Cadet Life at West Point

About two weeks after I reported we were directed to prepare to go to Camp McPherson, a half mile or so from Barracks, out beyond the Cavalry plain, near old Fort Clinton. We were told just what articles to take for use in camp, and that we must put the balance of our effects in our trunks and carry them to the trunk rooms in the angle. We sorted out our camp articles, and each cadet made a bundle of his small things, and used a comforter or a blanket to hold them. D—n, M—s, and I, having arranged to tent together, we helped one another store away our trunks. When the call sounded to “fall in” we fell in with our bundles, brooms and buckets, and marched over to the camp. There were trees all around the camp site, with quite a grove at the guard tents. The tents were all pitched and they looked very pretty through the trees, with the trees and green parapet of Fort Clinton as a background, which could be seen over the tops of the white tents as we approached the camp. The tent cords were not fastened to pegs in the ground, but to pegs in cross-pieces supported upon posts about four feet high, which brought the Company tents only four or five feet apart. All of the tents for cadets were wall tents, and each had a “fly” on it. There was a wooden floor, a gun rack, and a keyless locker (that is, a four-compartment long box), and a swinging pole hung about eighteen inches below the ridge pole of the tent, and nothing else in it. After the assignment, which, of course, was made according to rank, we proceeded to our respective tents, that were to be our homes till the 29th of August, the day to return to Barracks.

The “Yearlings” and first classmen, too, began to take a greater interest in the plebes than ever. They were anxious to teach them how to fix up their tents, and this is the way they did: “Come here, Plebe, and I’ll show you how to fix up your tent. Untie those bundles, fold the blankets once one way then once the other way; that’s it. Now pile them in the rear corner over there, farthest from the locker; put the folded edges to the front and inside; that’s not right, turn them the other way; now that’s right. Lay the pillows on the blankets, closed ends toward the locker; that’s it; now fold the comforters just like you folded the blankets, and pile them the same way on top of the pillows; that’s it. Why, you’re an old soldier, ain’t you? Straighten the pile a little, so that the edges are vertical; that’s it. Now hang the mirror up there on the front pole; that’s it. Put the washbowl out there against the platform, bottom outward; that’s it. Put the candle-box behind the rear tent pole. Put the white pants, underclothes, etc., in the locker. Throw the overcoats, gray pants, etc., on the pole. There, that’ll do. Say, wait a minute. When you go after water, why I want some; just set the bucket down there by the washbowl when you come back.” After having been given several lessons the plebes were permitted to fix up their own tents, and in a very short time every tent was ship-shape. The yearlings kindly showed the plebes how to clean rifles, too, and this is the way they did it: “Come here, Plebe, you’ll soon be getting your guns, so I’ll teach you how to clean yours; just get that gun over there in my rack; that’s the one; get the cleaning materials in the candle-box, take out a rag, put oil on it; that’s it. Lay the gun in your lap, muzzle to the left, half-cock the piece, open the chamber. Why, you’re doing well. See the rust in the breech block? Well, get a small stick out of the candle-box, put a bit of the rag over it, pour a little oil on the rag, now be quick, rub it on the rusty place, rub hard, elbow grease is what counts most, so don’t be afraid to use plenty of it,” and so on, till the yearling’s gun showed an improvement. “I’ll call you again soon to give you another lesson; that’ll do now.” Strange as it may appear, even the first classmen condescended to teach us some things, and even the cadet officers showed us how to clean their breast plates. The old cadets never told us, in so many words, to do anything of a menial character, but their broad hints and insinuating ways were very persuasive. Every day the plebes were called to the tents of the Army Officers in charge of cadet companies, and asked if they had any complaints to make against upper classmen, and the plebes invariably answered “No, sir.”

We continued to take our meals in the Mess Hall, and we marched to and fro as usual, but as the distance was a half mile or more we were now cheered en route (notwithstanding the plebes still carried palms to the front) by the inspiring music of fifes and drums; and we now sat at tables with the old cadets, and had the pleasure of pouring water for them before helping ourselves, no matter how thirsty we might be, but such is the life of a plebe, and it is a necessary part of his training.

The first day in camp we were initiated in police duty; the other classmen turned out with us, and, as usual, they did the talking and we did the work. The detail from each company had a wheelbarrow, a shovel, and a broom. The grounds, to us plebes, seemed clean when we began, but we got half a wheelbarrow load of dirt all the same, which we dumped into “police hollow,”[21] near camp and just west of Fort Clinton. We gathered up burnt matches, cigar stumps, tobacco quids, bits of paper, etc. Whenever there was a sign of rain we turned out and loosened tent cords, and after a rain we turned out and tightened them—always by command, of course. We dreaded the nights in camp, but we were not yanked often, unless we got too fresh or rapid, and then, of course, we had to be taken down.[22]

The parade ground was changed during camp from the grassy plain in front of Professor’s Row to the space between the guard tents and the west line of company tents. In fair weather the battalion stacked arms on the camp parade ground, and the colors were furled and laid on the center stack. The arms and colors, that is, the United States flag, were left there from after guard mount till 4 p. m., and a sentinel posted to require everybody crossing his post, which is known as the “Color Line,” to salute the colors by lifting the cap.

We plebes were very anxious to get guns, but after we did get them we wished we did not have them, for we were again put into small squads and drilled three times a day, notwithstanding the fact that our right arms were very sore, and each rifle seemed to weigh a ton, and, again, we had to spend several hours a day, for weeks, cleaning the guns before they would pass inspection. Each cadet knows his own gun by the number on it. The upper classmen had already taught us how to clean their guns, so we knew something about cleaning our own, and they now were considerate enough to allow us more time to ourselves, and some of the plebes finished cleaning their guns in less than an hour’s time. But, alas! at the first drill with arms the cadet instructors told them that their guns, cartridge boxes, and waist plates were very dirty. After drill we set to work on them again, but still they were said to be dirty. In the course of time we were told that our guns were passable, and later on that they were in fair condition. We soon learned to attend to them immediately after a rain, as it was easier to clean them then than after they had stood awhile.

We were kept busy at first complying with requests (?) of upper classmen, but they were very considerate and dispensed with our services long enough to let us attend drills three times a day, police service twice a day, and to other military duties. We were still required, both in and out of ranks, to carry palms of the hands to the front, but nothing more was said about depressing the toes.

Cadets are encouraged to be patriotic, and they always celebrate Fourth of July. This year, as the Fourth fell on Sunday, the exercises were held on the next day.

Plebe life was very trying, especially on H—e of my class, and he, being something of a poet, reduced his thoughts to writing, which he showed to his classmates. They said that he had expressed the situation very well, indeed. Some of the yearlings heard of H—e’s poetry, so he was persuaded (?) to read it to them, and then to sing it. His poetry was so well received by the yearlings that the first classmen wanted to hear it, too, so at their invitation (?) H—e both read and sang it for them. And, at the request of a number of upper classmen, he made copies of his songs for them. Other plebes were requested (?) to make copies of the copies, and the following are copies of H—e’s copies that were made for me by a plebe in my yearling camp, viz.:

There were a good many more verses to this song, and songs written by others of my class, but I have forgotten them.

Uniforms were issued to the plebes as fast as they were made, and in a few weeks all were uniformed. The only pocket in the whole suit was a watch pocket in the pants. We were permitted to carry a watch, but not a chain. Our handkerchiefs were tucked in the breasts of our coats. After getting uniforms we were sent to the trunk rooms to put away our cit clothes, as we were not allowed to keep them in either our tent or barrack room. In a few weeks the plebes were admitted to the battalion, at first to march to and from meals, and then for parades, but they still had to carry disengaged hands, palms to the front.

After supper we were permitted to bathe in the Hudson at Gee’s Point, and many of us availed ourselves of the privilege. As I have said, soon after reporting, I wondered if the old cadets laced. Well, now, when bathing, I discovered they did not lace. Still, I wondered why old cadets’ waists were so much smaller than plebes’ waists.

Every day, especially during guard-mount, parades, and band practice, there used to be many ladies and other visitors under the trees near the guard tents. The upper classmen seemed to enjoy being with them, but the plebes were seldom wanted there. The plebes used to hear that there were hops three times a week during camp, but that is about all they knew of hops. However, they went to the old fencing room in the Academic Building and took dancing lessons, and as no ladies were admitted they danced with one another.

At last the time arrived for us to go on guard, for there was a chain of cadet sentinels all around the camp. We dreaded our first night on post, but each plebe had to experience it. Our guns were not loaded, and we had no cartridges; the rifle with the bayonet on is all we had to protect ourselves with. It was amusing afterwards to compare notes of our experiences. Some who had boasted most fared the worst. Some had had their rifles taken away, some had been tied to a tree, some rolled down into Fort Clinton ditch[23] alongside of Posts No. 2 and No. 3. Others had been frightened by ghosts, or confused by numerous parties approaching at the same time from different directions. Some replies to the challenge being a band of Indians, a body of armed troops, and the Prince of Wales. Of course, the plebe would call for the corporal of the guard, but this official never got around in time to see anyone, except the sentinel. The poor plebe was then taken to task for allowing himself to be disarmed, or for not detaining parties till the corporal arrived. When questioned as to who the parties were the answer invariably was “I could not recognize any of them.” When the old guard marched off the next morning each member fired three shots at a target.[24] When it came M—s’ time to fire he was badly frightened because he had never fired a gun. And when asked why he did not close his left eye when aiming he said that no one had told him to close it.

On the 12th of August we again visited the trunk rooms, and this time to put away our dress coats, white pants, dress hats, etc., as we were to go on a campaign. A knapsack and a half of a shelter tent were issued to each cadet. After packing our knapsacks and getting everything, except our wall tents, in readiness, we fell in at the sound of the drum. Our wall tents were left standing with the walls fastened down and the flaps tied in front. To the time of “The Girl I Left Behind Me” we marched in a drenching rain about a dozen miles westward up into the mountains; halted, stacked arms, unslung knapsacks, and unloaded the big six-mule wagons that had followed us. We then pitched the “A” tents that were provided for our use now; we then dug a trench around each tent, and so as not to lie in the mud we cut boughs to sleep on. We then got our rifles and knapsacks, and were soon at home again, but this time in more contracted quarters. We were now taught to live at Camp Lookout in regular army style, and as there is no delinquency book in the army we had none in this camp. We ate army rations and slept on the ground. We built camp fires, sang songs, and otherwise enjoyed our freedom, for no one said anything about palms to the front out there in the mountains. The camp was in the woods, between Long Pond and Round Pond. We obtained drinking water from one, and utilized the other to wash and to bathe in. We remained out there about ten days, and each cadet learned to do guard duty in the woods. Members of the guard had to cut poles for their shelter tents, and button two or more pieces together for use at night, and they were needed, too, as it rained more than half the time we were in the mountains. Between rains, when not on duty, we roamed through the woods and over the hills. There were many laurel bushes all about us, and one day a first classman said that he wanted a nice root to make a pipe, and that I could get it with a hatchet and spade. I took the hint and dug about half a dozen good roots. I put the two best ones in the breast of my gray jacket and gave the others to the first classmen. I afterwards made myself two fine pipes, and I have one of them now. Years afterwards that first classman and I met, and the first thing I did was to show him my pet pipe and thank him for it. He admired the pipe and my cheek, too, for having kept the best root.

As soon as we returned to Camp McPherson palms of the hands were turned to the front again and the usual routine there resumed.

Some of the yearlings said that certain of the plebes had become “too fresh” out in the mountains, and as the ordinary methods would not tame them down a few fights in Fort Clinton were necessary. Seconds were chosen, and soon nearly every cadet in camp knew that there would be a fight in Fort Clinton on a certain day during the supper hour. Fort Clinton is just across Posts Nos. 2 and 3. Those who desired to witness a fight assembled at the ice water tank, near which the Posts of Nos. 2 and 3 meet. Then when the two sentinels on these posts were far apart and their backs toward one another (which is against the rule) across the posts would dash the Fort Clinton party, and strange to say neither sentinel would see any unauthorized person or persons cross his post. When the referee calls time the principals and seconds are in place and the fight begins. Fists only are used in these fights, and as soon as either side calls enough, or either principal fails to come to time, the fight is over. All return to camp, the bruises are bathed, and if necessary one or both principals go to the hospital, and the sick report the next morning shows one or two names with “contusions” as the cause of the disability. Unless the army officers on duty at the Point have “official knowledge” of a cadet fight no notice is taken of it. When a dispute arises that only a fight will settle and the parties to the dispute are unevenly matched the result may be one or two fights. The offending cadet must fight, and a classmate of the other cadet about his size and strength is selected to do battle with him. Sometimes the offended cadet must fight a man of his size, and then there are two fights.

We plebes were sent to the river a number of times to assist the first classmen to build pontoon bridges, and we rendered very valuable assistance, too, by carrying all heavy timbers used and helping to get the boats in place for the timbers to be laid upon them.

The 28th of August is a day every graduate remembers, for it is then the furloughmen return. I can see them now rushing[25] into camp. That evening there was a great time out on the color line; we plebes were turned out for the last time to amuse upper classmen. H—e and others sang their songs. Some of them had been sung so often that everybody knew them and joined in. The evening was a perfect one, and there were many ladies under the trees near the guard tents, who heaved a sigh to think that all gayeties were over at West Point until the next June. The following are some of the songs that were so often sung during my cadet days, to-wit:

• Old Black Joe,
• Dixie,
• Marching Through Georgia,
• Tramp, Tramp, Tramp,
• Hail Columbia,
• Star Spangled Banner,
• My Country,
• Annie Laurie,
• Red, White and Blue,
• Home, Sweet Home,
• Suanee River,
• Auld Lang Syne.