Cadet Life at West Point

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY.

THIRD AND SECOND CLASSES.

This department embraces two branches of physics not included in its title, namely, heat and electricity.

The course begins March 1 of the second academic year and extends to March 1 of the third academic year; exercises, recitations, laboratory work or lectures take place on all week-days.

Commencing March 1, the subjects of heat and general chemistry alternate daily until the completion of the first six chapters of heat, about March 20, after which the chemistry exercises are held daily until the close of the term, June 1.

During this term all members of the class whose progress, as shown by their recitations, warrants it, are given laboratory practice in chemistry. This practice begins with chemical manipulations and proceeds in the usual general order of elementary laboratory work. The laboratory exercises are one hour and fifty minutes long. It is generally possible to give all parts of the class some laboratory experience: the amount of this work, however, varies with the aptitude of the student from a few hours to fifty-five or sixty hours.

This term closes with an examination upon the essential parts of the entire course, which all cadets who have not shown a prescribed proficiency in daily work must take.

In chemistry the course is a descriptive general one, based upon a concise statement of the more essential principles of chemistry, and includes that class of information deemed most important to nonspecialists, together with an accurate and logical treatment of many useful applications of chemistry.

Beginning September 1, the daily exercises alternate between heat and mineralogy until these subjects are completed, then the daily exercises alternate between geology and electricity, the geology being completed by the close of the term, December 23. This term also closes with an examination, covering the essential parts of the subjects studied during the term, which all cadets who have not shown a prescribed proficiency in daily work are required to take.

Beginning January 1, the remainder of the course in electricity is completed by the end of February. This mid-winter term involves an examination, if necessary, as prescribed for the terms ending June 1 and December 23.

The course in heat is short, but it is a comprehensive elementary course intended to embrace what is most applicable to subsequent work at the Academy and what is most useful in general education.

The course in geology is a brief but scientific presentation of the essential elements of this branch of science.

The mineralogy is an eminently practical course consisting of the descriptive study and the practical determination of the important minerals. The lithological and palæontological part of geology is accompanied in study by the continued practical examination of the objects described.

The course in electricity is a brief exposition of the leading electrical phenomena and their relations to each other. It includes a study of the general principles of the subject and of the typical machines, generators, motors and transformers, together with the more important uses of electricity. The laboratory exercises give experience with a number of the machines and in the use of a great variety of apparatus employed in the numerous forms of electric measurements. In this term the laboratory work is a part of the electrical course and all cadets enter the laboratory. All laboratory work is performed under the immediate supervision of an instructor.

TEXT BOOKS.

• Elementary Lessons in Heat. Tillman.
• Descriptive General Chemistry. Tillman.
• Practical Chemistry. (Laboratory Guide.) Clowes.
• Elements of Geology. Le Conte.
• Important Minerals and Rocks. Tillman.
• Elementary Lessons in Electricity and Magnetism. S. P. Thompson.

During all terms standard works on the respective subjects are available for reference both to cadets and instructors.

DEPARTMENT OF DRAWING.

THIRD AND SECOND CLASSES.

The course in drawing is carried on through the third class and second class years.

It begins in the first year course with elementary freehand work from blocks and objects for the training of the eye and hand, and is followed by instruction in the nature and use of drawing instruments, papers and material, construction of practical problems in plane geometry used in constructive and mechanical drawing. This is followed by the construction of problems in descriptive geometry covering the theoretical course in mathematics; the lower part of the class being confined to the practical problems most useful in mechanical and building construction drawing. A short course of lettering and handling of flat washes precedes the general study of topography and map making in which theoretical instruction is coupled with the execution of conventional signs, platting, the construction and lettering of a finished map, and practice in the field in the various elements of military topographical field sketching. This completes the first year’s course.

Text-book pamphlets:

• Drawing Instruments and Papers.
• The Use of Drawing Instruments, and Geometrical Problems.
• Elementary Exercises in Water-color Washes.
• Military Topography—Map Reading and Map Making.
• Book of Letters and Lettering.
• Descriptive Geometry Problems.

The work of the second year begins with freehand military landscape sketching in the field; and is followed by memory drawing for the training of the formal memory, and freehand mechanical and projective drawing. Practical projective geometry, including axonometric projection, is then resumed preparatory of the plan, section, and elevation drawing of a building construction project. In this the student learns the structural elements of a house and of building construction methods and design, and the ability to read working drawings. Following this a mechanical drawing of the plan, section, and elevation of a portion of a steam engine is constructed, in connection with instruction in the structure and function of the parts of a steam engine. Finally the class is separated into groups corresponding to the corps in the Army in which the standing of cadets indicates that they will graduate, and subjects of engineering, ordnance, and service building construction drawing are assigned in accordance therewith. The course concludes with a short series of lectures on the art and architecture of the world, and a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, upon which a thesis is written by each member of the class.

Text-book pamphlets:

• Framing.
• The Steam Engine.
• Notes on Building Construction.

DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES.

FOURTH, THIRD, SECOND, AND FIRST CLASSES.

The course in modern languages comprises instruction in the French and Spanish languages.

THE FRENCH LANGUAGE.

FOURTH AND THIRD CLASSES.

The requirements of this course are as follows:

Construction of the language; reading and writing French; dictation: military terms; translation (written and oral) of English into French and French into English; conversation; themes.

Instruction in the French language begins March 1 of the fourth-class year and is completed June 4 of the third-class year. Examinations thereon will be held at the June examination, fourth-class year, and at the December and June examinations of the third-class year. The course comprises about two hundred and twenty-one lessons.

THE SPANISH LANGUAGE.

SECOND AND FIRST CLASSES.

The requirements of this course are as follows:

Construction of the language; reading and writing Spanish; dictation; translation (written and oral) of English into Spanish and Spanish into English; oral recitations and conversation; themes.

Instruction in the Spanish language begins March 1 of the second-class year and is completed June 4 of the first-class year. Examinations thereon will be held at the June examination, second-class year, and at the December and June examinations of the first-class year. The course comprises about one hundred and eighty-three lessons.

The present text-books are:

FOURTH CLASS.

French:

• French Pronunciation. De Peiffer.
• Treatise on the Conjugation of French Verbs. Castarède.
• Elementary French. Aldrich and Foster.
• La Langue Française. Première Partie. Bercy.
• Le Petit Parisien. Kron.

THIRD CLASS.

French:

• Martin’s French Verbs.
• Elementary French. Aldrich and Foster.
• Introductory French Composition, Francois. Guerlac’s Standard French Authors.
• Advanced French Prose Composition, Francois. Potter’s Dix Contes Modernes.
• French Verbs and Prepositions, Idioms, Letters. Cameron’s Tales of France.
• Marchand’s French Idioms. Revue Militaire des Armées Étrangères.
• Labiche and Martin’s Voyage de M. Perrichon. Courrier des Etats-Unis (Sunday edition).
• Le Petit Parisien. Kron.

SECOND AND FIRST CLASSES.

Spanish:

• Spanish Verb and Spanish Pronunciation. Traub.
• Spanish Grammar. Monsanto and Languellier.
• Spanish Grammar. Garner.
• El Castellano Actual. Román y Salamero.
• Las Novedades.
• First Spanish Book. Worman.
• Elementary Spanish Reader. Ramsey.

BOOKS OF REFERENCE.

French:

• French Pronouncing Dictionary. Spiers and Surenne.
• Military Technical Dictionary. Willcox.

Spanish:

• New Spanish-English and English-Spanish Dictionary, by Cuyás. Appleton.

DEPARTMENT OF LAW.

FIRST CLASS.

The course in law covers the following subjects:

• 1. The elements of law.
• 2. Constitutional law.
• 3. International law.
• 4. Military law.

To illustrate principles in the text-books cadets are required to recite on numerous cases from reports. Lectures are also given upon the subjects taught, so far as the limits of time allotted to this course permit.

TEXT BOOKS.

• The Elements of Law. Davis, G. B.
• Constitutional Law. Davis, E. G.
• International Law. Davis, G. B.
• Military Law. Dudley.

BOOKS OF REFERENCE.

There is a reference library in the department of about 2,500 volumes, accessible to the cadets.

DEPARTMENT OF PRACTICAL MILITARY ENGINEERING.

FOURTH, THIRD, SECOND AND FIRST CLASSES.

Cadets of the fourth class receive an elementary course in theoretical surveying during the month of February.

During the summer encampment, cadets of the third class receive practical instruction in the use and adjustment of surveying instruments and in surveying methods. In this course they apply in the field what has been taught them in their theoretical course of the preceding spring. The course includes tie line surveys, made by use of the tape or chain alone, surveys made with the compass and with the transit, and running differential level circuits.

Cadets of the second class receive, during the fall drill season, instruction in visual signaling, using the flag and the heliograph for sending and receiving messages. They are also taught to set up and adjust the heliograph and the acetylene lantern. During the spring period, this class is instructed in the field methods of electrical communication, and is given practice in establishing and using buzzer lines under, as nearly as possible, service conditions. The course also comprises setting up and operating field wireless telegraph outfits.

During the summer encampment, cadets of the first class are instructed in building pile, trestle, and pontoon bridges, in improvising methods of crossing streams, in making road sketches, both mounted and dismounted, and in combined position sketching. During the fall course, this class is given instruction in the construction and operation of appliances used in field engineering, in the erection of spar and trestle bridges, and in the use of explosives in military demolitions. The spring course is devoted to field fortification work, including the construction of trenches, revetments, obstacles, bomb proofs, and gun pits; posting and distribution of working parties in the construction of saps, trenches, parallels, and approaches; and tracing and profiling siege works.

TEXT BOOK.

• Theory and Practice of Surveying. Johnson.

BOOKS OF REFERENCE.

• The Engineer Field Manual.
• Survey Manual. Pence and Ketchum.

DEPARTMENT OF ORDNANCE AND GUNNERY.

FIRST CLASS.

The subject of ordnance and gunnery is studied by the cadets of the first class throughout the academic year.

The course of instruction covers the principles involved in the construction and use of war material. It is broadly divided into three parts: the theoretical, the descriptive, and the practical. The theoretical part includes the study of the action of explosives, the study of interior and exterior ballistics, the theories of gun and carriage construction, and the principles of gunnery. The theoretical part of the course is not the same for all cadets, those showing the necessary proficiency taking a special course of 21 lessons in the time devoted by the remainder of the class to review work.

The descriptive part of the course covers the processes of manufacture of powders, guns, projectiles and armor; and describes the small arms, cannon, machine and rapid-fire guns in use in the United States service, with the carriages, ammunition and accessory appliances required for their service. The department is well supplied with models, which are used in conjunction with the text.

The practical part of the course covers work with ballistic instruments, and the operation of machines and appliances used in the fabrication of modern ordnance, the latter work being in effect a short but valuable course in manual training.

In connection with the course, visits are made to Watervliet Arsenal, where the processes of gun construction are observed, and to the Ordnance Proving Ground at Sandy Hook, where actual firings from the several classes of guns are observed, including usually one or more shots against armor, and where the latest developments in war material are seen.

TEXT BOOKS.

• Ordnance and Gunnery. Lissak.
• Exterior Ballistics. O’Hern.
• Stresses in Wire-Wrapped Guns and in Gun Carriages. Ruggles.

BOOKS OF REFERENCE.

• Ballistic Tables. Ingalls.
• Mathematical Tables. Newcomb.
• Publications of Ordnance Department. U. S. Army.

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY HYGIENE.

SECOND CLASS.

The course in military hygiene for the second class begins on or about the 15th of April and continues into June. It consists of 6 lectures and 13 recitations for each half of the class, given on alternate days and ending by a written examination on the subjects treated.

The course covers the essential points in military hygiene, particular attention being paid to the following:

Personal hygiene with special reference to the soldier and his environment: the hygiene and sanitation of military commands in garrison and in the field; and the causes and prevention of infectious diseases and control of epidemics. Also the nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, and special instruction as to their effects upon the human system.

During the summer camp, 5 lectures with exercises are given to the first class on the use of the first aid packet and the treatment of medical and surgical emergencies. While on the practice march, at the end of each day, the medical officer on duty with the corps discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the camp site from the view point of the military sanitarian and also camp cooking, the water supply, and various other matters pertaining to camp hygiene and sanitation.

TEXT BOOKS.

• The Elements of Military Hygiene. Ashburn.
• Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene. Tracy.

REFERENCE BOOKS.

• Military Hygiene. Harvard.
• Theory and Practice of Military Hygiene. Munson.
• Notes on Military Hygiene. Woodhull.
• Practical Hygiene. Harrington.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND HISTORY.

NEW CADETS AND FOURTH CLASS.

English: Essential principles of rhetoric; frequent practice in various forms of written and oral composition, including personal and official correspondence and official forms; study of selected literary masterpieces, and of essentials in the history of English literature and language.

History: Political, social and economic history from the end of the Middle Ages to the present day; study of typical forms of modern national and municipal governments; fundamental principles of civil government, historically considered, with special reference to the United States.

TEXT BOOKS—ENGLISH.

• English Composition. Henry S. Canby and others.
• Golden Treasury, Everyman’s Library Edition. Palgrave.
• Shakespeare’s Works.
• Tennyson’s Idylls of the King.
• Selections from Addison, selections from Macaulay, selections from Stevenson, and Carlyle’s Heroes and Hero-Worship.

TEXT-BOOKS—HISTORY.

• A Political History of Modern Europe. F. Schwill.
• The Development of Modern Europe. J. H. Robinson and C. A. Beard.
• Readings in Modern European History, Vol. II. Robinson and Beard.
• The Development of the State. Dealey.

THE LIBRARY.

Cadets and officers have free access to the library, which comprises some 80,000 books, maps and manuscripts. The collection contains substantially all standard books on the subjects taught in the Academy and is especially complete in military subjects. Its card catalogues (about 272,000 cards) are arranged with the special object of saving the time of the cadets. The library is open on week-days from 8 A. M. to 9:30 P. M.; on Sundays and holidays from 2 to 6 P. M.