henry ossian flipper-第17节
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mp and furlough。
But it is not thus with all first…classmen。 Many； indeed the majority； are cadets till they graduate。 They see every thing as a cadet； enjoy every thing as a cadet； and find the duties； etc。； of first…class camp as irksome as those of plebe or yearling camp。 Of course such men see no similarity between first… class camp and furlough。 It is their misfortune。 We should enjoy as many things as we can； and not sorrow over them。 We should not make our life one of sorrow when it could as well be one of comfort and pleasure。 I don't mean comfort and pleasure in an epicurean sense； but in a moral one。 Still first…classmen do have many duties to perform； but there is withal one consolation at least； there are no upper classmen to keep the plebe or yearling in his place。 There is no feeling of humbleness because of junior rank； for the first class is the first in rank； and therefore need humble itself to none other than the proper authorities。
Again； their honor； as 〃cadets and gentlemen；〃 is relied upon as surety for obedience and regard for regulations。 They are not subject to constant watching as plebes are。 The rigor of discipline is not so severe upon them as upon others。 It was expended upon them during their earlier years at the Academy； and； as a natural consequence； any violation of regulations； etc。； by a first…classman； merits and receives a severer punishment than would be visited upon a junior classman for a like infringement on his part。
The duties of first…classmen in first…class camp are as follows： The officer of the day and two officers of the guard are detailed each day from the class。 Their duties are precisely those of similar officers in the regular army。 The junior officer of the guard daily reports to the observatory to find the error of the tower clock。 Also each day are detailed the necessary assistants for the several light batteries； who are on foot or mounted； as the case may require。 The remainder of the class receive instructions in the service of the siege and sea…coast artillery。 These drills come in the early forenoon。 After them come ordnance and engineering。
The entire class is divided as equally as may be into two parts； which alternate in attendance at ordnance and engineering。
In ordnance the instructions are on the preparation of military fireworks； fixing of ammunition and packing it； the battery wagon and forge。 This instruction is thoroughly practical。 The cadets make the cases for rockets； paper shells； etc。； and fill them； leaving them ready for immediate use。 The stands of fixed ammunition prepared are the grape and canister； and shell and shot； with their sabots。
The battery wagon and forge are packed as prescribed in the 〃Ordnance Manual。〃
The instructions in engineering are also practical and military。 They are in the modes of throwing and dismantling pontoon bridges； construction of fascines； gabions； hurdles； etc。； and revetting batteries with them。 Sometimes also during camp； more often after； foot reconnoissances are made。 A morning and night detail is made daily from the class to receive practical instruction in astronomy in the field observatory。
Night signalling with torches； and telegraphy by day； form other sources of instruction for the first class。
Telegraphy； or train drill； as the drill is called； consists in erecting the telegraph line and opening communication between two stations； and when this is done； in communicating so as to acquire a practical knowledge of the instruments and their use。
These various drillsall of them occurring daily； Sunday of course excepted； and for part of them Saturday alsocomplete the course of instruction given the first class only during their first…class camp。 It will be observed that they all of them are of a military nature and of the greatest importance。 The instruction is thorough accordingly。
I have sufficiently described； I think； a cadet's first…class camp。 I shall； therefore； close the chapter here。
CHAPTER IX。
OUR FUTURE HEROES。
THE WEST POINT CADETS' VACATION。
Ten Days of Centennial Sport for Prospective Warriors The Miseries of three hundred Young Gentlemen who are limited to Ten Pairs of White Trousers each。
〃ALMOST at the foot of George's Hill； and not far to the westward of Machinery Hall； is the camp of the West Point cadets。 From morning till night the domestic economy of the three hundred young gentlemen who compose the corps is closely watched； and their guard mountings and dress parades attract throngs of spectators。 It would be hard to find anywhere a body of young men so manly in appearance； so perfect in discipline； and so soldier…like and intelligent。 The system of competitive examination for admission； so largely adopted within the past few years in many of our large cities； has resulted in recruiting the corps with lads of bright intellect and more than ordinary attainments； while the strict physical examination has rigorously excluded all but those of good form and perfect health。 The competitive system has also given to the Academy students who want to learn； instead of lads who are content to scramble through the prescribed course as best they can； escaping the disgrace of being 〃found〃 （a cadet term equivalent to the old college word 〃plucked〃） by nearly a hair's…breadth。
〃The camp。The camp is laid out in regulation style； and has four company streets。 Near the western limit of the Centennial grounds are the tents of the commandant and the cadet captains and lieutenants。 Below； on a gentle incline； are the wall tents； occupied by the cadets。 Each of these has a board floor； and it is so arranged that when desired it may be thrown open on all sides。 From two to four narrow iron cots； a bucket for water； an occasional chair； and now and then a mirror； comprise the furniture。 But scanty as it is； every article of this little outfit has a place； and must be kept in it； or woe to the unlucky wight upon whom the duty of housekeeping devolves for the day。 The bucket must stand on the left…hand side of the tent； in front； the beds must be made at a certain hour and in a certain stylefor the coming heroes of America have to be their own chambermaids； while valises and other baggage must be stowed away in as orderly a way as possible。 Every morning the tents are inspected； and any lack of neatness or order insures for the chambermaid of the day a misconduct mark。 It may be easily conceived that under a regime so strict as this the cadets are particularly careful as to their quarters； inasmuch as one hundred of these marks mean dismissal from the Academy。
〃At daybreak the reveille sounds； and the cadets turn out for roll…call。 Then come breakfast； guard mounting； and camp and general police duty； which consume the time until 8。30 A。M。； from which hour those who are not on guard have the freedom of the Centennial grounds。 At 5 P。M。 they must fall in for dress parade； at 9 they answer to 'tattoo' roll…call； and a few minutes later 'taps' or 'lights out' consigns them to darkness and quiet。
〃West Point Aristocracy。Small as is this corps； it is still patent that the distinction of caste is very strong。 A first…classmancadet officers are selected from this classlooks down upon lower grade men； while second…class cadets view their juniors with something nearly allied to contempt； and third…class men are amusingly patronizing in their treatment of 'plebes' or new…comers。 For the first year of their Academy life the 'plebes' have rather a hard time of it； but no sooner do they emerge from their chrysalis state than they are as hard upon their unfortunate successors as the third…class men of the year before were upon them。
〃The cadets are delighted with their reception and kind treatment in Philadelphia； and look upon their ten days' visit to the Centennial as a most pleasant break in the monotony of Academy life。 That they maintain the reputation of the Academy for gallantry and devotion to the fair sex is evidenced by the presence of numbers of beautiful young ladies in their camp after dress parade every evening。 Given； a pretty girl； the twilight of a summer evening； and a youth in uniform； and the result is easily guessed。
〃The Cadet Corps is to return to West Point to…morrow morning。 There the cadets are to go into camp until September。 General Sherman at one time purposed to have them march from this city to the Academy； but it was finally decided that the march would consume time which might be more profitably devoted to drill。
〃One of the complaints of the cadets is that in the arrangements for their visit； the Quartermaster's Department was stricken with a spasm of economy as regarded transportation； and each of the future heroes was limited to the miserably insufficient allowance of ten pairs of white trousers。
〃The cadets speak in warmly eulogistic terms of the Seventh New York； to whose kindly attentions； they say； much of their pleasure is due。〃
Of this article； which was taken from the Philadelphia Times； I need only say； those 〃two or four narrow iron cots〃 and that 〃occasional chair〃 existed solely in the imagination of the reporter； as they were nowhere visible within the limits of our e
