Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-12
WEST POINTS PROUD RECORD
Completion Of a Century in the Life of the
Famous Military Academy,
CEREMONIES WHICH WILL MARK OCCASION
Inception and Development of
the school, Its superintendents
and It's GraduRtes-Com-
memorative Tablets.

OF a century In the life OF the west Point
Military academy. and the historic event
will be celebrated with the pomp and cir
cumstance behtting the glorious history OF
the institution. President Roosevelt and
members Of his cabinet. members Of con-
gress, representatives Of the army and
navy. old and young graduates and dis
tinguished s%outherners will participate in
the exercises, which will extend over four
days.
The celebration might have tsken place
last March. for it was 100 years ago on
March 1s that the bill authorizing the es-
tablishment Of the military academy was
passed by congress. This bill gave the
president authority to appoint a faculty
consisting OF one major, two drst lieuten-
ants and two second lieutenants. The
school started with ten cadets, Of whom two
were graduated in 1902. These were
Joseph G. Swift Of Massachusetts, and Simon
M. Levy OF Maryland. The bill provided
for additions to the corps. but It was also
provided that the corps should not exceed
twenty officers and cadets. Major Jonathan
Williams was the first superintendent, and
associated with him we're Captain William
A. Barron and First Lieutenants James Will
son and Alexander Macomb.
Early superintendent.
Shortly after the academy was opened,
relates the New York Tribune, congress
authorized an increase in the number Of
cadets to forty. Further additions we're
authorized, but many of the boys who we're
appointed could not enter because OF the
lack Of accommodations. The academy
grew in popularity and in 1915 thirty-nine
men we're graduated. In 1922 the academy
had reached a high standard, interest in its
work had grown and forty cadets were
graduated. Glasses Of seventy-seven, sew
~enty-six and sixty-nine have been gradu-
ated since that time, and Of the 400 men
who have received their diplomas there, and
with them, In most instances, commissions
In the United States army, many have writ
ten their names in lasting characters on
the pages of American history.
When Major Williams. who was also
known as the builder Of Castle Williams in
the harbor Of New York, retired as superin-
tendent in 1912. Colonel Joseph G. Swift
succeeded him. and two years later the
office went to Captain Alden Partridge.
Captain s~ylvanus Thayer became superin-
tendent in 1917, and held the office until
1893, and 1t was under his direction and
management that the institution made its
first rapid strides. His work was thoroughly
appreciated and a monument erected to his
memory on the academy grounds, near the
spot where he lies buried, bears the in
scription:
colonel Thayer, Father of the Military
Academy"
He was graduated at the academy in the
class OF 1908, but after he had reorganized
the institution 1t bore no resemblance to
the original. and the course which he
shaped has been followed ever since his
time. Superintendent Thayer resigned in
1888 because of a Misunderstanding between
him and President Jackson Five years
after his resignation he was asked to re-
sumo his place at the head of the insti-
tuition, his successor, Major Rene e.. De
Russy, having died, but he declined. From
1916 until 1852 Major Richard Delafeld was
the superintendent, and for three years
after that time the ONCE was filled by
Captain Henry Brewster.
Southern Leader in CharRe.
Captain Robert E. Lee succeeded Captain
Brewster and retained the place until
March, 1855, when he was succeeded by
Captain John G. Brainard. In 1856 Major
Delaheld was recalled to the superintend-
eney. The academy records show that
Major Delafeld was relieved by order of the
secretary Of war. John B. Floyd, in 1861
and Major P. G. D. Beauregard placed in
command. Five days later, when Floyd had
ceased to be secretary Of war, and was sue
ceeded by Joseph Holt, under President
Lincoln, Beauregard was dismissed from
the superintendency and Delafeld rein
stated. Only a few months later Beaure-
gard commanded the rebel forces in the
battle Of Bull Run, having on his staf
and In subordinate positions many men
= ~ z1Y.1 H. 90 W.
Point.
Major Alexander B. Bowman was the
superintendent Of the academy from Marcel
1, 1861, to July 8. 1864. when he was sue
ceeded by Major Jealous B. Tower, who
held the place only a few months.
After the War.
Lieutenant Colonel George w. Cullum
who was graduated in the class Of 1888, and
to whom the academy is indebted for the
beautiful memorial hall in which the cen
tennial exercises will take place, was the
superintendent from September. 1854, tc
August 2S, 1866. Colonel Thomas @. Pitcher
succeeded Colonel Cullum and remained
superintendent until September 1, 1871
when Colonel Thomas H. Kruger took the
place and presided over the academy until
September l, 1876. Major General John NJ
Schoneid was the nrst general omcer TO re-
ceive the appointment Of superintendent OF
the academy. He filled the place from
September l. 1876, to January 81. 1881, and
was followed by General o. o. Howard
who remained in command until September
1, 1882. Wesley Merritt, who was colonel
OF the Fifth cavalry at the time, was APP
pointed superintendent in September, 1852
and remained in once until July, 1887.
Colonel John @. Park. who succeeded
General Merritt, retained the place until
June, 1889, and was succeeded by General
then Lieutenant Colonel John NJ. Wilson.
Major Oswald H. Ernst was the next super
intendent and he was in once at West
Point when he was ordered to the front
In the Spanish war.
The present superintendent. Colonel AL
bert L. Mills. was first lieutenant in the
First cavalry when President Mckinley APP
pointed him to the place and he is the first
oficer under the rank Of captain who ever
held the place. He had been severely
wounded in Cuba, had just been discharged
from the hospital and called on the presi-