Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-09
A WEST POINT STORY
ODD INCIDENT THAT MADE GENERAL
BUELL. BREAK A RECORD.

In spite OF His GrImnesa.
General Buell., whose timely arrival
at Shiloh, some military critics hold
saved General Grant from defeat, was
known In the old army as 1.-THE man
who can't laugh" General Buell. was
not grave merely; he was grim. Yet
two yearling cadets at West Point
made General Buell. break record.
1t was hot on the plateau above the
waters Of the Hudson. hotter than the
cheek OF a fieldpiece that has been In
action, so hot that the leaves on the
elm tree shriVeled and the feet of the
pacing sentries burned from contact
with the only paved path on the gov
ernment reservation.
The plebes had reported and were
quartered IN two divisions of barracks,
the upper class men having been turn
ed out to share quarters with their
comrades In the other divisions.
The June examinations were on.
The board OF visitors, Of which Gen
eral Buell. was member, had paid It's
perfunctory visits TO mess hall. TO aca-
denic building and to barracks. 1t
was 10 O'Clock I'm the morning Two
cadets had been thrown by fate aud
by the arrival Of the plebes lntof the
same room Of the NTH dlvi-'on Of bar.
racks The thermometer shade
OF the guardhouse registc - % de
gress. In the room In which me two
cadets were quaTtered doubtless Il
stood 10 degrees higher.
There had been one morning lnspec-
ton Of quarters by an army officer, and
the two yearllngs. gaspIng for breath
ia room into which the sun beat with
no regard for cadet feelings, had every
reason 20 believe that there would be
no further inspections that morning.
They had stood the ordeal Of the exam.
Inglng board at o'clock. and, with no
studies In hand. they thought they were
safe until the first call for dinner
BY the law OF tho academy every
cadet In quarters was to be In full dress
uniform until III o'clock, He was not
allowed 20 smoke His bedding was to
In other words. the cadet room and the
cadets person were 10 be properly or
dered and properly arrayed for inspec-
tiOn.
"Its hot" said the cadet who was 10
become an artillery officer.
"It's hotter than that" said hls com
rade.
Lets strip" said the one.
"Done" said the other.
And forthwith they stripped. Then
the mattresses were pulled from the
hunks and thrown under the window.
through which occasionally came a
whit OF breeze, grateful though heat
laden.
"rd like 20 smoke" said the future
artllleryman MS he threw himself on
one Of the mattresses
Tin going TO smoke" said his com
rude
And iustantcr pipes were lighted. and
the room began filling with fragrant
blue fog
There was a cllnk Of a sword heard
IN the hallway. It's sound brought con.
stcrnation, An Inspection was ON. Re
fore the two yearllngs had time %
think therc was q rap and the door
was thrown open. and In came. not the
obituary second lieutenant inspecting
ofiicCr but Lieutenant Colonel Henry
NJ, iarelle. commandment % cadets, and
Meier General Don Carlos Buell.. Unit.
81 states army.
Discipline strikes In. The two cuI.
prt cadets spranr 10 attention m.
stautly. heels together. arms hanging
naturally aud the little ongrrs where
the seams 20 the trousers would have
becn u they'd had any trousers ca.
The future artillcDman Was clothed
o. one sock. ana In this attirr BE- was
oDe scck che better % his oomrade.
Thry stood thsrs rigid To position
% soiiler vas never better main
taincd Commandant ISEelie turned
puFple with aEe az thls rracelsss
hrvaeh % discipline sctuaiy paradea
bsfoge q maiog rcnsrui % ne Uuitrd
States army ana a melahes " the
boari ~ visitpFs
TIE cadet whs ene day Was 90 soE.
mand q bstfrry hsd trvp5,e,i h.s rlre
The hoi bowl souchei biz swat ioe.
and the baruirE vas 600 tagh Ger
Uvea a. faldiFgs sie'tiIy, ans b. eniIt
tcd ; sry boYH&r -uneh~
Gseegal tssa Carias Heeh tp.k In ths
fr.ngineit snt au a. siaricat huurs
~ va rilutuea fils Uiurrss wa
go r0pef aFEst s.1h o. sirtt ss this
a. leuri $50 sUe1 a lte srs