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Cadet Life at West Point

Chapter 21: COMMANDANTS OF CADETS AT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY
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About This Book

A first-person memoir of life at the United States Military Academy, following the author’s progression from appointment and preparation through plebe, yearling, furlough, and graduation. It combines personal anecdotes with practical guidance for prospective cadets, describing daily routines, discipline, drills, academics, and social customs. Supplemented by sketches, invitations, statistics, and illustrations, the narrative also offers descriptive accounts of campus layout, facilities, ceremonies, and the academy’s organization.

In 1817 the Course of Study was fixed at four years.

One-half of the cadets admitted in 1854 formed the class of 1858, and, as the Course of Study was then changed to five years, the other half constituted the class of 1859.

Two classes—those admitted in 1856 and 1857—were graduated in 1861—the former in May and the latter in June—when the Course of Study was again fixed at four years.

Revised to June 30, 1910.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

No. Name. Army Rank when Appointed. From To Remarks.
1 Jonathan Williams Major Corps of Engineers April 15, 1802. † June 20, 1803. Resigned.
2 Jonathan Williams Lieut. Col. Corps of Engineers † April 19, 1805. July 31, 1812. Resigned.
3 Joseph G. Swift Colonel Corps of Engineers July 31, 1812. March 24, 1814. Relieved.
4 Alden Partridge Captain Corps of Engineers Jan’y 3, 1815. July 28, 1817. Relieved.
5 Sylvanus Thayer Captain Corps of Engineers July 28, 1817. July 1, 1833. Relieved.
6 Rene E. DeRussy Major Corps of Engineers July 1, 1833. Sept. 1, 1838. Relieved.
7 Richard Delafield Major Corps of Engineers Sept. 1, 1838. Aug. 15, 1845. Relieved.
8 Henry Brewerton Captain Corps of Engineers Aug. 15, 1845. Sept. 1, 1852. Relieved.
9 Robert E. Lee Captain Corps of Engineers Sept. 1, 1852. March 31, 1855. Relieved.
10 John G. Garnard Captain Corps of Engineers March 31, 1855. Sept. 8, 1856. Relieved.
11 Richard Delafield Major Corps of Engineers Sept. 8, 1856. § Jan’y 23, 1861. Relieved.
12 Peter G. T. Beauregard Captain Corps of Engineers § Jan’y 23, 1861. Jan’y 28, 1868. Relieved.
13 Richard Delafield Major Corps of Engineers Jan’y 28, 1861. March 1, 1861. Relieved.
14 Alexander H. Bowman Major Corps of Engineers March 1, 1861. July 8, 1864. Relieved.
15 Zealous B. Tower Major Corps of Engineers July 8, 1864. Sept. 3, 1864. Relieved.
16 George W. Cullum Lieut. Colonel Corps of Engineers Sept. 8, 1864. Aug. 28, 1866. Relieved.
17 Thomas G. Pitcher Colonel 44th Infantry Aug. 28, 1866. Sept. 1, 1871. Relieved.
18 Thomas H. Ruger Colonel 18th Infantry Sept. 1, 1871. Sept. 1, 1876. Relieved.
19 John M. Schofield Major General, U. S. A Sept. 1, 1876. Jan’y 21, 1881. Relieved.
20 Oliver O. Howard Brigadier General, U. S. A Jan’y 21, 1881. Sept. 1, 1882. Relieved.
21 Wesley Merritt Colonel 5th Cavalry Sept. 1, 1882. July 1, 1887. Relieved.
22 John G. Parke Colonel Corps of Engineers Aug. 28, 1887. June 24, 1889. Relieved.
23 John M. Wilson Lieut. Colonel Corps of Engineers Aug. 26, 1889. March 31, 1893. Relieved.
24 Oswald H. Ernst Major Corps of Engineers March 31, 1893. Aug. 21, 1898. Relieved.
25 Albert L. Mills 1st Lieutenant 1st Cavalry Aug. 22, 1898. Aug. 31, 1906. Relieved.
26 Hugh L. Scott Major 14th Cavalry Aug. 31, 1906. Aug. 31, 1910. Relieved.
27 Thomas H. Barry Major General U. S. A Aug. 31, 1910

Note.—The selection of the Superintendents of the Military Academy was confined to the Corps of Engineers from the establishment of the Institution, March 16, 1802, till the passage of the law of July 13, 1866, which opened it to the entire Army. By the Act of June 12, 1858, the local rank of Colonel was conferred upon the Superintendent.

† Major Williams resigned June 20, 1803, on a point of command, and pending its settlement until April 19, 1805, when he again returned to service as Chief Engineer, no permanent Superintendent of the Military Academy was appointed, the command devolving upon the senior officer of the Corps of Engineers present for duty.

§ Bvt. Major P. G. T. Beauregard, Corps of Engineers, by order of John B. Floyd, Secretary of War, relieved Colonel Delafield, Jan. 23, 1861, from the superintendency of the Military Academy, but was himself displaced five days later, Jan. 28, 1861, by direction of the Succeeding Secretary of War, Joseph Holt, the command again devolving upon Colonel Delafield.

COMMANDANTS OF CADETS AT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

No. Name. Army Rank when Appointed. From To Remarks.
1 George W. Gardiner 2d Lieut. Corps of Artillery Sept. 15, 1817 April 2, 1818 Relieved.
2 John Bliss Captain 6th Infantry April 2, 1818 Jan. 11, 1819 Relieved.
3 John R. Bell Captain Light Artillery Feb. 8, 1819 March 17, 1820 Relieved.
4 William J. Worth Captain 2d Infantry March 17, 1820 Dec. 2, 1828 Relieved.
5 Ethan A. Hitchcock Captain 1st Infantry March 13, 1829 June 24, 1833 Relieved.
6 John Fowle Major 3d Infantry July 10, 1833 March 31, 1838 Relieved.
7 Charles F. Smith 1st Lieut. 2d Artillery April 1, 1838 Sept. 1, 1842 Relieved.
8 J. Addison Thomas 1st Lieut. 3d Artillery Sept. 1, 1842 Dec. 14, 1845 Relieved.
9 Bradford R. Alden Captain 4th Infantry Dec. 14, 1845 Nov. 1, 1852 Relieved.
10 Robert S. Garnett Captain 7th Infantry Nov. 1, 1852 July 31, 1854 Relieved.
11 William H. T. Walker Captain 6th Infantry July 31, 1854 May 27, 1856 Relieved.
12 William J. Hardee Major 2d Cavalry July 22, 1856 Sept. 8, 1860 Relieved.
13 John F. Reynolds Captain 3d Artillery Sept. 8, 1860 June 25, 1861 Relieved.
14 Christopher C. Anger Major 13th Infantry August 20, 1861 Dec. 5, 1861 Relieved.
15 Kenner Garrard Captain 5th Cavalry Dec. 5, 1861 Sept. 25, 1862 Relieved.
16 Henry B. Clitz Major 12th Infantry Oct. 23, 1862 July 4, 1864 Relieved.
17 John C. Tidball Captain 2d Artillery July 10, 1864 Sept. 22, 1864 Relieved.
18 Henry M. Black Major 7th Infantry Sept. 22, 1864 July 1, 1870 Relieved.
19 Emory Upton Lieut. Col. 1st Artillery July 1, 1870 June 3, 1875 Relieved.
20 Thomas H. Neill Lieut. Col. 8th Cavalry July 1, 1875 June 30, 1879 Relieved.
21 Henry M. Lazelle Lieut. Col. 23d Infantry July 1, 1879 Aug. 4, 1882 Relieved.
22 Henry C. Hasbrouck Captain 4th Artillery August 22, 1882 Sept. 1, 1892 Relieved.
23 Hamilton S. Hawkins Lieut. Col. 23d Infantry Feb. 1, 1888 Feb. 1, 1888 Relieved.
24 Samuel M. Mills Captain 5th Artillery Sept. 1, 1892 June 15, 1897 Relieved.
25 Otto L. Hein Captain 1st Cavalry June 15, 1897 June 15, 1901 Relieved.
26 Charles G. Treat Captain Artillery Corps June 15, 1901 June 15, 1905 Relieved.
27 Robert L. Howze Captain 6th Cavalry June 15, 1905 Feb. 1, 1909 Relieved.
28 Frederick W. Sibley Lieut. Col. 4th Cavalry Feb. 1, 1909 Jan. 17, 1911 Relieved.
29 Fred W. Sladen Capt. 14th Infantry Feb. 1, 1911

Notes.—From April 15, 1802, to September 15, 1817, the Superintendent performed the duties of Commandant of Cadets in addition to his own.

The Commandant of Cadets has the rank and pay of Lieutenant Colonel, under Sections 1310 and 1334, Revised Statutes of the United States.

When the Superintendent is absent from West Point the Commandant of Cadets is the Acting Superintendent.