henry ossian flipper-第13节
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The plebe looks； and for the first time brought to full consciousness； recognizes the officer of the day。 Of course he is surprised； and the more so when the officer of the day inspects for histhe plebe'ssatisfaction the sentry…box； and finds no one there。 He 〃eats〃 that plebe up entirely； and then sends a corporal around to instruct him in his orders。 When the corporal comes it may be just as difficult to advance him。 He may； when challenged； advance without replying； or； if he replies； he may say； 〃Steamboat；〃 〃Captain Jack； Queen of the Modocs；〃 as one did say to me； or something or somebody else not entitled to the countersign。 Possibly the plebe remembers this； and he may command 〃Halt！〃 and call another corporal。 This latter may come on a run at 〃charge bayonets；〃 and may not stop till within a foot or so of the sentinel。 He then gets another 〃cursing out。〃 By this time the corporal who first came and was halted has advanced unchallenged and unnoticed since the arrival of the second。 And then another cursing out。 Thus it is that plebe camp is made so hard。
Surely the officers and non…commissioned officers are right in testing by all manner of ruses the ability of the sentinels。 It is their duty to instruct them； to see that they know their orders； and are not afraid to apply them。
Sometimes plebes enjoy it； and like to be cursed out。 Sometimes they purposely advance toward a party improperly； to see what will be said to them。 It is fun to some； and to others most serious。 At best it gives a plebe a poor opinion of West Point； and while he may bear it meekly he nevertheless sighs for the 〃 touch of a vanished hand；〃 the caressing hand of a loving mother or sister。 I know I used to hate the very name of camp； and I had an easier time； too； than the other plebes。
Of course the plebes； being inexperienced for the most part； are 〃high privates in the rear rank。〃 For another reason； also； this is the case。 The first and second classes have the right established by immemorial custom of marching in the front rank； which right necessarily keeps the plebes in the rear rank； and the yearlings too； except so many as are required in the front rank for the proper formation of the company。 Another reason； perhaps； may be given to the same end。 We have what we call class rank； or； in other words； class standing。 Every class has certain privileges and immunities； which the junior classes do not enjoy； for example； first… classmen； and second…classmen tooby General Orders of September； 1876are excused from guard duty in the capacity of privates； and are detailed first… classmen for officers of the day and officers of the guard； and second…classmen for non…commissioned officers of the guard。 All members of the third and fourth classes are privates； and from them the privates of the guard are detailed。 All officers； commissioned and non…commissioned； are exempt from 〃Saturday punishment。〃 I mean they do not walk extra tours of guard for punishment。 The non… commissioned officers are sometimes required to serve such punishments by discharging the duties of corporal or sergeant in connection with the punishment squad。 Third…and fourth…classmen enjoy no such immunities。 Plebes； then； having no rank whatever； being in fact conditional cadets until they shall have received their warrants in the following January； must give way to those who have。 One half or more of the privates of the company must be in the front rank。 This half is made up of those who rank highest； first…classmen and second…classmen； and also； if necessary； a number of third…classmen。 Plebes must then； except in rare cases； march in the rear rank； and from the time they are put in the battalion till the close of the summer encampment； they are required to carry their hands with palms to the front as prescribed in the tactics。
All this is kept up till the close of camp； and makes； I think； plebe camp the most trying part of one's cadet life。
On the 28th of August the furloughmen return； and report to the commandant at two o'clock for duty。
In the afternoon the battalion is sized and quarters are assigned under the supervision of the assistant… instructors of tactics。
At parade the appointment of officers and non… commissioned officers for the ensuing year is published； and also orders for the discontinuance of the encampment。
In the evening the 〃twenty…eighth hop〃 takes place； and is the last of the season。 On the 29thand beginning at reveillethe cadets move their effects into winter quarters in barracks。 All heavy articles are moved in on wagons； while all lighter ones are carried over by cadets themselves。 By seven o'clock every thing is moved away from camp； save each cadet's accoutrements。
Breakfast is served at 7 A。M。； and immediately afterward comes 〃troop〃 and guard…mounting； after which the entire camp is thoroughly policed。 This requires an hour or more； and when all is done the 〃general〃 is sounded。 At this the companies are formed under arm in their respective company streets。 The arms are then stacked and ranks broken。 At least two cadets repair to each tent； and at the first tap of the drum remove and roll up all the cords save the corner ones。 At the second tap； while one cadet steadies the tent the other removes and rolls the corner cords nearest him。 The tents in the body of the encampment are moved。 Back two feet； more or less； from the color line； while the guard tents and those of the company officers are moved in a northerly direction。 At the third tap the tents fall simultaneously toward the color line and the south cardinal point； amid rousing cheers。 The tents being neatly rolled up and placed on the floors； the companies are reformed and on the centre。 The battalion then marches out to take up its winter quarters in barracks。
When camp is over the plebes are no longer required to depress their toes or to carry their hands with palms to the front。 They are； in fact； 〃cadets and gentlemen；〃 and must take care of themselves。
CHAPTER VI。
STUDIES； ETC。
THE academic year begins July 1st； and continues till about June 20th the following year。 As soon after this as practicabledepending upon what time the examination is finishedthe corps moves into camp； with the exception of the second class； who go on furlough instead。
Between the 20th of August and the 1st of September； the 〃Seps；〃 or those candidates who were unable to do so in the spring previous； report。 Before the 1st they have been examined and the deficient ones dismissed。 On the 1st； unless that be Sunday； academic duties begin。 The classes are arranged into a number of sections； according to their class rank； as determined at the previous annual examination； or according to rank in some particular studyfor instance； for instruction in engineering the first class is arranged according to merit in philosophy； and not according to general merit or class rank。 The fourth； or 〃plebe〃 class； however； is arranged alphabetically since they as yet have no class rank。
The first class study； during the first term； engineering law； and ordnance and gunnery。 They recite on civil engineering from 8 to 11 A。M。 daily； on ordnance and gunnery from 2 to 4 P。M。； alternating with law。
The second class have natural and experimental philosophy from 8 to 11 A。M。 daily； and chemistry； alternating with riding； from 11 A。M。 to 1 P。M。； also drawing in pencil from 2 to 4 P。M。 For instruction in this department the class is divided into two as nearly equal parts as practicable； which alternate in attendance at the Drawing Academy。
The third class have pure mathematics； analytical Geometry； descriptive geometry； and the principles of shades； shadows； and perspective； from 8 to 11 A。M。 daily。 They also have French from 11 A。M。； till 1 P。M。； alternating with Spanish。
The entire class attend drawing daily till November 1st； when it is divided into two equal parts or platoons； which attend drawing and riding on alternate clays。 Riding！ 〃Yearling riding！〃 I must advert to that before I go further。 First let me describe it。 A platoon of yearlings； twenty； thirty； forty perhaps； as many horses； a spacious riding… hall； with galleries that seat but too many mischievous young ladies； and whose interior is well supplied with tan bark； make up the principal objects in the play。 Nay； I omit the most important characters； the Instructor and the necessary number of enlisted； men。
ACT I。
SCENE I。
Area of barracks。 At guard…house door stands an orderly； with drum in hands。 In the area a number of cadets； some in every…day attire； others dressed à la cavalier。 These à la cavalier fellows are going to take their first lesson in riding。 About four… fifths of them were never on a horse in their lives； and hence what dire expectations hover over their ordinarily placid heads！ They have heard from the upper classmen what trials the novice experiences in his first efforts； and they do not go to the riding…hall without some dread。 Four o'clock and ten minutes。 The drum is beaten。
Officer of the Day。Form your platoon！ Right； face！ Call your roll！
Section Marcher。Bejay！ Barnes！ Du Furing！ Swikeheimer！ Du F
