Year: 1868

Drill ON Board the Practice FIeet-The Mid
shipments Parade on the Plains-The Hop
TO-MOrrOw Night-The Packing Up.


WEST POINT, June is, 1865


large number of visitors who came here during
the week to witness the ceremonies attendant upon
the awarding of the diplomas left by the various
steamboats, and trains yesterday and 1t thought
at one time that the mddies' hop would suffer from
this exodus, as large part OF 1t was composed
of ladies. To-day, however, the steamboats,
have brought back many of those who
left yesterday and the day before, besides
very large number of the mddies' female friends,
and a goodly quota of tie relatives and acquaint
ances of the cadet grad ,ating class who have nc
doubt come with the hope of witnessing the farewell
parade tomorrow night and the adieus to be made


This afternoon about four O'Clock, the midship.
men had an exhibition drill on board their vessels
for the special qualification OF their cadet friends
who. taking advantage OF general permit,
attended the exercise in large numbers. Ger
tain peculiarties OF the drill were no doubt
maneuvres in the rigging the furng Of the Sails ca
although the movements made IN the working OF the
guns did not materially differ from those made by
the cadets with siege battery. In the way OF run
ming up the rigging and holding on to almost nothing
at the masthead they were very thorough, and for
rapdty in motion and systematic carrying out OF
every movement made with the batteries they
equaed, If they did not surpass, The cadets.


~ The parade 1ad by the mdsnipmen & which announced
<
was had this evening on the lawn used
by Ut the &C. cadet &c corps rps as parade ground.
the plains, headed by their band They were armed
with muskets, apparently about the same pattern,
by the cadets which are Springfield rifles made into
breech leaders, and shortened about two inches.
The m1dies went through number OF the evolu-
tons OF battalion in very creditable manner,
although their manner OF execution was not to he
compared either in rapidity grace to that OF the
other corps. In their marching they did not do





companies several times walking to q different
step: They seem also @ to have very peculiar kind
longer and more waddng, causing the shoulders OF
the marchers to stir unsteadiy; while that of the
carry the body above 1t without stiffness and not
even shaking breastplate. As whole the drill
was an excellent one, and when Il Is taken into con-
sideratlon that the young salts" drill very little on
land and march better to the beat of the sounding
sea, with parade ground rising and falling under
their feet, their apparent unsteadiness In drilling
becomes grace made perfect by practice.


General Myer, OF the Signal Corps is here and
intends soon TO afford the visitors signal drill The
present second class is the first that has ever
been taught signalling by flags, which may be ac-
counted for by the fact that the Importance Of the
knowledge was only known when It's necessity be-
came apparent in our Late and that the present
second class entered the academy just after the close
Of the rebellion Since the arrival of the naval ships
here the second class OF the academy and the
middles aboard have been holding daily by
signals, and both seem to enjoy the thing hugely.


There are just now very striking evidences Of ap-
preaching dissolution on the part OF the housekeep-
Ing spirit OF the first men. fortnight ago you
might have entered room In the barracks occupied
by member Of the first class and his chum and
you would have been surprised at the neatness with
which everything was fixed in its proper place In
the apartment-even the butt end OF q dapidated
cigar being often an ornament on piece OF paper
placed under 1t, for fear the chair II was lying on
might take offence or object to smoking Now
change has come DER the spirit OF their dreams in
deed. They have received their diplomas and know
their standings and recognized as graduates
that Is TO say, virtually cadets actually present
officers. So they attempt every hour in The day
to pack up that last box, and finding that IL would
hold everything I'm the room, throw everything they
do get into IL about the floor, where they allowed
TO lie until they feel inclined 10 try the packing task
again. Then old coats and hats and shirts and shoes
are kicked about In the most reckless manner and
serve as dsorderly senres in every nook and
OF the rooms. In fact, everything denotes that the
graduates are In earnest about going home, and II
strikes me If they are kept back much longer there
will be q petition sent TO the President with the
names OF terrible array OF indignant mammas and
sisters and young girls for miles around that will
make Andy have a policy startling to many blue
coat here. NAV the storm gOOn come