspection. and detailed as in
StructorS IN mathematics, French or
English
There even came tine when parade
and drills were suspended and fully a
third OF the corps were excused from
marching to meals. because SO many of
JEeIn were IN ragged uniforms and bT0k-
en- boots that their appearance in line
would have d5sZraCed the battalion
IN one way the corps OF cadets were
having a jolly time as very young men
regard holiness. Discipline and sur.-eiI-
lance were greatly relaxed. Inspection of
quarters By day and night We're infre-
( QUent, and on the part of one or two OF
the tactical instructors they became per
tuuCtOry.
debt. for war prices Cs5ntinued to soar
higher and higher and their way remained
at so a month Orders for new uniforms
T and shoes had to be cculternanded- and
by the opening Of the winter of 90 the once
famous Candies Of West Point had become
q lot Of grey Scarecrovs
with rags and debt came demoraliza-
ton, such as the Point had never known
before and has never known since Things
at last became 50 bad that the command
ing oIhcer was forced to apueaI to the
cadets themselves, and in effect to place
the discipline Of the Academy in their
! hands
Then at last Congress avroke to the sit1l-
alton. increased the pay or the cadets. and
dated II back so as TO place the battalion
on its feet once more
But the men Of that period have never
/ Forgotten the war days at the Point. and
I can stun picture in memory the long line
Of self-dilIed cadets in their shabby grew
/ uniforms and broken boots.