The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-22

vide the same with proper officers" AS
early as 1888 Colonel Timothy Pick
ering. quartermaster general OF the
army, wrote, 1T might be eXpedient 70
establish military school or academy
at West Point" which was at that time
the most important military post and
the depositary of our surplus ordnance
and military stores.
Washington himself from the termi-
nation OF the Revolutionary war to the
end OF his life, officially and privately.
advocated the establishment of a school
for military instruction. and only two
days before HIS death-Dec. ~, 1799-he
wrote the secretary of war: II have
duly received your letter on the subject
OF a mill ary academy. The establish
ment of an institution OF this kind upon
q. respectable and extensive basis has
ever been considered by me as al OBJECT
OF primary importance 10 this country.
and while / was in the chair of gov
ernment / omitted no proper opportu-
nifty OF recommending 1t in my public
speeches and other ways 10 the atten-
tion OF the Legislature"
But the years went by. and IL was not
until March is. 1902, that finally the
law was passed creating the United
States Military academy, section q pro-
viding that the said corps of engi-
neers, when so organized, shall be sta
toned at West Point, in the state OF
New York, and shall constitute a mill
tary academy, and the engineers, as
sstant engineers and cadets of said
corps shall be subject at all times TO do
duty in such places and on such serv-
ices as the president OF the United
States shall direct"
The first superintendent OF the en-
bryo military school at West Point was
Major Jonathan Williams, who assum-
ed command May 13. 1902, but did not
take up his residence at West Point
until the Sd of July following the Mill
tary academy being formally opened
July 4, 1902.
The academy struggled through the
next decade or so. being somewhat
stimulated by the second war with
Great Britain, during Which there were
sixty-five graduates. nearly all of whom
were in the field. one-sixth OF the num-
ber being killed and one fourth wound
ed. Most of the survivors were brevet-
ted for gallantry in action. a decided
change for the better took place under
Major Thayer. subsequently known as
the father OF the academy" who held
the position OF superintendent from 1918
TO 1888
The war with Mexico amply demon
strated the inestimable value of the
West Point graduate to our nation, as
summed up by General Scott, who once
wrote II give il as my fixed opinion
that but for our graduated cadets the
war with Mexico would have lasted
four years instead of one and a half,
and we would have lost the greater
part of the first two years engage
ments. Instead of this we did not lose
one" What the more recent graduates
have done on many field in the civil
war on both sides and in our latest
wars with foreign foes need not be more
than mentioned here as their deeds
have spoken for themselves.
Although General Scott so highly
commended West Point, he himself
was not a graduate of the academy:
but confirmation of his opinion Is
found in the fact that nearly every one
OF the commanding generals OF great
renown on both sides during our civil
war was n West Pointer. On the Union
side were u. S. Grant. w. Il. Sherman.
Phil Sheridan, J. Il. Mcpherson, ]. NJ.
Schotield, @. B. Mcclellan. ID. c. Buell.,
w. S. Rosecrans. o. o. Howard, John
Sedgwick, G.. G. Meade. w. s. Hancock,
II. w. Halleck. Joe Hooker and Robert
Anderson of Fort Sumter fame. and on
the Confederate side Jefferson Davis,
R. Il. Lee. Albert Sidney and Joseph Il.
Johnston. Stonewall Jackson, II. @. Il.
Beauregard, Jos Wheeler. J. T.. Il. Stu
art. Jubal Early. Braxton Bragg. James
Longstreet and John u. Hood-a noble