THE LIBRARY

Cadets and officers have free access to the library, which comprises over 95,000 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 338,000 cards) are arranged with the special object of saving the time of cadets. The library is open on week-days from 8 A.M. to 7:30 P.M.; Saturdays from 8 A.M. to 9:30 P.M.; on Sundays and Holidays from 2 to 6 P.M.

(A. O., M. A., July, ’16.)

SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

NO. Name. Army Rank when Appointed. Term of Service Remarks.
FROM TO
1 Jonathan Williams Major, Corps of Engineers April 15, 1802 June 20, 1803 Resigned.
2 Jonathan Williams Lieut. Colonel, Corps of Engineers 8April 19, 1805 July 31, 1812 Resigned.
3 Joseph G. Swift Colonel, Corps of Engineers July 31, 1812 Mar. 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 René W. 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 Mar. 31, 1855 Relieved.
10 John G. Barnard Captain, Corps of Engineers Mar. 31, 1855 Sept. 8, 1856 Relieved.
11 Richard Delafield Major, Corps of Engineers Sept. 8, 1856 9Jan’y 23, 1861 Relieved.
12 Peter G. T. Beauregard Captain, Corps of Engineers 9Jan’y 23, 1861 Jan’y 28, 1861 Relieved.
13 Richard Delafield Major, Corps of Engineers Jan’y 28, 1861 Mar. 1, 1861 Relieved.
14 Alexander H. Bowman Major, Corps of Engineers Mar. 1, 1861 July 8, 1864 Relieved.
15 Zealous B. Tower Major, Corps of Engineers July 8, 1864 Sept. 8, 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. Army Sept. 1, 1876 Jan’y 21, 1881 Relieved.
20 Oliver O. Howard Brigadier General, U. S. Army 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 Mar. 31, 1893 Relieved.
24 Oswald Ernest Major, Corps of Engineers Mar. 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. Army Aug. 31, 1910 Aug. 31, 1912 Relieved.
28 Clarence P. Townsley Colonel, Coast Artillery Corps Aug. 31, 1912 June 30, 1916 Relieved.
29 John Biddle Colonel, Corps of Engineers July 1, 1916

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.

A DICTIONARY OF CADET SLANG

FOOTNOTES:

1 Fort Clinton was originally named Fort Arnold in honor of Benedict Arnold, but after his defection its name was changed. It stood in the N. E. corner of the Plain at West Point.

2 Fort Putnam was named for Colonel Rufus Putnam whose regiment, the Fifth Massachusetts, commenced it and did much toward putting it in shape.

3 The Sterling Iron Works are still in operation at Sterlington, N. Y., on the Erie R. R., where the remains of the Revolutionary furnace are still standing.

4 The Robinson House was situated on the eastern shore of the Hudson about two miles below West Point. It was built in 1750 by Beverly Robinson, a man of note and wealth. He had been a personal friend of Washington until the Revolution separated them, when he went to New York and raised a regiment known as the “Loyal American” for service under the British. He assisted Arnold and André in their negotiations. At the close of the Revolution, Robinson went to England. This house was destroyed by fire, March 17, 1892.

5 “Fess” means a complete failure at a recitation. It is an abbreviation of “confess.”

6 In the Philippine Department the preliminary examination will be held between December 1st and December 15th.

7 The board before which a candidate is directed to appear will be the one convened at the place nearest or most convenient to his home, or to the school at which he is in regular attendance at the time of appointment.

8 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.

9 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.

Transcriber’s Note:

TOC entry “VIII.—Growing Muscles 174” changed to read “VIII.—Growing Muscles 194” to match actual page.

Obvious printer errors corrected silently.

Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.