Guide to West Point, and the U.S. Military Academy

COURSE OF STUDY

AND

BOOKS USED AT THE MILITARY ACADEMY.

[Books marked thus * are for Reference.]

FIRST YEAR—FOURTH CLASS.

SECOND YEAR—THIRD CLASS.

THIRD YEAR—SECOND CLASS.

FOURTH YEAR—FIRST CLASS.

For the information of visitors, the "Police Regulations" of the Post of West Point, and the "Regulations of the Encampment," are appended:

POLICE REGULATIONS

FOR THE

MILITARY POST OF WEST POINT, N.Y.

1867.

1. "Police Limits" include all territory lying north and east of a line running west from the South Gate to its intersection with the Fort Putnam road, and thence by the road to the cemetery.

2. To prevent interruption to the duties of the Academy, carriages will not be allowed to pass on the road leading by the Academic Hall and Cadets' Barrack, during the hours devoted to study; and at no time by the Hospital, except when required for the accommodation of residents or their visitors, and then at a slow pace.

3. Carriages will be allowed to pass to the West Point Hotel, through the South Gate, by the road below the Hospital, or through the West Gate.

4. On Sundays the gates will be closed, and no vehicle allowed to drive on the Plain without the permission of the Superintendent, except for the purpose of conveying persons to and from Divine Service, to the ferry landings, to obtain medical assistance, or for the private benefit of Officers residing on the Post. Officers will not pass public conveyances through the gates on Sunday.

5. Carts and wagons will use the main road, across the Plain, except when necessity requires them to go upon the private road passing in front of the Quarters, Barrack, and Hospital.

6. Carriages and horses are not permitted to pass, or remain on the road in front of the parade-ground, nor to move about in its vicinity during parade and reviews.

7. Racing, fast driving, and unnecessary noise at all times is prohibited.

8. It is strictly forbidden to drive or ride over any of the sidewalks or paths at West Point, or any part of the Plain or grounds except the carriage roads.

9. All persons are directed to close the gates after them on entering or leaving the public grounds.

10. Officers and citizens may smoke on the Plain; but during the performance of any military duty thereon, no smoking will be allowed on, or in the vicinity of, that part of the Plain which may be occupied for such duty.

11. All persons are prohibited from bathing in the river, during the day, anywhere within police limits.

12. All persons whatever, residing or serving at West Point, are prohibited from hunting or shooting, or using fire-arms for any purpose, within police limits, during week days, and within the limits of the public lands on Sundays.

15. Boats are not permitted to land, except at the public wharves.

16. Every boat, cart, wagon, or vehicle laden with articles, except for officers, may be searched by the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Guard, or members of the Police.

17. All persons are forbidden to receive or transport across the Post any article for excluded individuals.

18. All persons are prohibited from selling any kind of intoxicating liquors, beer, cakes, etc., on the Post, without the permission of the Superintendent.

19. All enlisted men are prohibited from bringing on the Post, or having in their possession, any intoxicating liquor, beer, etc., without the permission of the Superintendent.

20. Persons not connected with the Post, bringing prohibited articles thereon, will be promptly removed by the guard or police, and reported to the Superintendent, to the end that they may be prosecuted for trespass.

21. Pedlers and all improper persons are prohibited from coming on the Post.

22. Excursion or Pleasure Parties, etc., are not allowed to land on the Post, unless specially authorized by the Superintendent.

26. Cadets will not be allowed to cross the ferries without the written permission of the Superintendent. All such permits will be returned as soon as practicable by the ferrymen to the Adjutant's office.

29. No person will be allowed to cut wood on the public lands, break the branches of the trees on the Plain, at the Cemetery, or in the vicinity of Camptown, or to throw stones or sticks into them. Parents will be held responsible for the acts of their children violating this regulation.

34. No citizen will be allowed to wear the uniform, or parts thereof, of officers, cadets, or soldiers.

36. The iron seats in front of the Superintendent's quarters must not be occupied by servants and children when required for visitors.

REGULATIONS

FOR THE

ENCAMPMENT OF THE CADETS,

WEST POINT, N.Y.

1867.

1. All Cadets, with the exception hereinafter mentioned, will confine themselves to the Encampment. Cadets will always hold themselves in readiness for such extra roll calls as the Officer in Charge may be directed to have during his tours. On these occasions, the Assembly will be sounded on the drum, when each man for duty in each company will appear promptly on the company Parade Ground. The companies will be formed without further signal by command of the Sergeants, the rolls called, and the results immediately reported through the proper channels to the Officer of the Day.

2. Cadets will be permitted to wear their fatigue jackets, and their coats unbuttoned, in the body of the Encampment. When the Guard are in fatigue jackets the Battalion will wear the same to meals.

3. There will be one corporal and four privates detailed daily from each company for company Police. A separate Roster for this purpose will be kept, and this detail made from the Third and Fourth Classes. The company Police party will be formed by the corporal on the company ground, at morning and evening Police roll calls, when the company ground, and the ground behind the tents, including the company Officer's Tents, will be thoroughly policed. The corporal of the company Police will be held responsible for the proper police of the company grounds at all Inspections, and also that the Tent Walls of the Tents, when all the occupants are necessarily absent, are raised and lowered at the proper times. He has authority to call on his party at any time, for purposes connected with the Police of his company.

4. The Guard, on the day succeeding that on which it marched off, will constitute the General Police, and will be formed by the Junior Officer of the Guard, on the General Parade Ground, at morning and evening Police calls, and will police those parts of Camp not policed by the company Police party.

5. The Senior Officer of the Guard, on the day succeeding that on which he marched off, will be Camp Officer of the Police for that day, and will report his presence to the Officer of the Day at all roll calls of companies. He will have general charge of the Police of Camp, will inspect the Police parties when at work, see that they are all present, and that they perform their duties properly.

6. The Officers of the Police will not dismiss their parties until after their work has been inspected by the Camp Officer of the Police, and not until he has expressed his satisfaction at the manner in which it has been done. Should he deem it necessary, at any time during his tour, to turn out the Police parties for duty, they will promptly obey his orders.

7. All Details for Guard, company Police, etc., will be posted on a Bulletin Board, at the Tents of the 1st Sergeants of the companies.

8. The Members of the First Class, between Revéille and Retreat, will be permitted to have the limits of the Plain, included within the Main Road, passing in rear of Camp, in front of the Hotel Yard, the Quarters of the Superintendent, the Barracks, and the Library. Cadets can visit the Library during Library hours, but the Barracks and the confectioner's can be visited only by special permission.

9. The permission to walk on Public Lands on Saturday afternoons, granted to Cadets in Barracks, is withdrawn.

10. Cadets will be allowed to bathe at or near Gee's Point, between Revéille and Breakfast, and between Retreat and Tattoo. Cadets wishing to bathe, will be formed in the company Parade Ground, and be marched to and from the place of bathing, by the Senior Non-commissioned Officer present. The members of the Old Guard, during the morning after marching off, will be permitted to walk on Public Lands until 1 o'clock, and bathe at Washington's Valley during the same time, except on Sundays, when they will be excused from Divine Service.

11. All Cadets, except Officers of the First Class, will pass in and out of Camp by crossing Post No. 1, reporting their departure and return to the Officer of the Guard, who will keep a correct list of the same, and note the time. Cadets will visit the Commissary's only between the hours of 8-1/2 and 9-1/2 A.M., and 1-1/2 and 3 P.M., and the Confectioner's between 1 and 4 P.M.

12. Permission to walk on Public Lands, does not include the Commissary store out of hours, the Hotel, the Hospital, Wharfs, public or private buildings, or any other place on the Point, forbidden by Regulations.

13. At Taps, all lights will be extinguished in Camp, except those in Tents of Officers of the First Class, of the 1st Sergeants, and the Officers and Sergeant of the Guard.

14. Immediately after Taps, the company Officers will inspect their companies, and see that all Cadets are properly undressed and in bed; they will remain in their company grounds long enough to insure quietness and order in their companies, and will report all Cadets who leave their Tents for any purpose whatever.

15. Visiting in Camp after Taps is prohibited, and the Officers in the performance of their duty will confine themselves to the limits of their company grounds.

16. The Officer of the Guard will allow no Cadet, except members of his guard, to pace the Posts of Nos. 2 and 6 after Taps, except by permission of the Commanding Officer, or the Officer in charge; and he will, at all times, preserve proper order and quiet at the Guard Tents.

17. Citizens will not be allowed in the body of the Encampment except when accompanied by an Officer, or for the purpose of visiting an Officer. For the latter purposes, they will be permitted to cross all sentinels' posts except those of Nos. 3 and 5. The Officer of the Day, and the Officer and Non-commissioned Officers of the Guard, together with the sentinels, will, when they observe citizens in camp for any other purpose, politely notify them of this order.

18. The Color Guard will remain with the Guard until Retreat, when the members will be permitted to go to their own tents. At Revéille, they will again join the Guard.

19. All Prisoners and Cadets in arrest, will march to and from meals with the Guard, which will be marched both to and from same by an officer of the Guard.

20. All Cadets passing within fifteen paces of the Color Line, will salute the colors.

21. On Saturday afternoons until Tattoo, the Officer of the Day will inspect and verify the presence and behavior of all Cadets in confinement, making his rounds for that purpose every hour.

22. Cadets receiving permits will present them to the Officer of the Guard, who will register them; and the Cadet taking advantage of it, is required to notify the Officer of the Guard of his departure and return. All the permits will then be left with the Officer of the Guard, who will transmit them, with his report, to the Officer of the Day, who will in turn transmit them to the Commandant. Cadets visiting the Hotel, will register their permits immediately in the book kept at the office for that purpose.

23. No Cadet will be permitted to visit the Hotel before Guard Mounting, nor between 1 and 3 P.M., and 7 and 8 P.M.

24. Cadets who are excused from Divine Service, will remain in their quarters during the continuance of same. This applies also to those who attend either the Catholic or Methodist service.

25. Members of the Guard will not leave the Guard Tents without permission from the Officer of the Guard, who will see that their absence is not unnecessarily long.

26. Cadets will not be permitted to smoke outside the body of the Encampment.

27. All official communications from Cadets will be made in proper forms, and must pass through the hands of their company Commanders.

28. It is requested of Officers and citizens that they will not smoke on the General Parade Ground, or when crossing a sentinel's post.

29. The Guard will permit no person except Cadets, Officers, their servants, or Orderlies, to enter camp during the absence of the Battalion.

30. The Guard will be formed and inspected at Revéille, Retreat, and Tattoo, and during Parades will remain formed.

31. Cadets in arrest or confinement, wishing to bathe, will apply to the Commandant for permission, and be marched from and back in charge of a guard.

32. Cadets performing extra tours of punishment, will not be put on the Color Line.

33. No Cadet will employ another to do any duty for which he has been detailed, without permission.

34. Cadets on sick report will not apply for permission to visit.

35. The body of the Encampment is defined to be that portion of the Encampment included between the company Officers' Tents and the Front Line of company Tents.

FOOTNOTES:

A Standard Work for every Public and Private Library.

HISTORY

OF

WEST POINT,
AND ITS

Military Importance During the American Revolution,

AND THE

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS

OF THE

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.

By CAPTAIN EDWARD C. BOYNTON, A.M.,
ADJUTANT OF THE MILITARY ACADEMY.

ONE VOLUME OCTAVO, 408 PAGES.

Printed on Tinted Paper, beautifully Illustrated with Maps and
Fine Engravings, chiefly from Photographs taken on the
spot by the Author; bound in blue cloth,
bevelled boards, $6.00.

D. VAN NOSTRAND, Publisher,
192 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

Copies sent free by mail on receipt of Price.

Part First

Relates to the early acquisition of West Point by the United States, and the military importance of the Post during the period of the American Revolution; embracing the rise and progress of the fortifications, and the purchase and arrangement of the Great Chain, designed to obstruct the navigation of the Hudson River, drawn from authentic documents, and illustrated by Maps and Engravings never before published.

The perfidious designs of Benedict Arnold, and his connection with Major John André, Adjutant-General of the British Army in America, are succinctly described, together with the "Proceedings of the Board of General Officers," in the case of Major André, in a fac-simile form as published at the time by the authority of the Continental Congress.

The grand feu de joie at West Point on the occasion of the birth of the Dauphin of France, in 1782, with all the changes in the Garrison prior to the beginning of the present century, and many of the Orders of Washington from this spot, are now for the first time given to the public.

Part Second

Describes the origin of the Military Academy, and its progress down to the present date; the recognition of the necessity for such an institution at the very commencement of the Revolution, and the accumulated opinions in its favor upon the restoration of peace, as pronounced by the leading minds in the country, are given.

The Constitutionality of the institution, its alleged aristocratic tendencies, and the services of its graduates in and without the military profession, are treated at length.

The progress of the institution under each successive Superintendent, the erection and removal of the Early Public Buildings, illustrated by accurate Engravings and Descriptions, together with those of modern date, will be found to constitute an interesting feature in the work.

To those who seek admission into the Military Academy, or who desire to know the manner of selecting Cadets and making appointments, the course of life, the employment of time, and the duties of instruction afterward, full and complete information has been carefully prepared and imparted to the reader.

To the visitor or tourist, the work points out and describes (with the aid of a Map) all the objects of interest connected with the old Forts, and the Public Buildings, as they exist, and the method of obtaining access to all such is given.

The Appendix

Contains the roll of the Academic Staff, from the commencement of the institution; the five most distinguished Cadets in each class from 1817 to the present date, as published by the War Department; a numerical list of all the Cadets who have been admitted into the Military Academy, and the States and Territories whence appointed; a similar list of all the graduates of the institution, together with a synopsis of all the laws of the United States relative to the Military Academy, and a sketch of military education and the military schools in Europe.

These are a few only of the subjects of interest to be found in the work. No efforts has been spared to encompass and exhaust the whole subject, with the view to render the work an authority.

List of Maps and Illustrations.

NOTICES OF THE PRESS.

"The author has, with painstaking industry, gathered into one view whatever could be gleaned from our annals, not only in regard to the origin and progress of the Military Academy, but in reference to the previous history of West Point as an important Military Station during the American Revolution.

"This work is a valuable addition to our historical literature, and will furnish to the thousands of graduates from the West Point Academy a most valuable souvenir of their alma mater."—Army and Navy Journal.

"The associations of West Point, the seat of the United States Military Academy, are in this respect remarkable, that they derive their interest exclusively from the circumstances incidental to the birth and progress of the nation. The history of the place is an important part of the nation's history. It was the objective point in that drama of Arnold's treason, which, by involving the fate of André, is remembered as one of the most romantic incidents in the story of the war. The aspect of the place in connection with the events of that time is given by that method of description which always leaves the sense of historic verity. The author has presented his subject not so much in his own narrative as by a judicious combination of extracts from documents and papers of original authority; although his own observations, by way of correction and explanation, are given in good taste, and indicate a candid judgment. Capt. Boynton's book should command the interest of those who know most of West Point, and of those who know nothing about it."—Atlantic Monthly.

"It records the earliest attempt at instituting a Military School by the Continental Congress in 1776. It conducts us through the life of the institution, arguing with terseness its constitutionality, defending its educational principles, and explaining the necessity for its preservation. We commend this volume to our readers with perfect confidence, believing that they will be more than amply repaid by its careful perusal. We ourselves have lingered with pleasure over its pages, and predict for the work great success, as one of the most valuable and interesting additions that has of late years been made to our historical literature."—United Service Magazine.

"Aside from its value as an historical record, the volume under notice is an entertaining guide-book to the Military Academy and its surroundings. We have full details of Cadet life from the day of entrance to that of graduation, together with descriptions of the buildings, grounds, and monuments. To the multitude of those who have enjoyed at West Point the combined attractions, this book will give in its descriptive and illustrated portion especial pleasure; while the critical reader will be quite ready to agree fully with the modest author, that a 'nucleus of truth' has been established as a basis for a more minute history, if such should ever be needed."—New York Evening Post.

"The second part of the book gives the history of the Military Academy from its foundation in 1802, a description of the Academic buildings, and the appearance to-day of this always beautiful spot, with the manner of appointment of the Cadets, course of study, pay, time of service, and much other information yearly becoming of greater value, for West Point has not yet reached its palmiest days.

"The book is beautifully printed on thick tinted paper, with excellent illustrations and an abundance of those fine clear-cut maps in which your true West Pointer so much delights."—Boston Daily Advertiser.

"We cannot close without thanking Capt. Boynton for the vast amount of information so well collated in his book, and for his clear statement of the history and condition of the Academy from the beginning to the present time."—North American Review.