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diff --git a/2448.txt b/2448.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c85e8f --- /dev/null +++ b/2448.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13030 @@ +*The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Colored Cadet at West Point* + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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Henry Ossian Flipper, U.S.A., First +Graduate of Color from the U.S. Military Academy + + + + + +TO +The Faculty of Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga., +--AND TO +THE PRESIDENT IN PARTICULAR, +TO WHOSE CAREFUL +MENTAL AND MORAL TRAINING OF MYSELF IS DUE ALL +MY SUCCESS AT THE MILITARY ACADEMY +AT WEST POINT, N. Y., +I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS VOLUME, +AS IN SOME SORT +A TOKEN OF THAT HEARTFELT GRATITUDE WHICH +I SO DEEPLY FEEL, BUT CAN SO +POORLY EXPRESS. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +RETROSPECT, . . . . . . . . . . 7 +COMMUNICATIONS, ETC., . . . . . 17 +REPORTING, . . . . . . . . . . .29 +CANT TERMS, . . . . . . . . . . 49 +PLEBE CAMP, . . . . . . . . . . 57 +STUDIES, ETC., . . . . . . . . .73 +YEARLING CAMP, . . . . . . . . 102 +FIRST CLASS CAMP, . . . . . . .108 +OUR FUTURE HEROES, . . . . . . 114 +TREATMENT, . . . . . . . . . . 117 +RESUME, . . . . . . . . . . . .166 +PLEASURES AND PRIVILEGES, . . .187 +FURLOUGH, . . . . . . . . . . .203 +INCIDENT, HUMOR, ETC., . . . . 207 +GRADUATION--IN THE ARMY, . . . 238 +SMITH AT WEST POINT, . . . . . 288 + + + PREFACE. + +THE following pages were written by request. They +claim to give an accurate and impartial narrative +of my four years' life while a cadet at West Point, +as well as a general idea of the institution there. +They are almost an exact transcription of notes +taken at various times during those four years. +Any inconsistencies, real or apparent, in my +opinions or in the impressions made upon me, are +due to the fact that they were made at different +times at a place where the feelings of all were +constantly undergoing material change. + +They do not pretend to merit. Neither are they +written for the purpose of criticising the Military +Academy or those in any way connected with it. + +My "notes" have been seen and read. If I please +those who requested me to publish them I shall be +content, as I have no other object in putting them +before the public. + +H. O. F. + +FORT SILL, INDIAN TER., 1878. + + + + + THE COLORED CADET + AT + WEST POINT. + + CHAPTER I. + + RETROSPECT. + +HENRY OSSIAN FLIPPER, the eldest of five brothers, +and the subject of this narrative, was born in +Thomasville, Thomas County, Georgia, on the 21st +day of March, 1856. He and his mother were the +property (?) of Rev. Reuben H. Lucky, a Methodist +minister of that place. His father, Festus Flipper, +by trade a shoemaker and carriage-trimmer, was +owned by Ephraim G. Ponder, a successful and +influential slave-dealer. + +In 1859 Mr. Ponder, having retired from business, +returned to Georgia from Virginia with a number of +mechanics, all slaves,and among whom was the father +of young Flipper. He established a number of +manufactories in Atlanta, then a growing inland town +of Georgia. He married about this time a beautiful, +accomplished, and wealthy lady. "Flipper," as he was +generally called,had married before this, and had +been taken back alone to his native Virginia to serve +an apprenticeship under a carriage-trimmer. This +served, Mr. Ponder joined his wife in Thomasville, +bringing with him, as stated, a number of mechanics. + +All were soon ready for transportation to Atlanta +except "Flipper." As he and his wife were each the +property (?) of different persons, there was, under +the circumstances, every probability of a separation. +This, of course, would be to them most displeasing. +Accordingly an application was made to Mr. Ponder +to purchase the wife and son. This he was, he said, +unable to do. He had, at an enormous expense, +procured and fitted up a home, and his coffers were +nearly, if not quite, empty. Husband and wife then +appealed to Mr. Lucky. He, too, was averse to parting +them, but could not, at the great price asked for him, +purchase the husband. He was willing however, to sell +the wife. An agreement was finally made by which the +husband paid from his own pocket the purchase-money +of his own wife and child, this sum to be returned +to him by Mr. Ponder whenever convenient. The joy +of the wife can be conceived. It can not be expressed. + +In due time all arrived at Atlanta, where Mr. Ponder +had purchased about twenty-five acres of land and had +erected thereon, at great expense, a superb mansion +for his own family, a number of substantial frame +dwellings for his slaves, and three large buildings +for manufacturing purposes. + +Of sixty-five slaves nearly all of the men were +mechanics. All of them except the necessary household +servants, a gardener, and a coachman, were permitted +to hire their own time. Mr. Ponder would have +absolutely nothing to do with their business other +than to protect them. So that if any one wanted any +article of their manufacture they contracted with +the workman and paid him his own price. These bond +people were therefore virtually free. They acquired +and accumulated wealth, lived happily, and needed +but two other things to make them like other human +beings, viz., absolute freedom and education. But + + "God moves in a mysterious way + His wonders to perform." + +And through that very mysteriousness this people +was destined to attain to the higher enjoyment of +life. The country, trembling under the agitation +of the slave question, was steadily seeking a +condition of equilibrium which could be stable +only in the complete downfall of slavery. Unknown +to them, yet existing, the great question of the +day was gradually being solved; and in its solution +was working out the salvation of an enslaved people. +Well did that noblest of women, Mrs. Julia Ward +Howe, sing a few years after: + + +"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the + Lord; +He is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of + wrath are stored; +He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible + swift sword; +This truth is marching on. + +"I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred + circling camps; +They have builded him an altar in the evening dews + and damps; +I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and + flaring lamps; +His day is marching on. + +"I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows + of steel; +'As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace + shall deal; +Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with + his heel, +Since God is marching on.' + +"He hath sounded forth the trumpet that shall never + call retreat; +He is sifting out the hearts of men before his + judgment-seat; +Oh! be swift my soul to answer him! be jubilant my + feet! +Our God is marching on. + +"In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across + the sea, +With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you + and me; +As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men + free, +While God is marching on." + +Another influence was as steadily tending to the +same end. Its object was to educate, to elevate +intellectually, and then to let the power thus +acquired act. + +The mistress of this fortunate household, far from +discharging the duties and functions of her station, +left them unnoticed, and devoted her whole attention +to illegitimate pleasures. The outraged husband +appointed a guardian and returned broken-hearted to +the bosom of his own family, and devoted himself +till death to agricultural pursuits. + +The nature of the marriage contract prevented the +selling of any of the property without the mutual +consent of husband and wife. No such consent was +ever asked for by either. No one was, therefore, +in that state of affairs, afraid of being sold away +from his or her relatives, although their mistress +frequently threatened so to sell them. "I'll send +you to Red River," was a common menace of hers, but +perfectly harmless, for all knew, as well as she +did, that it was impossible to carry it into +execution. + +In this condition of affairs the "servants" were +even more contented than ever. They hired their +time, as usual, and paid their wages to their +mistress, whose only thought or care was to +remember when it became due, and then to receive it. + +The guardian, an influential stockholder in several +railroads, and who resided in another city, made +periodical visits to inspect and do whatever was +necessary to a proper discharge of his duties. + +Circumstances being highly favorable, one of the +mechanics, who had acquired the rudiments of an +education, applied to this dissolute mistress for +permission to teach the children of her "servants." +She readily consented, and, accordingly, a night- +School was opened in the very woodshop in which +he worked by day. Here young Flipper was initiated +into the first of the three mysterious R's, viz., +"reading 'riting and 'rithmetic." Here, in 1864, +at eight years of age, his education began. And +the first book he ever studied--I dare say ever +saw--was a confederate reprint of Webster's +"Blueback Speller." His then tutor has since +graduated at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, +and is, at the time of this writing, United States +Consul at Malaga, Spain, having served in the same +capacity for four years at Port Mahon, Spain. + +But alas! even this happy arrangement was destined +to be disturbed. This dissolute mistress and her +slaves, with all valuable movable property, were +compelled to flee before Sherman's victorious +arms. Macon, a city just one hundred and three +miles south-east of Atlanta, became the new home +of the Flippers. A spacious dwelling was secured +in West Macon. In a part of this was stored away +Mrs. Ponder's plate and furniture, under the +guardianship of Flipper, who with his family +occupied the rest of the house. Here all was safe. +The terrible fate of Atlanta was not extended to +Macon. The only cause of alarm was Wilson, who +approached the city from the east, and, having +thrown in a few shells, withdrew without doing +further damage or being molested. Every body was +frightened, and it was deemed advisable to transfer +Mrs. Ponder's effects to Fort Valley, a small +place farther south. However, before this could be +done, it became indisputably known that Wilson had +withdrawn. + +After an uneventful stay--other than this incident +just related--of nine months in Macon, the office +of custodian was resigned, and although yet a +slave, as far as he knew, and without permission +from any one, Flipper returned to Atlanta with his +wife and two sons, Henry, the elder, and Joseph, +the younger. This was in the spring of 1865. Atlanta +was in ruins, and it appeared a dreary place indeed +to start anew on the unfinished journey of life. +Every thing was not destroyed, however. A few houses +remained. One of these was occupied. The people were +rapidly returning, and the railroads from Atlanta +were rapidly being rebuilt. + +During all this time the education of the young +Flippers had been necessarily neglected. In the +early spring of 1865, the family of an ex-rebel +captain became neighbors of the Flippers, now +well to do, and were soon on the most, friendly +terms with them. With remarkable condescension +the wife of this ex-rebel offered to instruct +Henry and Joseph for a small remuneration. The +Offer was readily and gladly accepted, and the +education of the two, so long neglected, was +taken up again. This private school of only two +pupils existed but a short time. The American +Missionary Association having opened better +schools, the Flippers were, in March, 1866, +transferred to them. They attended school there +till in 1867 the famous Storrs' School was opened +under the control of the American Missionary +Association, when they went there. In 1869, the +Atlanta University having been opened under the +same auspices, they entered there. At the time of +receiving his appointment Henry was a member of +the freshman class of the collegiate department. +His class graduated there in June, 1876, just one +year before he did at West Point. + +The following article from a Thomasville paper, +published in June, 1874, will give further +information concerning his early life: + +"'It is not generally known that Atlanta has a negro +cadet at the United States National Military Academy +at West Point. This cadet is a mulatto boy named +Flipper. He is about twenty years old, a stoutish +fellow, weighing perhaps one hundred and fifty +pounds, and a smart, bright, intelligent boy. His +father is a shoemaker, and gave him the euphonious +name of Henry Ossian Flipper. + +"'Flipper has been at the great soldier factory of +the nation for a year. He was recommended there by +our late Congressman from the Fifth District, the +Hon. J. C. Freeman. Flipper has made a right booming +student. In a class of ninety-nine he stood about +the middle, and triumphantly passed his examination, +and has risen from the fourth to the third class +without difficulty. + +"'The only two colored boys at the Academy were the +famous Smith and the Atlanta Flipper. It is thought +that Smith at the last examination failed. If so, +Atlanta will have the distinguished honor of having +the sole African representative at West Point. + +"'Flipper has had the privilege of eating at the +same table with the poor white trash; but Smith +and Flipper bunked together in the same room alone, +without white companions. + +"'It is an astonishing fact that, socially, the +boys from the Northern and Western States will +have nothing to do with these colored brothers. +Flipper and Smith were socially ostracized. Not +even the Massachusetts boys will associate with +them. Smith has been a little rebellious, and +attempted to thrust himself on the white boys; +but the sensible Flipper accepted the situation, +and proudly refused to intrude himself on the +white boys. + +"'The feeling of ostracism is so strong that a +white boy who dared to recognize a colored cadet +would be himself ostracized by the other white +cubs, even of radical extraction.' + +"We copy the above from the Atlanta Herald of last +week, for the purpose of remarking that among +colored men we know of none more honorable or more +deserving than Flipper, the father of the colored +West Point student of that name. Flipper lived for +many years in Thomasville as the servant of Mr. E. +G. Ponder--was the best bootmaker we ever knew, and +his character and deportment were ever those of a +sensible, unassuming, gentlemanly white man. Flipper +possessed the confidence and respect of his master +and all who knew him. His wife, the mother of young +Flipper, was Isabella, a servant in the family of +Rev. R. H. Lucky, of Thomasville, and bore a character +equal to that of her husband. Young Flipper was +baptized in his infancy by the venerable Bishop Early. +From these antecedents we should as soon expect young +Flipper to make his mark as any other colored youth +in the country." + +(From the Louisville Ledger.) + +"It is just possible that some of our readers may +not know who Flipper is. For their benefit we make +haste to explain that Flipper is the solitary +colored cadet now at West Point. He is in the +third class, and stands forty-six in the class, +which numbers eighty- five members. This is a +very fair standing, and Flipper's friends declare +that he is getting along finely in his studies, +and that he is quite up to the standard of the +average West Point student. Nevertheless they +intimate that he will never graduate. Flipper, they +say, may get as far as the first class, but there +he will be 'slaughtered.' + +"A correspondent of the New York Times takes issue + with this opinion. He says there are many 'old +heads' who believe Flipper will graduate with honor, +and he thinks so too. The grounds for his belief, +as he gives them, are that the officers are +gentlemen, and so are the professors; that they +believe merit should be rewarded wherever found; +and that they all speak well of Flipper, who is a +hard student, as his position in his class proves. +From this correspondent we learn that Flipper is +from Georgia; that he has a light, coffee-colored +complexion, and that he 'minds his business and +does not intrude his company upon the other cadets,' +though why this should be put down in the list of +his merits it is not easy to understand, since, if +he graduates, as this writer believes he will, he +will have the right to associate on terms of perfect +equality with the other cadets, and may in time come +to command some of them. We are afraid there is some +little muddle of inconsistency in the brain of the +Times' correspondent. + +"The Chicago Tribune seems to find it difficult to +come to any conclusion concerning Flipper's chances +for graduating. It says: 'It is freely asserted that +Flipper will never be allowed to graduate; that the +prejudice of the regular army instructors against +the colored race is insurmountable, and that they +will drive away from the Academy by persecution of +some petty sort any colored boy who may obtain +admittance there. The story does not seem to have any +substantial basis; still, it possesses considerable +vitality.' + +"We don't profess to understand exactly what sort +of a story that is which has 'considerable vitality' +without any substantial basis, and can only conclude +that the darkness of the subject has engendered a +little confusion in the mind of the Tribune as well +as in that of the writer of the Times. But the Tribune +acquires more confidence as it warms in the discussion, +and it assures us finally that 'there is, of course, +no doubt that some colored boys are capable of +receiving a military education; and eventually the +presence of colored officers in the regular army +must be an accepted fact.' Well, we don't know about +that 'accepted fact.' The white man is mighty uncertain, +and the nigger won't do to trust to, in view of which +truths it would be unwise to bet too high on the +'colored officers,' for some years to come at least. + +"But let not Flipper wring his flippers in despair, +notwithstanding. Let him think of Smith, and take +heart of hope. Smith was another colored cadet who +was sent to West Point from South Carolina. Smith +mastered readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic, but +chemistry mastered Smith.* They gave him three trials, +but it was to no purpose ; so they had to change his +base and send him back to South Carolina. But what +of that? They've just made him inspector of militia +in South Carolina, with the rank of brigadier-general. +How long might he have remained in the army before +he would have become 'General Smith?' Why, even Fred +Grant's only a lieutenant-colonel. Smith evidently +has reason to congratulate himself upon being +'plucked;' and so the young gentleman from Georgia, +with the 'light, coffee-colored complexion,' if he +meets with a similar misfortune, may console himself +with the hope that to him also in his extremity will +be extended from some source a helping flipper." + +*Cadet Smith failed in Natural and Experimental +Philosophy. In Chemistry he was up to the average. +He was never appointed Inspector-General of South +Carolina. He was Commandant of Cadets in the South +Carolina Agricultural Institute at Orangeburg, S. C., +Which position he held till his death November 29th, +1876. + + + + CHAPTER II. + + COMMUNICATIONS, ETC. + +HAVING given in the previous chapter a brief account +of myself--dropping now, by permission, the third +person--prior to my appointment, I shall here give +in full what led me to seek that appointment, and +how I obtained it. It was while sitting "in his +father's quiet shoeshop on Decatur Street"--as a +local paper had it--that I overheard a conversation +concerning the then cadet from my own district. In +the course of the conversation I learned that this +cadet was to graduate the following June; and that +therefore a vacancy would occur. This was in +the autumn of 1872, and before the election. It +occurred to me that I might fill that vacancy, +and I accordingly determined to make an endeavor +to do so, provided the Republican nominee for +Congress should be elected. He was elected. I +applied for and obtained the appointment. In +1865 or 1866--I do not now remember which: +perhaps it was even later than either--it was +suggested to my father to send me to West Point. +He was unwilling to do so, and, not knowing very +much about the place, was reluctant to make any +inquiries. I was then of course too young for +admission, being only ten or twelve years old; +and knowing nothing of the place myself, I did +not care to venture the attempt to become a +cadet. + +At the time I obtained the appointment I had quite +forgotten this early recommendation of my father's +friend; indeed, I did not recall it until I began +compiling my manuscript. + +The suggestion given me by the conversation above +mentioned was at once acted upon, and decision +made in a very short time; and so fully was I +determined, so absolutely was my mind set on +West Point, that I persisted in my desire even +to getting the appointment, staying at the Academy +four years, and finally graduating. The following +communications will explain how I got the +appointment.* + +*It has been impossible for the author to obtain +copies of his own letters to the Hon. Congressman +who appointed him, which is to be regretted. The +replies are inserted in such order that they will +readily suggest the tenor of the first +communications. + + Reply No. 1 + + +GRIFFIN, January 23,1873. + +MR. H. O. FLIPPER. + +DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 21st, asking me, as +member-elect to Congress from this State, to appoint +you cadet to West Point, was received this morning. +You are a stranger to me, and before I can comply +with your request you must get your teacher, Mr. +James L. Dunning, P.M., Colonel H. P. Fanorr, and +other Republicans to indorse for you. Give me +assurance you are worthy and well qualified and I +will recommend you. + +Yours respectfully, + +J. C. FREEMAN. + + Reply No. 2. + + +GRIFFIN, March 22, 1873. + +MR. H. O. FLIPPER. + +DEAR SIR: On my arrival from Washington I found +your letter of the 19th. I have received an +invitation from the War Department to appoint, +or nominate, a legally qualified cadet to the +United States Military Academy from my district. + +As you were the first applicant, I am disposed +to give you the first chance; but the requirements +are rigid and strict, and I think you had best +come down and see them. If after reading them you +think you can undergo the examination without +doubt, I will nominate you. But I do not want my +nominee to fail to get in. + +Yours very respectfully, + +J. C. FREEMAN. + + Reply No. 3. + +GRIFFIN, GA., March 26, 1873. + +MR. H. O. FLIPPER. + +DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 24th to hand, and +contents noted. While your education may be +sufficient, it requires many other qualifications +--such as age, height, form, etc.; soundness of +lungs, limbs, etc. I will send you up the +requirements, if you desire them, and call upon +three competent gentlemen to examine you, if +you desire it. Let me hear from you again on the +subject. + +Yours respectfully, + +J. C. FREEMAN. + + Reply No. 4. + + +GRIFFIN, March 28, 1873. + +MR. H. O. FLIPPER. + +DEAR SIR: Yours of 26th at hand. I have concluded +to send the paper sent me to J. A. Holtzclaw, of +Atlanta, present Collector of Internal Revenue. +You can call on him and examine for yourself. If +you then think you can pass, I will designate +three men to examine you, and if they pronounce +you up to the requirements I will appoint you. + +Yours truly, + +J. C. FREEMAN. + + Reply No. 5. + +GRIFFIN, April 5, 1873. + +MR. H. O. FLIPPER. + +DEAR SIR: The board of examiners pronounce you +qualified to enter the Military Academy at West +Point. You will oblige me by sending me your +given name in full, also your age to a month, +and the length of time you have lived in the +Fifth District, or in or near Atlanta. I will +appoint you, and send on the papers to the +Secretary of War, who will notify you of the +same. From this letter to me you will have to +be at West Point by the 25th day of May, 1873. + +Yours respectfully, + +J. C. FREEMAN. + +P.S.--You can send letter to me without a stamp. + + Reply No. 6. + +GRIFFIN, April 17, 1873. + +MR. HENRY O. FLIPPER. + +DEAR SIR: I this day inclose you papers from +the War Department. You can carefully read and +then make up your mind whether you accept the +position assigned you. If you should sign up, +direct and forward to proper authorities, +Washington, D. C. If you do not accept, return +the paper to my address, Griffin, Ga. + +I am yours very respectfully, + +J. C. FREEMAN. + + The papers, three in number, referred +to in the above letter, are the following: + +WAR DEPARTMENT, +WASHINGTON, April 11, 1873. + +SIR: You are hereby informed that the President +has conditionally selected you for appointment +as a Cadet of the United States Military Academy +at West Point. + +Should you desire the appointment, you will +report in person to the Superintendent of the +Academy between the 20th and 25th days of May, +1873, when, if found on due examination to +possess the qualifications required by law and +set forth in the circular hereunto appended, +you will be admitted, with pay from July 1st, +1873, to serve until the following January, at +which time you will be examined before the +Academic Board of the Academy. Should the +result of this examination be favorable, and +the reports of your personal, military, and +moral deportment be satisfactory, your warrant +of appointment, to be dated July 1st, 1873, will +be delivered to you; but should the result of +your examination, or your conduct reports be +unfavorable, you will be discharged from the +military service, unless otherwise recommended, +for special reasons, by the Academic Board, but +will receive an allowance for travelling expenses +to your home. + +Your attention is particularly directed to the +accompanying circular, and it is to be distinctly +understood that this notification confers upon +you no right to enter the Military Academy unless +your qualifications agree fully with its +requirements, and unless you report for examination +within the time specified. + + You are requested to immediately inform +the Department of your acceptance or declination +of the contemplated appointment upon the conditions +annexed. + +GEO. M. ROBESON, +Acting Secretary of War. + +HENRY O. FLIPPER, Atlanta, Georgia. +Through Hon. J. C. FREEMAN, M.C. + + CIRCULAR. + +I. Candidates must be actual bona fide residents of +the Congressional district or Territory for which +their appointments are made, and must be over +seventeen and under twenty-two years of age at +the time of entrance into the Military Academy; +but any person who has served honorably and +faithfully not less than one year as an officer +or enlisted man in the army of the United States, +either as a Volunteer, or in the Regular service, +during the war for the suppression of the +rebellion, shall be eligible for appointment up +to the age of twenty-four years. They must be at +least five feet in height, and free from any +infectious or immoral disorder, and, generally, +from any deformity, disease, or infirmity which +may render them unfit for arduous military service. +They must be proficient in Reading and Writing; in +the elements of English Grammar; in Descriptive +Geography, particularly of our own country, and in +the History of the United States. + +In Arithmetic, the various operations in addition, +subtraction, multiplication, and division, reduction, +simple and compound proportion, and vulgar and +decimal fractions, must be thoroughly understood +and readily performed. + +The following are the leading physical +disqualifications: + +1. Feeble constitution and muscular tenuity; unsound +health from whatever cause; indications of former +disease; glandular swellings, or other symptoms +of scrofula. +2. Chronic cutaneous affections, especially of the +scalp. +3. Severe injuries of the bones of the head; +convulsions. +4. Impaired vision, from whatever cause; +inflammatory affections of the eyelids; +immobility or irregularity of the iris; fistula, +lachrymalis, etc., etc. +5. Deafness; copious discharge from the ears. +6. Loss of many teeth, or the teeth generally +unsound. +7. Impediment of speech. +8. Want of due capacity of the chest, and any +other indication of a liability to a pulmonic +disease. +9. Impaired or inadequate efficiency of one or +both of the superior extremities on account of +fractures, especially of the clavicle, contraction +of a joint, extenuation, deformity, etc., etc. +10. An unusual excurvature or incurvature of the +spine. +11. Hernia. +12. A varicose state of the veins of the scrotum or +spermatic cord (when large), sarcocele, hydroccle, +hemorrhoids, fistulas. +13. Impaired or inadequate efficiency of one or of +both of the inferior extremities on account of +varicose veins, fractures, malformation (flat feet, +etc.), lameness, contraction, unequal length, +bunions, overlying or supernumerary toes, etc., +etc. +14. Ulcers, or unsound cicatrices of ulcers likely +to break out afresh. + +Every person appointed, upon arrival at West Point, +is submitted to a rigid medical examination, and if +any causes of disqualification are found to exist +in him to such a degree as may now or hereafter +impair his efficiency, he is rejected. + +No person who has served in any capacity in the +military or naval service of the so-called +Confederate States during the late rebellion can +receive an appointment as cadet at the Military +Academy. + +II. The pay of a cadet is $500 per annum, with one +ration per day, to commence with his admission +into the Military Academy, and is sufficient, +with proper economy, for his support. + +III. Each cadet must keep himself supplied with +the following mentioned articles, viz.: + +One gray cloth coatee; one gray cloth riding- +jacket; one regulation great-coat; two pairs +of gray cloth pantaloons, for winter; six +pairs of drilling pantaloons for summer; one +fatigue-jacket for the encampment; one black +dress cap; one forage cap; one black stock; +*two pairs of ankle-boots; *six pairs of white +gloves; two sets of white belts; *seven shirts +and twelve collars; *six pairs winter socks; +*six pairs summer socks; *four pairs summer +drawers; *three pairs winter drawers; *six +pocket-handkerchiefs; *six towels; *one clothes- +bag, made of ticking; *one clothes-brush; *one +hair-brush; *one tooth-brush; *one comb; one +mattress; one pillow; *two pillow-cases; *two +pairs sheets; one pair blankets; *one quilted +bed-cover; one chair; one tumbler; *one trunk; +one account-book; and will unite with his room- +mate in purchasing, for their common use, one +looking-glass, one wash-stand, one wash-basin, +one pail, and one broom, and shall he required +to have one table, of the pattern that may be +prescribed by the Superintendent. + +The articles marked thus * candidates are required +to bring with them; the others are to be had at +West Point at regulated prices, and it is better +for a candidate to take with him as little clothing +of any description as is possible (excepting what +is marked), and no more money than will defray his +travelling expenses; but for the parent or guardian +to send to "The Treasurer of the Military Academy" +a sum sufficient for his necessary expenses until +he is admitted, and for his clothes, etc., +thereafter. + +The expenses of the candidate for board, washing, +lights, etc., prior to admission, will be about $5 +per week, and immediately after being admitted to +the Institution he must be provided with an outfit +of uniform, etc., the cost of which will be $88.79. +If, upon arrival, he has the necessary sum to his +credit on the books of the Treasurer, he will start +with many advantages, in a pecuniary point of view, +over those whose means are more limited, and who +must, if they arrive, as many do, totally unprovided +in this way, go in debt on the credit of their pay +--a burden from which it requires many months to +free themselves; while, if any accident compels +them to leave the Academy, they must of necessity +be in a destitute condition. + +No cadet can receive money, or any other supplies, +from his parents, or from any person whomsoever, +without permission from the Superintendent. + +IV. If the candidate be a minor, his acceptance +must be accompanied by the written consent of +his parent or guardian to his signing articles, +binding himself to serve the United States eight +years from the time of his admission into the +Military Academy, unless sooner discharged. + +V. During the months of July and August the cadets +live in camp, engaged only in military duties and +exercises and receiving practical military +instruction. + +The academic duties and exercises commence on the +1st of September, and continue till about the end +of June. + +The newly appointed cadets are examined at the +Academy prior to admission, and those not properly +qualified are rejected. + +Examinations of the several classes are held in +January and June, and at the former such of the +new cadets as are found proficient in studies +and have been correct in conduct are given the +particular standing in their class to which their +merits entitle them. After either examination +cadets found deficient in conduct or studies are +discharged from the Academy, unless, for special +reasons in each case, the Academic Board should +otherwise recommend. + +These examinations are very thorough, and require +from the cadet a close and persevering attention +to study, without evasion or slighting of any part +of the course, as no relaxations of any kind can be +made by the examiners. + +VI. A sound body and constitution, a fixed degree +of preparation, good natural capacity, an aptitude +for study, industrious habits, perseverance, an +obedient and orderly disposition, and a correct +moral deportment are such essential qualifications +that candidates knowingly deficient in any of these +respects should not, as many do, subject themselves +and their friends to the chances of future +mortification and disappointment, by accepting +appointments to the Academy and entering upon a +career which they can not successfully pursue. + +Method of Examining Candidates for Admission +into the Military Academy. + +Candidates must be able to read with facility +from any book, giving the proper intonation +and pauses, and to write portions that are +read aloud for that purpose, spelling the words +and punctuating the sentences properly. + +In ARITHMETIC they must be able to perform with +facility examples under the four ground rules, +and hence must be familiar with the tables of +addition, subtraction, multiplication, and +division, and be able to perform examples in +reduction and in vulgar and decimal fractions, +such as-- + +Add 2/3 to 3/4; subtract 2/5 from 5/6; multiply +3/4 by 7/8; divide 2/5 by 3/8; + +Add together two hundred and thirty-four thousandths +(.234), twenty-six thousandths (.026), and three +thousandths (.003). + +Subtract one hundred and sixty-one ten thousandths +(.0161) from twenty-five hundredths (.25). + +Multiply or divide twenty-six hundredths (.26) by +sixteen thousandths (.016). + +They must also be able to change vulgar fractions +into decimal fractions, and decimals into vulgar +fractions, with examples like the following: + +Change 15/16 into a decimal fraction of the same +value. + +Change one hundred and two thousandths (.102) into +a vulgar fraction of the same value. + +In simple and compound proportion, examples of +various kinds will be given, and candidates will +be expected to understand the principles of the +rules which they follow. + +In ENGLISH GRAMMAR candidates will be required +to exhibit a familiarity with the nine parts of +speech and the rules in relation thereto; must +be able to parse any ordinary sentence given to +them, and, generally, must understand those +portions of the subject usually taught in the +higher academies and schools throughout the +country, comprehended under the heads of +Orthography, Etymology, Syntax, and Prosody. + +In DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY they are to name, +locate, and describe the natural grand and +political divisions of the earth, and be able +to delineate any one of the States or Territories +of the American Union, with its principal cities, +rivers, lakes, seaports, and mountains. + +In HISTORY they must be able to name the periods +of the discovery and settlement of the North +American continent, of the rise and progress of +the United States, and of the successive wars +and political administrations through which the +country has passed. + +THE COURSE OF STUDY AND BOOKS USED AT THE +MILITARY ACADEMY. + +[Books marked thus * are for reference only.] + + First Year--Fourth Class. + +DEPARTMENT TEXT-BOOKS. + +Mathematics...............Davies' Boudon's Algebra. + Davies' Legendre's Geometry + and Trigonometry. Church's + Descriptive Geometry. +French Language...........Bolmar's Levizac's Grammar + and Verb Book. Agnel's + Tabular System. Berard's + Lecons Francaises. *Spier's + and Surenne's Dictionary. +Tactics of Artillery......Practical Instruction in the + and Infantry Schools of the Soldier, + Company, and Battalion. + Practical Instruction in + Artillery. +Use of Small Arms.........Instruction in Fencing and + Bayonet Exercise. + + Second Year--Third Class. + +Mathematics...............Church's Descriptive + Geometry, with its + applications to Spherical + Projections. Church's Shades, + Shadows and Perspective. + Davies' Surveying. Church's + Analytical Geometry. + Church's Calculus. +French Language...........Bolmar's Levizac's Grammar and + Verb Book. Berard's Lecons + Francaises. Chapsal's Lecons + Et Modeles de Litterature + Francaise. Agnel's Tabular + System. Rowan's Morceaux + Choisis des Auteurs Modernes. + *Spier's and Surenne's + Dictionary. +Spanish...................Josse's Grammar. Morales' + Progressive Reader. Ollen- + Dorff's Oral Method applied to + the Spanish, by Velasquez and + Simonne. Seoane's Neuman and + Baretti's Dictionary. +Drawing...................Topography, etc. Art of + Penmanship. +Tactics of Infantry,......Practical Instruction in the + Artillery, and Cavalry Schools of the Soldier, Company, + and Battalion. Practical + Instruction in Artillery and + Cavalry. + + Third Year--Second Class. + +Natural and Experimental..Bartlett's Mechanics. Bartlett's + Philosophy Acoustics and Optics. Bartlett's + Astronomy. +Chemistry.................Fowne's Chemistry. Chemical + Physics, from Miller. +Drawing...................Landscape. Pencil and Colors. +Tactics of Infantry,......Practical Instruction in the + Artillery, and Cavalry Schools of the Soldier, Company, + and Battalion. Practical + Instruction in Artillery and + Cavalry. +Practical Military........Myers' Manual of Signals. + Engineering Practical and Theoretical + Instruction in Military + Signaling and Telegraphy. + + Fourth Year--First Class. + +Military and Civil........Mahan's Field Fortification. + Engineering, and Mahan's Outlines of + Sciences of War. Permanent Fortification. + Mahan's Fortification and + Stereotomy. Mahan's + Advanced Guard and Outpost, + etc. *Moseley's Mechanics + of Engineering. +Mineralogy and Geology....Dana's Mineralogy. + Hitchcock's Geology. +Ethics and Law............French's Practical Ethics. + Halleck's International + Law. Kent's Commentaries + (portion on Constitutional + Law). Law and Military + Law, by Prof. French. + Benet's Military Law and + the Practice of Courts- + Martial. +Tactics of Artillery,.....United States Tactics for + Cavalry, and Infantry Calvary. Practical + Instruction in the + Schools of the Soldier, + Company, and Battalion. + Practical Instruction in + Artillery and Cavalry. +Ordnance and Gunnery......Benton's Ordnance and + Gunnery. Practical + Pyrotechny. +Practical Military........Practical Instruction in + Engineering fabricating Fascines, Sap + Faggots, Gabions, Hurdles, + Sap-rollers, etc.; manner + of laying out and + constructing Gun and Mortar + Batteries, Field Fortific- + ations and Works of Siege; + formation of Stockades, + Abatis, and other military + obstacles; and throwing and + dismantling Pontoon Bridges. + Myer's Manual of Signals. + Practical Instruction in + Military Signaling and + Telegraphy. + + +The second paper was a printed blank, a letter of +acceptance or non-acceptance, to be filled up, as +the case may be, signed by myself, countersigned +by my father, and returned to Washington, D. C. + +The third, which follows, is simply a memorandum +for use of the candidate. + + MEMORANDUM. + +It is suggested to all candidates for admission +into the Military Academy that, before leaving +their place of residence for West Point, they +should cause themselves to be thoroughly examined +by a competent physician, and by a teacher or +instructor in good standing By such an examination +any serious physical disqualification, or deficiency +in mental preparation, would be revealed, and the +candidate probably spared the expense and trouble +of a useless journey and the mortification of +rejection. The circular appended to the letter of +appointment should be carefully studied by the +candidate and the examiners. + +It should be understood that the informal examination +herein recommended is solely for the convenience and +benefit of the candidate himself, and can in no manner +affect the decision of the Academic and Medical +Examining Boards at West Point. + +NOTE.--There being no provision whatever for the +payment of the travelling expenses of either +accepted or rejected candidates for admission, no +candidate should fail to provide himself in advance +with the means of returning to his home, in case of +his rejection before either of the Examining Boards, +as he may otherwise be put to considerable trouble, +inconvenience, and even suffering, on account of his +destitute situation. If admitted, the money brought +by him to meet such a contingency can be deposited +with the Treasurer on account of his equipment as a +cadet, or returned to his friends. + +After I had secured the appointment the editor of +one of our local papers, which was at the time +publishing-- weekly, I think--brief biographies of +some of the leading men of the city, together with +cuts of the persons themselves, desired to thus +bring me into notoriety. I was duly consulted, and, +objecting, the publication did not occur. My chief +reason for objecting was merely this: I feared some +evil might befall me while passing through Georgia +en route for West Point, if too great a knowledge +of me should precede me, such, for instance, as a +publication of that kind would give. + +At this interview several other persons--white, of +course--were present, and one of them--after +relating the trials of Cadet Smith and the +circumstances of his dismissal, which, apropos, +had not yet occurred, as he would have me believe-- +advised me to abandon altogether the idea of going +to West Point, for, said he, "Them northern boys +wont treat you right." I have a due proportion of +stubbornness in me, I believe, as all of the negro +race are said to have, and my Southern friend might +as well have advised an angel to rebel as to have +counselled me to resign and not go. He was convinced, +too, before we separated, that no change in my +determination was at all likely to occur. Next day, +in a short article, the fact of my appointment was +mentioned, and my age and degree of education. Some +days after this, while in the post-office, a gentleman +beckoned to me, and we withdrew from the crowd. He +mentioned this article, and after relating--indeed, +repeating, to my amusement, the many hardships to +which I should be subjected, and after telling me he +had a very promising son--candid, wasn't he?--whom he +desired to have educated at West Point, offered me +for my appointment the rather large sum of five +thousand dollars. This I refused instantly. I had +so set my mind on West Point that, having the +appointment, neither threats nor excessive bribes +could induce me to relinquish it, even if I had not +possessed sufficient strength of character to resist +them otherwise. However, as I was a minor, I referred +him to my father. I have no information that he ever +consulted him. If he had, my reply to him would have +been sustained. I afterward had reason to believe +the offer was made merely to test me, as I received +from strangers expressions of confidence in me and +in my doing faithfully all that might devolve upon +me from my appointment. + + + + CHAPTER III. + + REPORTING. + +MAY 20th, 1873! Auspicious day! From the deck of +the little ferry-boat that steamed its way across +from Garrison's on that eventful afternoon I viewed +the hills about West Point, her stone structures +perched thereon, thus rising still higher, as if +providing access to the very pinnacle of fame, and +shuddered. With my mind full of the horrors of the +treatment of all former cadets of color, and the +dread of inevitable ostracism, I approached +tremblingly yet confidently. + +The little vessel having been moored, I stepped +ashore and inquired of a soldier there where +candidates should report. He very kindly gave me +all needed information, wished me much success, +for which I thanked him, and set out for the +designated place. I soon reached it, and walked +directly into the adjutant's office. He received +me kindly, asked for my certificate of appointment, +and receiving that--or assurance that I had it: I +do not now remember which--directed me to write in +a book there for the purpose the name and occupation +of my father, the State, Congressional district, +county and city of his residence, my own full name, +age, State, county, and place of my birth, and my +occupation when at home. This done I was sent in +charge of an orderly to cadet barracks, where my +"plebe quarters" were assigned me. + +The impression made upon me by what I saw while +going from the adjutant's office to barracks was +certainly not very encouraging. The rear windows +were crowded with cadets watching my unpretending +passage of the area of barracks with apparently +as much astonishment and interest as they would, +perhaps, have watched Hannibal crossing the Alps. +Their words, jeers, etc., were most insulting. + +Having reached another office, I was shown in by +the orderly. I walked in, hat in hand--nay, rather +started in-- when three cadets, who were seated in +the room, simultaneously sprang to their feet, and +welcomed me somewhat after this fashion: + +"Well, sir, what do you mean by coming into this +office in that manner, sir? Get out of here, sir." + +I walked out, followed by one of them, who, in a +similar strain, ordered me to button my coat, get +my hands around--"fins" he said--heels together, +and head up. + +"Now, sir," said he, leaving me, "when you are +ready to come in, knock at that door," emphasizing +the word "knock." + +The door was open. I knocked. He replied, "Come in." +I went in. I took my position in front of and facing +him, my heels together, head up, the palms of my +hands to the front, and my little fingers on the +seams of my pantaloons, in which position we +habitually carried them. After correcting my +position and making it sufficiently military +to suit himself, one of them, in a much milder +tone, asked what I desired of them. I told him +I had been sent by the adjutant to report there. +He arose, and directing me to follow him, conducted +me to the bath-rooms. Having discharged the necessary +duty there, I returned and was again put in charge of +the orderly, who carried me to the hospital. There I +was subjected to a rigid physical examination, which +I "stood" with the greatest ease. I was given a +certificate of ability by the surgeon, and by him +sent again to the adjutant, who in turn sent me to +the treasurer. From him I returned alone to barracks. + +The reception given to "plebes" upon reporting is +often very much more severe than that given me. +Even members of my own class can testify to this. +This reception has, however, I think, been best +described in an anonymous work, where it is thus +set forth: + +"How dare you come into the presence of your +superior officer in that grossly careless and +unmilitary manner? I'll have you imprisoned. +Stand, attention, sir!" (Even louder than before.) +"Heels-together-and-on- the-same-line, toes-equally +-turned-out, little-fingers-on-the-seams-of-your- +pantaloons, button-your-coat, draw-in-your-chin, +throw-out-your-chest, cast-your-eyes-fifteen-paces +-to-the-front, don't-let-me-see-you-wearing-standing- +collars-again. Stand-steady, sir. You've evidently +mistaken your profession, sir. In any other service, +or at the seat of war, sir, you would have been shot, +sir, without trial, sir, for such conduct, sir." + +The effect of such words can be easily imagined. +A "plebe" will at once recognize the necessity +for absolute obedience, even if he does know all +this is hazing, and that it is doubtless forbidden. +Still "plebes" almost invariably tremble while it +lasts, and when in their own quarters laugh over +it, and even practise it upon each other for mutual +amusement. + +On the way to barracks I met the squad of "beasts" +marching to dinner. I was ordered to fall in, did so, +marched to the mess hall, and ate my first dinner at +West Point. After dinner we were marched again to +barracks and dismissed. I hastened to my quarters, +and a short while after was turned out to take +possession of my baggage. I lugged it to my room, +was shown the directions on the back of the door +for arrangement of articles, and ordered to obey +them within half an hour. The parts of the regulations +referred to are the following: + + SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR BARRACKS. + + ORDERLIES OF ROOMS. + +The particular attention of Orderlies is directed +to those paragraphs of the Regulations for the +U. S. Military Academy specifying their duties. + + CADETS. + +The hours of Recitation of each Cadet will be +posted on the back of the door of his room. When +a room is being washed out by the policeman, on +reporting to the Officer of the Day, and stating +to him the number of some room in his own Division +he wishes to visit, a Cadet will be permitted to +visit that particular room until his own can be +occupied. The uniform coat will be worn from 8 +till 10 A.M.; at Inspection before 10 A.M. the +coat will be buttoned throughout; at Sunday +Morning Inspection gloves and side-arms will +also be worn. After 10 A.M. any uniform garment +or dressing-gown may be worn in their own rooms, +but at no time will Cadets be in their shirt- +sleeves unnecessarily. During the "Call to +Quarters," between "Inspection Call" in the +morning and "Tattoo," the following Arrangement +of Furniture, etc., will be required: + + ACCOUTREMENTS. + +Dress Cap--On gun-rack shelf. + +Cartridge Boxes, Waist Belts, Sabres, Forage Caps +--Hung on pegs near gun-rack shelf. + +Muskets--In gun--rack, Bayonets in the scabbards. + +Spurs--Hung on peg with Sabres. + + BEDSTEADS AND BEDDING. + +Bedsteads--In alcove, against side wall of the room, +the head against the back wall. + +Bedding--Mattress to be folded once; Blankets and +Comforters, each one to be neatly and separately +folded, so that the folds shall be of the width of +an ordinary pillow, and piled at the head of the +BEDSTEAD in the following order, viz.: MATTRESS, +SHEETS, PILLOWS, BLANKETS, and COMFORTERS, the +front edge of sheets, pillows, etc., to be vertical. +On Sunday afternoons the BEDS may be made down and +used. + + CLOTHES-PRESS. + +Books--On the top of the Press, against the wall, +and with the backs to the front. BRUSHES (tooth +and hair), COMBS, SHAVING IMPLEMENTS and MATERIALS, +such small boxes as may be allowed, vials, etc., +to be neatly arranged on the upper shelf. BELTS, +COLLARS, GLOVES, HANDKERCHIEFS, SOCKS, etc., to be +neatly arranged on the second shelf from the top. +SHEETS, PILLOW-CASES, SHIRTS, DRAWERS, WHITE PANTS, +etc., to be neatly arranged on the other shelves, +the heaviest articles on the lower shelves. + +Arrangement--All articles of the same kind are to +be carefully and neatly placed in separate piles. +The folded edges of these articles to be to the +front, and even with the front edge of the shelf. +Nothing will be allowed between these piles of +clothing and the back of the press, unless the +want of room on the front edge renders it necessary. + +Dirty Clothes--To be kept in clothes-bag. + +Shoes and Over-Shoes--To be kept clean, dusted, +and arranged in a line where they can be seen by +the Inspector, either at the foot of the bedstead +or at the side near the foot. + +Woollen Clothing, Dressing-Gown, and Clothes-Bag-- +To be hung on the pegs in alcove in the following +general order, from the front of the alcove to the +back: Over-Coat, Dressing-Gown, Uniform Coats, +Jackets, Pants, Clothes-Bag. + + FURNITURE. + +Broom--To be kept behind the door. TIN BOX for +CLEANING MATERIALS--To be kept clean and in the +fire-place. SPITTOON-- To be kept on one side of +the hearth near mantel-piece. CHAIRS and TABLES-- +On no occasion to be in alcoves, the chairs, when +not in use, to be against the owners' tables. +LOOKING-GLASS--At the centre of the mantel-piece. +WASH-STAND--To be kept clean, in front and against +alcove partition. WASH-BASIN--To be kept clean, and +inverted on the top of the Wash-stand. WATER-BUCKET +--To be kept on shelf of wash-stand. SLOP-BUCKET-- +To be kept near to and on side of Wash-stand, opposite +door. Baskets, Pictures, Clocks, Statues, Trunks, and +large Boxes will NOT be allowed in quarters. + +Curtains--WINDOW-CURTAINS--Only uniform allowed, and +to be kept drawn back during the day. ALCOVE-- +CURTAINS--Only uniform allowed, and to be kept drawn, +except between "Tattoo" and "Reveille" and when +dressing. CURTAINS OF CLOTHES-PRESS--To be kept drawn, +except when policing room. + + FLOOR. + +To be kept clean, and free from grease-spots and +stains. + + WALLS AND WOOD-WORK. + +To be kept free from cobwebs, and not to be injured +by nails or otherwise. + + HEATING APPARATUS, SCREEN AND TOP. + +To be kept clean, and not to be scratched or defaced. + +These Regulations will be strictly obeyed and +enforced. + +By order of LIEUT.-COLONEL UPTON, +GEORGE L. TURNER, +Cadet Lieut. and Adjutant. + +HEADQUARTERS, CORPS OF CADETS, +West Point, N. Y., Sept. 4, 1873. + + At the end of the time specified every +article was arranged and the cadet corporal +returned to inspect. He walked deliberately to +the clothes-press, and, informing me that every +thing was arranged wrong, threw every article +upon the floor, repeated his order, and withdrew. +And thus three times in less than two hours did +I arrange and he disarrange my effects. I was +not troubled again by him till after supper, +when he inspected again, merely opening the door, +however, and looking in. He told me I could not +go to sleep till "tattoo." Now tattoo, as he +evidently used it, referred in some manner to +time, and with such reference I had not the +remotest idea of what it meant. I had no knowledge +whatever of military terms or customs. However, as +I was also told that I could do any thing--writing, +etc.--I might wish to do, I found sufficient to +keep me awake until he again returned and told me +it was then tattoo, that I could retire then or at +any time within half an hour, and that at the end +of that time the light must be extinguished +and I must be in bed. I instantly extinguished it +and retired. + +Thus passed my first half day at West Point, and +thus began the military career of the fifth colored +cadet. The other four were Smith of South Carolina, +Napier of Tennessee, Howard of Mississippi, and +Gibbs of Florida. + +What I had seen and experienced during the few hours +from my arrival till tattoo filled me with fear and +apprehension. I expected every moment to be insulted +or struck, and was not long in persuading myself that +the various reports which I had heard concerning Smith +were true--I had not seen him yet, or, if I had, had +not recognized him--and that my life there was to be +all torture and anguish. I was uneasy and miserable, +ever thinking of the regulations, verbal or written, +which had been given me. How they haunted me! I kept +repeating them over and over, fearful lest I might +forget and violate them, and be dismissed. If I wanted +any thing or wished to go anywhere, I must get permission +of the cadet officers on duty over us. To get such +permission I must enter their office cleanly and neatly +dressed, and, taking my place in the centre of the room, +must salute, report my entrance, make known my wants, +salute again, and report my departure.* At the instant +I heard the sound of a drum I must turn out at a run +and take my place in the ranks. + +*Somewhat after this fashion: +"Candidate F----, United States Military Academy, +reports his entrance into this office, sir." +"Well, sir, what do you want in this office?" +"I desire permission, sir, to walk on public lands +till retreat." +"No, sir, you can't walk on public lands till +retreat. Get out of my sight." +"Candidate F----, United States Military Academy, +reports his departure from this office, sir." + +At five o'clock the next morning two unusual sounds +greeted my ears--the reveille, and a voice in the +hall below calling out in a loud martial tone: + +"Candidates, turn out promptly!" In an astonishingly +short time I had dressed, "turned out," and was in +ranks. We stood there as motionless as statues till +the fifers and drummers had marched up to barracks, +the rolls of the companies had been called, and +they themselves dismissed. We were then dismissed, +our roll having been also called. We withdrew at a +run to our quarters and got them ready for inspection, +which, we were informed, would take place at the +expiration of half an hour. At the end of this time +our quarters were inspected by a corporal. In my own +room he upset my bedding, kicked my shoes into the +middle of the room, and ordered me to arrange them +again and in better order. This order was obeyed +immediately. And this upsetting was done in every room, +as I learned afterward from the occupants, who, strange +to say, manifested no prejudice then. 'Twas not long +ere they learned that they were prejudiced, and that +they abhorred even the sight of a "d--d nigger." + +Just before, or perhaps just after breakfast, our +quarters were again inspected. This time I was +somewhat surprised to hear the corporal say, "Very +well, Mr. Flipper, very well, sir." + +And this with other things shows there was a friendly +feeling toward me from the first. After having thus +expressed himself, he directed me to print my name on +each of four pieces of paper, and to tack them up in +certain places in the room, which he indicated to me. +I did this several times before I could please him; +but at last succeeded. Another corporal visited me +during the day and declared everything out of order, +although I had not touched a single thing after once +satisfying the first corporal. Of course I had to +rearrange them to suit him, in which I also finally +succeeded. + +At eleven o'clock the mail came. I received a letter, +and to my astonishment its postmark was "West Point, +N. Y., May 21st." Of course I was at a loss to know +who the writer was. I turned it over and over, looked +at it, studied the postmark, finally opened it and +read it.* + +*This letter by some means has been misplaced, and +all efforts to find it, or to discover what its +exact contents were, have failed. However, it was +from James Webster Smith, the first and then only +cadet of color at West Point. It reassured me very +much, telling me not to fear either blows or insults, +and advising me to avoid any forward conduct if I +wished also to avoid certain consequences, "which," +said the writer, "I have learned from sad experience," +would be otherwise inevitable. It was a sad letter. +I don't think any thing has so affected me or so +influenced my conduct at West Point as its melancholy +tone. That "sad experience" gave me a world of warning. +I looked upon it as implying the confession of some +great error made by him at some previous time, and of +its sadder consequences. + +This was another surprise--a welcome surprise, +however. I read it over several times. It showed +me plainly that Smith had not been dismissed, as +had been reported to me at home. I at once formed +a better opinion of West Point than I before had, +and from that day my fears gradually wore away. + +The candidates now reported rapidly, and we, who +had reported the day previous, were comparatively +undisturbed. At four o'clock I visited Smith at +his quarters by permission. My visit was necessarily +a short one, as he was then preparing for drill. It +sufficed, however, for us to become acquainted, and +for me to receive some valuable advice. An hour and +place were designated for us to meet next day, and I +took my leave of him. The "plebes" turned out en +masse, walked around the grounds and witnessed the +drilling of the battalion. We enjoyed it immensely. +They were that day skirmishing and using blank +cartridges. We thought the drill superb. I was asked +by a fellow-"plebe," "Think you'll like that?" + +"Oh yes," said I, "when I can do it as easily as +they do." + +We had quite a lengthy conversation about the fine +appearance of the cadets, their forms, so straight +and manly, evoking our greatest admiration. This, +alas! was our only conversation on any subject. The +gentleman discovered ere long that he too was +prejudiced, and thus one by one they "cut" me, +whether for prudential reasons or not I can not +presume to say. + +I went into the office one day, and standing +uncovered at about the middle of the room, in +the position of the soldier, saluted and thus +addressed a cadet officer present: + +"Candidate Flipper, United States Military Academy, +reports his entrance into this office, sir." + +"Well, what do you want?" was the rather gruff +reply. + +"I desire permission to visit Smith, sir," answered +I, thoughtlessly saying "Smith," instead of "Mr" or +"Cadet Smith." + +He instantly sprang from his seat into rather close +proximity to my person and angrily yelled: + +"Well, sir, I want to hear you say 'Mr. Smith.' I +want you to understand, sir, he is a cadet and +you're a 'plebe,' and I don't want to see such +familiarity on your part again, sir," putting +particular emphasis on "Mr." + +Having thus delivered himself he resumed his seat, +leaving me, I imagine, more scared than otherwise. + +"What do you want?" asked he again, after a pause +of a moment or so. + +"Permission to visit Mr. Smith." + +Without condescending to notice for the time my +request he gave the interview a rather ludicrous +turn, I thought, by questioning me somewhat after +this manner: + +"Can you dance, Mr. Flipper?" + +Having answered this to his entire satisfaction, +he further asked: + +"Expect to attend the hops this summer?" + +"Oh no, sir," replied I, smiling, as he also was, +for I had just discovered the drift of his questions. +After mischievously studying my countenance for a +moment, he returned to the original subject and +queried, "Where do you want to go?" + +I told him. + +"Well, get out of my sight." + +I considered the permission granted, and hastily +withdrew to take advantage of it. + + Between breakfast and supper those of us +who had been there at least a day had quite a +pleasant time. We were not troubled with incessant +inspections or otherwise. We either studied for +examination or walked around the grounds. At or near +seven o'clock, the time of retreat parade, we were +formed near our barracks and inspected. Our ranks +were opened and the cadet lieutenant inspected our +clothing and appearance generally. A not infrequent +occurrence on these occasions was: + +"Well, mister, what did you shave with--a shoehorn?" + +At this we would smile, when the lieutenant, +sergeant, or corporal would jump at us and yell: + +"Wipe that smile off your face, sir! What do you +mean, sir, by laughing in ranks?" + +If any one attempted to reply he was instantly +silenced with-- + +"Well, sir, don't reply to me in ranks." + +The inspection would be continued. Some one, unable +to restrain himself--the whole affair was so ridiculous-- +would laugh right out in ranks. He was a doomed man. + +"What do you mean, sir, by laughing in ranks, sir?" + +Having been once directed not to reply in ranks, the +poor "plebe" would stand mute. + +"Well, sir, don't you intend to answer me?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well, sir, step it out. What were you grinning at?" + +"Nothing, sir." + +"Nothing! Well, sir, you're a pretty thing to be +grinning at nothing. Get in ranks." + +The inspection would, after many such interruptions, +be continued. Ranks would at length be closed and the +command, "In place, rest!" given. The battalion would +march in from parade at double time and form in the +area to our rear. The delinquencies of the day previous +would then be published by the cadet adjutant. + +What most strikes a "plebe" is this same publication. +He hasn't the remotest idea of what it is. Not a word +uttered by the adjutant is understood by him. He stands +and wonders what it is. A perfect jargon of words, +unintelligible and meaningless to him! I remember +distinctly how I used to wonder, and how I was laughed +at when I asked for information concerning it. We +"plebes" used to speak of it often, and wonder if it +was not French. When we were better acquainted with +the rules and customs of the Academy we learned what +it was. It was something of this nature, read from the +"Delinquency Book:" + + DELINQUENCIES, TUESDAY, OCT. 12. + + ADAMS.--Late at reveille roll-call. + BEJAY.--Sentinel not coming to "Arms, Port," when +addressed by the officer of the day. + SAME.--Not conversant with orders at same. + BARNES.--Same at same. + SAME.--Sentinel, neglect of duty, not requiring +cadet leaving his post to report his departure and +destination. + SAME.--Hanging head, 4 P.M. + BULOW.--Dust on mantel at inspection, 9.30 A.M. + SAME.--Executing manual of arms with pointer in +section-room, 9 A.M. + SAME.--Using profane expression, 1 P.M. + CULLEN.--Out of bed at taps. + DOUNS.--Light in quarters, 11 p.m. + SAME.--Not prepared on 47 Velasquez.* + + +*For these delinquencies the cadets are allowed to +write explanations. If the offence is absence from +quarters or any duty without authority, or is one +committed in the Academical Department, called an +Academical Delinquency, such as not being prepared +on some lesson, an explanation is required and must +be written. For all other offences the cadet can +write an explanation or not as he chooses. If the +explanation is satisfactory, the offence is removed +and he gets no demerits, otherwise he does. For form +of explanation see Chapter X., latter part. + +On the 26th of May, another colored candidate +reported. It is said he made the best show at the +preliminary examination. Unfortunately, however, +he was "found" at the following semi-annual +examination. He was brought up to my quarters by +a corporal, and I was ordered to give him all +instruction which had previously been given me. +This I did, and his first days at West Point were +much more pleasant than mine had been. + +The candidates had now all reported, and Monday +afternoon, May 28th, we were each given by the +Adjutant in person a slip of paper upon which was +written the number of each man's name in an +alphabetically arranged roll. This we had special +directions to preserve. The next day we were +marched up to the Drawing Academy, and examined +in grammar, history, and geography; the following +day in orthography and reading. On the same day, +also, we were required to write out a list of all +the textbooks we had used in our previous school- +days. The day following we were divided into +sections and marched to the library, where the +Academic Board was in readiness to examine us in +mathematics. It took quite a while to examine our +class of more than one hundred members thus orally. +I am not positive about the dates of the examination. +I know it occurred in the immediate vicinity of +those named. + +Not many days after this the result of the examination +was made known to us. The familiar cry, "Candidates, +turn out promptly," made at about noon, informed us +that something unusual was about to occur. It was a +fearful moment, and yet I was sure I had "passed." +The only questions I failed on were in geography. I +stood motionless while the order was being read until +I heard my name among the accepted ones. I felt as if +a great burden had been removed from my mind. It was +a beginning, and if not a good one, certainly not a +bad one. What has been the ending? Let the sequel +show. + +Now that the examination was over and the deficient +ones gone, we were turned out for drill every morning +at half--past five o'clock and at four in the afternoon. +We were divided into squads of one each, and drilled +twice a day in the "settings up" until about June +20th. After a few drills, however, the squads were +consolidated into others of four, six, and eight each. +The surplus drill-masters were "turned in." Their +hopes were withered, for it was almost a certainty +that those who were "turned in" would not be "made." +They expected to be "made" on their proficiency in +drilling, and when it was shown by being "turned in" +that others had been thought better drill-masters, +they were not a little disappointed. How they "boned" +tactics! What proficiency they manifested! How they +yelled out their commands! What eagerness they showed +to correct errors, etc. And yet some could not overcome +their propensity for hazing, and these were of course +turned in. Not always thus, however. Those who were +not "turned in" were not always "made" corporals. +Often those who were so treated "got the chevrons" +after all. + +"Plebe drill," or, more familiarly, "squad drill," +has always been a source of great amusement to +citizens, but what a horror to plebes. Those +torturous twistings and twirlings, stretching +every nerve, straining every sinew, almost +twisting the joints out of place and making +life one long agonizing effort. Was there ever +a "plebe," or recruit, who did not hate, did not +shudder at the mere mention of squad drill? I did. +Others did. I remember distinctly my first experience +of it. I formed an opinion, a morbid dislike of it +then, and have not changed it. The benefit, however, +of "squad drill" can not be overestimated. It makes +the most crooked, distorted creature an erect, noble, +and manly being, provided, of course, this distortion +be a result of habit and not a natural deformity, the +result of laziness in one's walking, such as hanging +the head, dropping the shoulders, not straightening +the legs, and crossing them when walking. + +Squad drill is one of the painful necessities of +military discipline, and no one regrets his +experience of it, however displeasing it may +have been at the time. It is squad drill and +hazing that so successfully mould the coarser +characters who come to West Point into officers +and gentlemen. They teach him how to govern and +be governed. They are more effectual in polishing +his asperities of disposition and forming his +character than any amount of regulations could be. +They tame him, so to speak. + +Squad drill was at once a punishment, a mode of +hazing, and a drill. For the least show of +grossness one was sure to be punished with +"settings up, second time!" "settings up, +fourth time! "Continue the motion, settings +up second (or fourth) time!" We would be kept +at these motions until we could scarcely move. +Of course all this was contrary to orders. The +drill-master would be careful not to be "hived." +If he saw an officer even looking at him, he +would add the command "three," which caused a +discontinuance of the motion. He would change, +however, to one of the other exercises immediately, +and thus keep the plebes continually in motion. +When he thought the punishment sufficient he would +discontinue it by the command, "three," and give +"place, rest." When the "place, rest" had been just +about sufficient to allow the plebe to get cool and +in a measure rested, the drill would be resumed by +the command "'tion, squad" (abbreviated from +"attention" and pronounced "shun"). If the plebe +was slow, "place, rest" was again given, and + +"When I give the command ''tion, squad,' I want to +see you spring up with life." + +"'Tion, squad!" + +Plebe is slow again. + +"Well, mister, wake up. This is no trifling matter. +Understand?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well, sir, don't reply to me in ranks." + +And many times and terms even more severe than these. + +Now that Williams and myself were admitted, the +newspapers made their usual comments on such +occurrences. I shall quote a single one from The +New National Era and Citizen, published in Washington, +D.C., and the political organ of the colored people. +The article, however, as I present it, is taken from +another paper, having been by it taken from the Era +and Citizen: + + "COLORED CADETS AT WEST POINT. + +"The New National Era and Citizen, which is the +national organ of the colored people, contains +a sensible article this week on the status of +colored cadets at West Point. After referring +to the colored young men, 'Plebes' Flipper of +Georgia, and Williams of Virginia, who have +passed the examination requisite for entering +the Academy, the Era and Citizen says: 'Now that +they are in, the stiff and starched protègès of +the Government make haste to tell the reporters +that "none of the fellows would hurt them, but +every fellow would let them alone." Our reporter +seems to think that "to be let alone" a terrible +doom. So it is, if one is sent to Coventry by +gentlemen. So it is, if one is neglected by those +who, in point of education, thrift, and morality +are our equals or superiors. So it is not, if done +by the low-minded, the ignorant, and the snobbish. +If it be possible, among the four hundred young +charity students of the Government, that Cadet +Smith, for instance, finds no warm friends, and +has won no respect after the gallant fight he has +made for four years--a harder contest than he will +ever have in the sterner field--then we despair of +the material which West Point is turning out. If +this be true, it is training selfish, snobbish +martinets--not knightly soldiers, not Havelocks, +Hardinges, and Kearneys--but the lowest type of +disciplined and educated force and brutality--the +Bluchers and Marlboroughs. We scarcely believe +this, however, and we know that any young man, +whether he be poor or black, or both, may enter +any first-class college in America and find warm +sympathetic friends, both among students and +faculty, if he but prove himself to be possessed +of some good qualities . . . . If the Smiths, +Flippers, and Williamses in their honorable school +-boy careers can not meet social as well as +intellectual recognition while at West Point, let +them study on and acquit themselves like men, for +they will meet, out in the world, a worthy reception +among men of worth, who have put by the prejudices +of race and the shackles of ignorance. Emerson says +somewhere that "Solitude, the nurse of Genius, is the +foe of mediocrity." If our young men of ability have +the stuff in them to make men out of, they need not +fear "to be let alone" for a while; they will +ultimately come to the surface and attain worthy +recognition.' + +"That is plain, practical talk. We like it. It +has the ring of the true metal. It shows that +the writer has faith in the ultimate triumph of +manhood. It is another form for expressing a firm +belief that real worth will find a reward. Never +has any bond people emerged from slavery into a +condition full of such grand opportunities and +splendid possibilities as those which are within +the reach of the colored people of the United +States; but if those opportunities are to be made +available, if those possibilities are to be +realized, the colored people must move into the +fore-front of action and study and work in their +own behalf. The colored cadets at West Point, the +colored students in the public schools, the colored +men in the professions, the trades, and on the +plantations, can not be idlers if they are to +compete with the white race in the acquisition of +knowledge and property. But they have examples of +notable achievements in their own ranks which +should convince them that they have not the +slightest reason to despair of success. The doors +stand wide open, from the plantation to the National +Capitol, and every American citizen can, if he will, +attain worthy recognition." + +And thus, ere we had entered upon our new duties, +were we forewarned of the kind of treatment we +should expect. To be "sent to Coventry," "to be +let severely alone," are indeed terrible dooms, +but we cared naught for them. "To be let alone" +was what we wished. To be left to our own +resources for study and improvement, for enjoyment +in whatever way we chose to seek it, was what we +desired. We cared not for social recognition. We +did not expect it, nor were we disappointed in not +getting it. We would not seek it. We would not +obtrude ourselves upon them. We would not accept +recognition unless it was made willingly. We would +be of them at least independent. We would mark out +for ourselves a uniform course of conduct and follow +it rigidly. These were our resolutions. So long as +we were in the right we knew we should be recognized +by those whose views were not limited or bound by +such narrow confines as prejudice and caste, whether +they were at West Point or elsewhere. Confident that +right on our own part would secure us just treatment +from others, that "if we but prove ourselves possessed +of some good qualities" we could find friends among +both faculty and students. + +I came to West Point, notwithstanding I had heard +so much about the Academy well fit to dishearten +and keep one away. And then, too, at the time I +had no object in seeking the appointment other +than to gratify an ordinary ambition. Several +friends were opposed to my accepting it, and even +persuaded me, or rather attempted to persuade me, +to give up the idea altogether. I was inexorable. +I had set my mind upon West Point, and no amount +of persuasion, and no number of harrowing narratives +of bad treatment, could have induced me to relinquish +the object I had in view. But I was right. The work I +chose, and from which I could not flinch without +dishonor, proved far more important than either my +friends or myself at first thought it would be. + +Let me not, however, anticipate. Of this importance +more anon. + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + CANT TERMS, ETC. + +AS a narrative of this description is very apt to +be dry and uninteresting, I have thought it possible +to remove in a measure this objection by using as +often as convenient the cant lingo of the corps. A +vocabulary which shall contain it all, or nearly +all, becomes necessary. I have taken great care to +make it as full as possible, and at the same time +as intelligible as possible. + +There are a few cant words and expressions which are +directly personal, and in many cases self-explanatory. +They are for such reasons omitted. + +"Animal," "animile," "beast," "reptile."-- Synonymous +terms applied to candidates for admission into the +Academy. + +"Plebe."--A candidate after admission, a new cadet. +After the candidates are examined and the proficient +ones admitted, these latter are known officially as +"new cadets," but in the cant vernacular of the corps +they are dubbed "plebes," and they retain this +designation till the candidates of the next year +report. They are then called "yearlings," a title +applied usually to them in camp only. After the +encampment they become "furloughmen" until they +return from furlough in August of the following +year. They then are "second-classmen," and are so +officially and à la cadet throughout the year. +From this time till they graduate they are known +as the "graduating class," so that, except the +second class, each class has its own peculiar cant +designation. + +Candidates generally report in May--about the 20th +--and during July and August are in camp. This is +their "plebe camp." The next is their, "yearling +camp." During the next, they are en congé, and the +next and last is their "first-class camp." Of "plebe +camp," "yearling camp," and "first-class camp," more +anon. + +"Rapid."--A "plebe" is said to be "rapid" when he +shows a disposition to resist hazing, or to "bone +familiarity" with older cadets--i.e., upper classmen. + +"Sep."--A cadet who reported for admission in +September. + +"Fins."--A term applied to the hands generally, +of course to the hands of "plebes." + +"Prelim."--A preliminary examination. + +"Pred."--A predecessor. + +"Pony."--A key, a corrigé. + +"To bone."--To study, to endeavor to do well in any +particular; for instance, to "bone demerits" is to +strive to get as few as possible. + +"To bone popularity."--This alludes to a habit +practised, especially by, "yearlings" while in +camp, and is equivalent to our every-day expression +in civil life, viz., "to get in with." + +"To bugle it."--To avoid a recitation. To avoid a +recitation is an act seldom done by any cadet. It +is in fact standing at the board during the whole +time of recitation without turning around, and thus +making known a readiness to recite. At the Academy +a bugle takes the place of the bell in civil schools. +When the bugle is blown those sections at recitation +are dismissed, and others come in. Now, if one faces +the board till the bugle blows, there is not then +enough time for him to recite, and he is said to have +"bugled it." Some instructors will call on any one who +shows a disposition to do so, and will require him to +tell what he knows about his subject. + +"Busted," "broken."--These words apply only to cadet +officers who are reduced to ranks. + +"A cold case."--A sure thing, a foregone conclusion. + +To "get chevrons."--To receive an appointment in the +battalion organization. Each year, on the day the +graduates receive their diplomas, and just after-- +possibly just before--they are relieved from further +duty at the Academy, the order fixing the appointments +for the next year is read, and those of the year +previous revoked. It has been customary to appoint the +officers, captains, and lieutenants from the first +class, the sergeants from the second, and the corporals +from the third. This custom has at times, and for +reasons, been departed from, and the officers chosen as +seemed best. + +For any offence of a grave nature, any one who has +chevrons is liable to lose them, or, in other words, +to be reduced to ranks. + +"A cit."--Any citizen. + +"To crawl over."--To haze, generally in the severest +manner possible. + +"A chapel."--An attendance at church. + +"To curse out."--To reprimand, to reprove, and also +simply to interview. This expression does not by any +means imply the use of oaths. + +"To cut," "To cut cold."--To avoid, to ostracize. + +"Debauch."--Any ceremony or any thing unusual. It may +be a pleasant chat, a drill, or any thing that is out +of the usual routine. + +"To drive a squad."--To march it. + +"Dropped."--Not promoted. + +"To eat up."--See "To crawl over." + +"Exaggerations."--It is a habit of the cadets to +exaggerate on certain occasions, and especially +when policing. "A log of wood," "a saw-mill," "a +forest," and kindred expressions, are applied to +any fragment of wood of any description that may +be lying about. A feather is "a pillow;" a straw, +"a broom factory;" a pin, an "iron foundry;" a +cotton string, "a cotton factory;" and I have +known a "plebe" to be told to "get up that sugar +refinery," which "refinery" was a cube of sugar +crushed by some one treading upon it. + +Any thing--whatever it may be--which must be +policed, is usually known by some word or term +suggested by its use or the method or the place +of its manufacture. + +"To find."--To declare deficient in studies or +discipline. + +An "extra" is an extra tour of guard duty given +as punishment. Cadets on "extra" are equipped as +for parade, and walk in the area of Cadet Barracks +from two o'clock until retreat, or from two to five +hours, on Saturday or other days of the week. An +"extra" is sometimes called a "Saturday Punishment." + +"A fem," "femme."--Any female person. + +"A file."--Any male person. + +"Fessed," "fessed cold," "fessed frigid," "fessed +out," and "fessed through."--Made a bad recitation, +failed. + +"To get off."--To perpetrate. + +"A gag," "Grin," "Grind."--Something witty, a +repartee. + +"To hive."--To detect, used in a good and bad sense. +Also to take, to steal. + +"To hoop up."--To hasten, to hurry. + +"H. M. P."--Hop manager's privileges. + +"A keen."--See "Gag," etc. + +"To leap on."--See "To crawl over." + +"Made."--Given an appointment, given chevrons as an +officer in the battalion organization. + +"A make."--Such an appointment. + +"Maxed."--Made a thorough recitation. + +"Ath."--The last one. + +"To pile in."--To retire. + +"To pink."--To report for any offence. + +"To plant."--To bury with military honors. + +"To police one's self."--To bathe. + +"To pot."--"To pink," which see. + +"Prof."--Professor. + +"To put in."--To submit in writing. + +"To put into the battalion."--To assign to a company, +as in case of new cadets. + +"Ragged," "ragged out."--Made a good recitation. + +"Reveilles."--Old shoes, easy and comfortable, +worn to reveille roll-call. + +"Reekless, ricochet."--Careless, indifferent. + +"To run it."--To do any thing forbidden. To risk. + +"To run it on."--To impose upon. + +"Shout."--Excellent, i.e., will create much comment +and praise. + +"Sketch-house."--The Drawing Academy. + +"To skin."--See "To pink" (most common). + +"To be spooney."--To be gallant. + +"To spoon."--To be attentive to ladies. + +"A spoon."--A sweetheart. + +"Shungudgeon."--A stew. + +"Supe."--Superintendent. + +"To step out."--See "To hoop up." + +"Topog."--A topographical drawing. + +"To turn in."--To repair to one's quarters. + +"To be sent in."--To order any thing sent in. + +"To turn out."--To come out, or send out. + +"To be white," "To treat white."--To be polite, +courteous, and gentlemanly. + +"To wheaten."--To be excused by surgeon. + +"To yank."--To seize upon violently. + +"O. G. P."--Old guard privileges. + +"Chem."--Chemistry. + +"Math."--Mathematics. + +"Phil."--Philosophy. + +"Rocks."--Mineralogy. + +"Wigwag."--Signalling. + +"To get out of."--To shun, to shirk. + +"Thing."--A "plebe." + +"To extinguish."--To distinguish. + +"To go for."--To haze. + +"House."--Room, quarters. + +"To freeze to."--To hold firmly. + +"To wipe out."--To destroy. + +"Limbo."--Confinement. + +"Solemncholy."--Sad, dejected. + +"Plebeskin."--A rubber overcoat issued to new cadets. + +"Turnbacks."--Cadets turned back to a lower class. + +"Div," "subdiv."--Division, subdivision. + +"Devils."--Fellows familiarly. + +"Tab."--Tabular system of French. + +"To celebrate."--To do. + +"A stayback."--A graduate detained at graduation to +instruct the new cadets.* + +*When the cadets are in barracks, the officer of the +guard on Sundays either has or assumes authority to +detain from church, for any emergency that might +arise, one or two or more members of his guard, in +addition to those on post on duty. Cadets so detained +are called "staybacks. + +"Scratch day."--A day when lessons are hard or +numerous. + +"Gum game."--A joke. + +"To fudge."--To copy. + + BENNY HAVENS O. + +[A number of cadets sitting or lounging about the +room. One at table pouring out the drinks. As soon +as he is done he takes up his own glass, and says +to the others, "Come, fellows," and then all together +standing:] + + --Stand up in a row, +For sentimental drinking we're going for to go; +In the army there's sobriety, promotion's very slow, +So we'll cheer our hearts with choruses of Benny + Havens' O. +Of Benny Havens' O, of Benny Havens' O, +We'll cheer our hearts with choruses of Benny + Havens' O. + +When you and I and Benny, and General Jackson too, +Are brought before the final Board our course of + life t' review, +May we never "fess" on any point, but then be told + to go +To join the army of the blest at Benny Havens' O. +At Benny Havens' O, at Benny Havens' O, +To join the army of the blest at Benny Havens' O. + +To the ladies of the army let our bumpers ever flow, +Companions of our exile, our shield 'gainst every woe, +May they see their husbands generals with double pay + to show, +And indulge in reminiscences of Benny Havens' O. +Of Benny Havens O, of Benny Havens' O, +And indulge in reminiscences of Benny Havens' O. + +'Tis said by commentators, in the land where we + must go +We follow the same handicraft we followed here + below; +If this be true philosophy (the sexton, he says no), +What days of dance and song we'll have at Benny + Havens' O. +At Benny Havens' O, at Benny Havens' O, +What days of dance and song we'll have at Benny + Havens' O! + +To the ladies of the Empire State, whose hearts + and albums too +Bear sad remembrance of the wrongs we stripling + soldiers do, +We bid you all a kind farewell, the best recompense + we know-- +Our loves and rhymings had their source at Benny + Havens' O. +At Benny Havens' O, at Benny Havens' O, +Our loves and rhymings had their source at Benny + Havens' O. + +[Then, with due solemnity, every head uncovered and +bowed low, they sing:] + +There comes a voice from Florida, from Tampa's + lonely shore; +It is the wail of gallant men, O'Brien is no more; +In the land of sun and flowers his head lies + pillowed low, +No more to sing petite coquille at Benny Havens' O. +At Benny Havens' O, at Benny Havens' O, +No more to sing petite coquille at Benny Havens' O, + etc. + + + + CHAPTER V. + + PLEBE CAMP. + +"PLEBE CAMP!" The very words are suggestive. Those +who have been cadets know what "plebe camp" is. To +a plebe just beginning his military career the first +experience of camp is most trying. To him every thing +is new. Every one seems determined to impose upon him, +and each individual "plebe" fancies at times he's +picked out from all the rest as an especially good +subject for this abuse (?). It is not indeed a very +pleasant prospect before him, nor should he expect +it to be. But what must be his feelings when some +old cadet paints for his pleasure camp scenes and +experiences? Whatever he may have known of camp +life before seems as naught to him now. It is a new +sort of life he is to lead there, and he feels +himself, although curious and anxious to test it, +somewhat shy of entering such a place. There is no +alternative. He accepts it resignedly and goes ahead. +It is not always with smiling countenance that he +marches out and surveys the site after reveille. +Indeed, those who do have almost certainly received +A highly colored sketch of camp life, and are +hastening to sad disappointment, and not at all to +the joys they've been led to expect. He marches +into the company streets. He surveys them carefully +and recognizes what is meant by "the plebes have to +do all the policing," servants being an unknown +luxury. He also sees the sentry-boxes and the paths +the sentinels tread, and shudders as he recollects +the tales of midnight adventure which some wily +cadet has narrated to him. Imagination begins her +cruel work. Already he sees himself lying at the +bottom of Fort Clinton Ditch tied in a blanket, or +perhaps fetterless and free, but helpless. Or he +may imagine his hands are tied to one, and his feet +to the other tent-pole, and himself struggling for +freedom as he recognizes that the reveille gun has +been fired and those merciless fifers and drummers +are rapidly finishing the reveille. And, horror of +horrors! mayhap his fancies picture him standing +tremblingly on post at midnight's solemn hour, his +gun just balanced in his hands, while numbers of +cadets in hideous sheets and other ghostly garb +approach or are already standing around torturing +him. And again, perchance, he challenges some +approaching person in one direction, and finds to +his dismay the officer of the day, the officer of +the guard, and a corporal are crossing and recrossing +his post, or having already advanced without being +challenged, are demanding why it is, and why he has +been so negligent. + +Just after reveille on the morning of June 22d the +companies were marched to their company streets, +and the "plebes" assigned to each followed in rear. +At the time only the tent floors and cord stays were +on the ground. These former the plebes were ordered +to align. This we did while the old cadets looked on, +occasionally correcting or making some suggestion. It +required considerable time to do this, as we were +inexperienced and had to await some explanation of +what we were to do. + +When at last we were done, tents, or rather tent +floors, were assigned to us. We thence returned to +barracks and to breakfast. Our more bulky effects +were carried into camp on wagons before breakfast, +while the lighter articles were moved over by our +own hands. By, or perhaps before, eleven o'clock +every thing had been taken to camp. By twelve we +were in ranks ready to march in. At the last stroke +of the clock the column was put in march, and we +marched in with all the "glory of war." We stacked +arms in the company streets, broke ranks, and each +repaired to the tent assigned him, which had by this +time been brought over and placed folded on the tent +floors. They were rapidly prepared for raising, and +at a signal made on a drum the tents were raised +simultaneously, 'mid rousing cheers, which told that +another "camp" was begun. + +After this we had dinner, and then we put our tents +in order. At four o'clock the police-call was sounded, +and all the "plebes" were turned out to police the +company streets. This new phase of West Point life-- +and its phases rapidly developed themselves--was a +hard one indeed. The duties are menial, and very few +discharge them without some show of displeasure, and +often of temper. None are exempt. It is not hard work, +and yet every one objects to doing it. The third and +fourth classes, by regulations, are required to do the +policing. When I was a plebe, the plebes did it all. +Many indeed tried to shirk it, but they were invariably +"hived." Every plebe who attempted any such thing was +closely watched and made to work. The old cadets +generally chose such men for "special dutymen," and +required them to bring water, pile bedding, sweep the +floor, and do all sorts of menial services. Of course +all this last is prohibited, and therefore risky. +Somebody is "hived" and severely punished almost +every year for allowing plebes to perform menial +duties for him. But what of that? The more dangerous +it becomes the more is it practised. Forbidden things +always have an alluring sweetness about them. More +caution, however, is observed. If, for instance, a +cadet should want a pail of water, he causes a plebe +to empty his (the plebe's) into his own (the cadet's). +If it should be empty, he sends him to the hydrant to +fill it, and, when he returns, gets possession of it +as before. An officer seeing a plebe with his own +pail--recognizable by his own name being on it in +huge Roman characters--going for water would say +nothing to him. If the name, however, should be that +of a cadet, the plebe would be fortunate if he +escaped an investigation or a reprimand on the spot, +and the cadet, too, if he were not put in arrest for +allowing a new cadet to perform menial services for +him. If he wants a dipper of iced-water, he calls +out to the first plebe he sees in some such manner +as this: "Oh! Mr.--, don't you want to borrow my +dipper for a little while?" The plebe of course +understands this. He may smile possibly, and if not +serving some punishment will go for the water. + + Plebes are also required to clean the +equipments of the older cadets. They do it +cheerfully, and, strange to say, are as careful +not to be "hived" as the cadet whose accoutrements +they are cleaning. I say "required." I do not mean +that regulations or orders require this of the new +cadets, but that the cadets by way of hazing do. +From the heartrending tales of hazing at West Point, +which citizens sometimes read of, one would think +the plebes would offer some resistance or would +complain to the authorities. These tales are for +the most part untrue. In earlier days perhaps +hazing was practised in a more inhuman manner than +now. It may be impossible, and indeed is, for a +plebe to cross a company street without having some +one yell out to him: "Get your hands around, mister. +Hold your head up;" but all that is required by +tactics. Perhaps the frequency and unnecessary +repetition of these cautions give them the appearance +of hazing. However that may be, there seems to be no +way to impress upon a plebe the necessity of carrying +his "palms to the front," or his "head up." To report +him and give him demerits merely causes him to laugh +and joke over the number of them that have been +recorded against him. + +I do not mean to defend hazing in any sense of the +word; but I do believe that it is indispensable as +practised at the Academy. It would simply be +impossible to mould and polish the social amalgamation +at West Point without it. Some of the rough specimens +annually admitted care nothing for regulations. It is +fun to them to be punished. Nothing so effectually +makes a plebe submissive as hazing. That contemptuous +look and imperious bearing lowers a plebe, I sometimes +think, in his own estimation. He is in a manner cowed +and made to feel that he must obey, and not disobey; +to feel that he is a plebe, and must expect a plebe's +portion. He is taught by it to stay in his place, and +not to "bone popularity" with the older cadets. + +It is frequently said that "plebe camp" and "plebe +life" are the severest parts of life at West Point. +To some they are, and to others they are not. With +my own self I was almost entirely free from hazing, +and while there were features in "plebe life" which +I disliked, I did nevertheless have a far easier +and better time than my own white classmates. Even +white plebes often go through their camp pleasantly +and profitably. Only those who shirk duty have to +suffer any unusual punishment or hazing. + +I have known plebes to be permitted to do any thing +they chose while off duty. I have known others to +have been kept working on their guns or other +equipments whole days for several days at a time. It +mattered not how clean they were, or how soon the work +was done. I've known them to be many times interrupted +for the mere sake of hazing, and perhaps to be sent +somewhere or to do something which was unnecessary +and would have been as well undone. Plebes who tent +with first-classmen keep their own tents in order, +and are never permitted by their tentmates to do any +thing of the kind for others unless when wanted, are +entirely unoccupied, and then usually their services +are asked for. A classmate of mine, when a plebe, +tented with a first-classman. He was doing something +for himself one day in a free-and-easy manner, and +had no thought of disturbing any one. A yearling +corporal, who was passing, saw him, thought he was +having too good and soft a time of it, and ordered +him out to tighten cords, an act then highly uncalled +for, save as a means of hazing. The first-classman +happened to come up just as the plebe began to +interfere with the cords, and asked him who told him +to do that. He told him, and was at once directed to +leave them and return to whatever he was doing before +being interrupted. The yearling, confident in his red +tape and his mightiness, ordered the plebe out again. +His corporalship soon discovered his mistake, for the +first-classman gave the plebe full information as to +what could be required of him, and told him to disobey +any improper order of the corporal's which was plainly +given to haze him. The affair was made personal. A +fight ensued. The corporal was worsted, to the delight, +I imagine, of the plebes. + +Again, I've known plebes to be stopped from work--if +they were doing something for a cadet--to transfer it +to some other one who was accustomed to shirk all the +duty he could, or who did things slowly and slovenly. +Indeed I may assert generally that plebes who are +willing to work have little to do outside of their +regular duty, and fare in plebe camp quite as well +as yearlings; while those who are stubborn and careless +are required to do most all the work. Cadets purposely +select them and make them work. They, too, are very +frequently objects of hazing in its severest form. +At best, though, plebe camp is rather hard, its +Numerous drills, together with guard and police duty, +make it the severest and most undesirable portion of +the four years a cadet spends at the Academy. + +To get up at five o'clock and be present at reveille +roll-call, to police for half an hour, to have squad +drill during the next hour, to put one's tent in +order after that, and then to prepare one's self for +breakfast at seven, make up a rather trying round of +duties. To discharge them all--and that must +certainly be done--keeps one busy; but who would not +prefer little extra work--and not hard work at that-- +in the cooler part of the day to an equal amount in +the heated portion of it? I am sure the plebes do. I +know the corporals and other officers who drill them +do, although they lose their after-reveille sleep. + +After breakfast comes troop parade at eight o'clock, +guard mounting immediately after, and the establishment +of the "color line." Arms and accoutrements must be in +perfect order. The plebes clean them during the +afternoon, so that before parade it is seldom necessary +to do more than wipe off dust, or adjust a belt, or +something of the kind. + +After establishing the "color line," which is done +about 8.30 A.M., all cadets, save those on guard +and those marching on, have time to do whatever +they choose. The cadets generally repair to the +guard tents to see lady friends and other +acquaintances, while the plebes either interest +themselves in the inspection of "color men," or +make ready for artillery drill at nine. The latter +drill, commencing at 9 A.M., continues for one hour. +The yearlings and plebes receive instruction in the +manual and nomenclature of the piece. The drill is +not very trying unless the heavy guns are used--I +mean unless they are drilled at the battery of +twelve-pounders. Of late both classes have been +drilled at batteries of three-inch rifles. These +are light and easily manoeuvred, and unless the +heat be intense the drill is a very pleasant one. + +The first class, during this same hour, are drilled +at the siege or seacoast battery. The work here is +sometimes hard and sometimes not. When firing, the +drill is pleasant and interesting, but when we have +mechanical manoeuvres all this pleasantness vanishes. +Then we have hard work. Dismounting and mounting is +not a very pleasant recreation. + +At eleven o'clock, every day for a week or ten days, +the plebes have manual drill. This is entirely in the +shade, and when "In place, rest," is frequently given, +is not at all displeasing, except when some yearling +corporal evinces a disposition to haze. At five +o'clock this drill is repeated Then comes parade, +supper, tattoo, and best of all a long night's rest. +The last two drills continue for a few days only, and +sometimes do not take place at all. + +The third class, or the yearlings, have dancing from +eleven to twelve, and the plebes from then till one. +In the afternoon the plebes have nothing to do in the +way of duty till four o'clock. The camp is then +policed, and when that is done there may or may not +be any further duty to discharge till retreat parade. +After the plebes are put in the battalion--that is, +after they begin drilling, etc., with their companies +--all cadets attend company drill at five o'clock. +After attending a few of these drills the first class +is excused from further attendance during the +encampment. One officer and the requisite number of +privates, however, are detailed from the class each +day to act as officers at these drills. + +I omitted to say that the first class received in the +forenoon instruction in practical military engineering +and ordnance. + +What most tries plebes, and yearlings, too, is +guard duty. If their classes are small, each member +of them is put on guard every third or fourth day. +To the plebes, being something entirely new, guard +duty is very, very obnoxious. + +During the day they fare well enough, but as soon as +night comes "well enough" disappears. They are liable +at any moment to be visited by cadets on a hazing +tour from the body of the camp, or by the officers +and non- commissioned officers of the guard. The +latter generally leave the post of the guard in groups +of three or four. After getting into camp they +separate, and manage to come upon a sentinel +simultaneously and from all points of the compass. +If the sentinel isn't cool, he will challenge and +Advance one, and possibly let the others come upon +him unchallenged and unseen even. Then woe be to him! +He'll be "crawled over" for a certainty, and to make +his crimes appear as bad as possible, will be reported +for "neglect of duty while a sentinel, allowing the +officers and non--commissioned officers of the guard +to advance upon him, and to cross his post repeatedly +without being challenged." He knows the report to be +true, and if he submits an explanation for the offence +his inexperience will be considered, and he will +probably get no demerits for his neglect of duty. + +But the best joke of all is in their manner of +calling off the half-hours at night, and of +challenging. Sometimes we hear No. 2 call off, +"No. 2, ten o'clock, and all is well," in a most +natural and unconcerned tone of voice, while No. +3 may sing out, "No. 3, ten o'clock and all is +well-l-l," changing his tone only on the last +word. Then No. 4, with another variation, may +call off, "No. 4, ten o'clock, and all-l-l-l's +well," changing his tone on "all-l-l-l's," and +speaking the rest, especially the last word, in +a low and natural manner of voice, and sometimes +abruptly. And so on along the entire chain of +sentinels, each one calls off in a manner different +from that of the rest. Sometimes the calling off is +scarcely to be heard, sometimes it is loud and full, +and again it is distinct but squeakish. It is indeed +most delightful to be in one's tent and here the +plebes call off in the still quiet hours of the +night. One can't well help laughing, and yet all +plebes, more or less, call off in the same manner. + +Plebe sentinels are very troublesome sometimes to +the non-commissioned officers of the guard. They +receive their orders time after time, and when +inspected for them most frequently spit them out +with ease and readiness; but just as soon as night +comes, and there is a chance to apply them, they +"fess utterly cold," and in the simplest things +at that. Nine plebes out of ten almost invariably +challenge thus, "Who comes here?" "Who stands here?" +"Who goes here?" as the case may be, notwithstanding +they have been repeatedly instructed orally, and have +seen the words, as they should be, in the regulations. +If a person is going, and is a hundred yards or so +off, it is still, "Who goes here?" Everything is +"here." + +One night the officer of the day concealed himself +near a sentinel's post, and suddenly appeared on it. +The plebe threw his gun down to the proper position +and yelled out, "Who comes here?" The officer of +the day stopped short, whereupon the plebe jumped +at him and shouted, "Who stands here?" Immediately +the officer started off, saying as he did so, "I'm +not standing; I'm going." Then of course the +challenge was again changed to, "Who goes here? "I'm +not going; I'm coming," said the officer, facing +about and approaching the sentinel. This was kept +up for a considerable time, till the officer of the +day got near a sentry-box and suddenly disappeared. +The plebe knew he was there, and yelled in a louder +tone than before, "Who stands here? "Sentry-box," was +the solemn and ghostly response. + +It is hardly reasonable, I think, to say the plebe +was frightened; but he actually stood there +motionless, repeating his challenge over and over +again, "Who stands here?" + +There was a light battery in park near by, and +through this, aided by the gloom, the officer +of the day managed to pass unobserved along, but +not on the sentinel's post. He then got upon it +and advanced on him, making the while much noise +with his sword and his heavy tread. He walked +directly up to the sentinel unchallenged, and +startled him by asking, "What are you standing +here yelling for?" + +The plebe told him that the officer of the day had +been upon his post, and he had seen him go behind +the sentry-box. And all this to the officer of the +day, standing there before him, "Well, sir, whom +do you take me to be?" + +The plebe looks, and for the first time brought to +full consciousness, recognizes the officer of the +day. Of course he is surprised, and the more so +when the officer of the day inspects for his--the +plebe's--satisfaction the sentry-box, and finds +no one there. He "eats" that plebe up entirely, +and then sends a corporal around to instruct him +in his orders. When the corporal comes it may be +just as difficult to advance him. He may, when +challenged, advance without replying, or, if he +replies, he may say, "Steamboat," "Captain Jack, +Queen of the Modocs," as one did say to me, or +something or somebody else not entitled to the +countersign. Possibly the plebe remembers this, +and he may command "Halt!" and call another corporal. +This latter may come on a run at "charge bayonets," +and may not stop till within a foot or so of the +sentinel. He then gets another "cursing out." By +this time the corporal who first came and was halted +has advanced unchallenged and unnoticed since the +arrival of the second. And then another cursing out. +Thus it is that plebe camp is made so hard. + +Surely the officers and non-commissioned officers +are right in testing by all manner of ruses the +ability of the sentinels. It is their duty to +instruct them, to see that they know their orders, +and are not afraid to apply them. + +Sometimes plebes enjoy it, and like to be cursed +out. Sometimes they purposely advance toward a +party improperly, to see what will be said to them. +It is fun to some, and to others most serious. At +best it gives a plebe a poor opinion of West Point, +and while he may bear it meekly he nevertheless +sighs for the "-- touch of a vanished hand," the +caressing hand of a loving mother or sister. I know +I used to hate the very name of camp, and I had an +easier time, too, than the other plebes. + +Of course the plebes, being inexperienced for the +most part, are "high privates in the rear rank." +For another reason, also, this is the case. The +first and second classes have the right established +by immemorial custom of marching in the front rank, +which right necessarily keeps the plebes in the rear +rank, and the yearlings too, except so many as are +required in the front rank for the proper formation +of the company. Another reason, perhaps, may be +given to the same end. We have what we call class +rank, or, in other words, class standing. Every +class has certain privileges and immunities, which +the junior classes do not enjoy; for example, first- +classmen, and second-classmen too--by General Orders +of September, 1876--are excused from guard duty in +the capacity of privates, and are detailed-- first- +classmen for officers of the day and officers of the +guard, and second-classmen for non-commissioned +officers of the guard. All members of the third and +fourth classes are privates, and from them the +privates of the guard are detailed. All officers, +commissioned and non-commissioned, are exempt from +"Saturday punishment." I mean they do not walk +extra tours of guard for punishment. The non- +commissioned officers are sometimes required to +serve such punishments by discharging the duties +of corporal or sergeant in connection with the +punishment squad. Third-and fourth-classmen enjoy +no such immunities. Plebes, then, having no rank +whatever, being in fact conditional cadets until +they shall have received their warrants in the +following January, must give way to those who have. +One half or more of the privates of the company must +be in the front rank. This half is made up of those +who rank highest, first-classmen and second-classmen, +and also, if necessary, a number of third-classmen. +Plebes must then, except in rare cases, march in the +rear rank, and from the time they are put in the +battalion till the close of the summer encampment, +they are required to carry their hands with palms to +the front as prescribed in the tactics. + +All this is kept up till the close of camp, and makes, +I think, plebe camp the most trying part of one's cadet +life. + +On the 28th of August the furloughmen return, and +report to the commandant at two o'clock for duty. + +In the afternoon the battalion is sized and quarters +are assigned under the supervision of the assistant- +instructors of tactics. + +At parade the appointment of officers and non- +commissioned officers for the ensuing year is +published, and also orders for the discontinuance +of the encampment. + +In the evening the "twenty-eighth hop" takes place, +and is the last of the season. On the 29th--and +beginning at reveille--the cadets move their effects +into winter quarters in barracks. All heavy articles +are moved in on wagons, while all lighter ones are +carried over by cadets themselves. By seven o'clock +every thing is moved away from camp, save each cadet's +accoutrements. + +Breakfast is served at 7 A.M., and immediately +afterward comes "troop" and guard-mounting, after +which the entire camp is thoroughly policed. This +requires an hour or more, and when all is done the +"general" is sounded. At this the companies are +formed under arm in their respective company +streets. The arms are then stacked and ranks +broken. At least two cadets repair to each tent, +and at the first tap of the drum remove and roll +up all the cords save the corner ones. At the +second tap, while one cadet steadies the tent the +other removes and rolls the corner cords nearest +him. The tents in the body of the encampment are +moved. Back two feet, more or less, from the +color line, while the guard tents and those of +the company officers are moved in a northerly +direction. At the third tap the tents fall +simultaneously toward the color line and the south +cardinal point, amid rousing cheers. The tents +being neatly rolled up and placed on the floors, +the companies are reformed and on the centre. The +battalion then marches out to take up its winter +quarters in barracks. + +When camp is over the plebes are no longer required +to depress their toes or to carry their hands with +palms to the front. They are, in fact, "cadets and +gentlemen," and must take care of themselves. + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + STUDIES, ETC. + +THE academic year begins July 1st, and continues +till about June 20th the following year. As soon +after this as practicable--depending upon what +time the examination is finished--the corps moves +into camp, with the exception of the second class, +who go on furlough instead. + +Between the 20th of August and the 1st of September, +the "Seps," or those candidates who were unable to +do so in the spring previous, report. Before the 1st +they have been examined and the deficient ones +dismissed. On the 1st, unless that be Sunday, +academic duties begin. The classes are arranged +into a number of sections, according to their class +rank, as determined at the previous annual examination, +or according to rank in some particular study--for +instance, for instruction in engineering the first +class is arranged according to merit in philosophy, +and not according to general merit or class rank. The +fourth, or "plebe" class, however, is arranged +alphabetically since they as yet have no class rank. + +The first class study, during the first term, +engineering law, and ordnance and gunnery. They +recite on civil engineering from 8 to 11 A.M. +daily, on ordnance and gunnery from 2 to 4 P.M., +alternating with law. + +The second class have natural and experimental +philosophy from 8 to 11 A.M. daily, and chemistry, +alternating with riding, from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M.; +also drawing in pencil from 2 to 4 P.M. For +instruction in this department the class is divided +into two as nearly equal parts as practicable, which +alternate in attendance at the Drawing Academy. + +The third class have pure mathematics, analytical +Geometry, descriptive geometry, and the principles +of shades, shadows, and perspective, from 8 to 11 +A.M. daily. They also have French from 11 A.M., +till 1 P.M., alternating with Spanish. + +The entire class attend drawing daily till November +1st, when it is divided into two equal parts or +platoons, which attend drawing and riding on +alternate clays. Riding! "Yearling riding!" I must +advert to that before I go further. First let me +describe it. A platoon of yearlings, twenty, thirty, +forty perhaps; as many horses; a spacious riding- +hall, with galleries that seat but too many mischievous +young ladies, and whose interior is well supplied with +tan bark, make up the principal objects in the play. +Nay, I omit the most important characters, the +Instructor and the necessary number of enlisted, men. + + ACT I. + + SCENE I. + +Area of barracks. At guard-house door stands an +orderly, with drum in hands. In the area a number +of cadets, some in every-day attire, others dressed +à la cavalier. These à la cavalier fellows are going +to take their first lesson in riding. About four- +fifths of them were never on a horse in their lives, +and hence what dire expectations hover over their +ordinarily placid heads! They have heard from the +upper classmen what trials the novice experiences +in his first efforts, and they do not go to the +riding-hall without some dread. Four o'clock and ten +minutes. The drum is beaten. + +Officer of the Day.--Form your platoon! Right, face! +Call your roll! + +Section Marcher.--Bejay! Barnes! Du Furing! +Swikeheimer! Du Flicket, etc. + +Platoon (answering to their names).--Here! Here-re- +re! ho-o-o! hi-i-i! har-ar-ar! Heer-r! + +Section Marcher (facing about salutes).--All are +present, sir! + +Officer of the Day (returning salute).--March off +your platoon, sir! + +Section Marcher (facing about).--Left face! forward. +March! (Curtain falls.) + + ACT II. + + SCENE I. + +The riding-hall, a large, spacious, rectangular +structure, door on each side and at each end, +floor well covered with tan bark, spacious +gallery over each side door, staircases outside +leading to them. Galleries are occupied, one by +ladies, and, perhaps a number of gentlemen, and +the other by enlisted men usually. In the centre +of the hall are a number of horses, each equipped +with a surcingle, blanket, and watering bridle. +A soldier stands at the head of each one of them. +As curtain rises enter platoon by side door, and +marches around the left flank of the line of +horses and as far forward as necessary. + +Section Marcher.--Platoon, halt! left, face! +(Saluting Instructor) All are present, sir! + +Instructor (saluting).--The Section Marcher will +take his place on the left. + +He then gives all necessary instruction. + +"To mount the trooper the Instructor first causes +him to stand to horse by the command 'Stand to +horse!' At this command--" Well, see "Cavalry +Tactics." + +We've got the trooper mounted now. After some +further explanation the Instructor forms them +into a column of files by the commands: + +"By file, by the right (or left) flank. March!" + +They are now going around the hall at a walk, a +slow, snail-like pace, but what figures some of +them present! Still all goes on quite well. The +Instructor is speaking: + +"To trot," says he, "raise the hands" ("yearlings" +use both hands) "slightly. This is to apprise the +horse that you want his attention. Then lower the +hands slightly, and at the same time gently press +the horse with the legs until he takes the gait +desired. As soon as he does, relax the pressure." +A long pause. The occupants of the galleries are +looking anxiously on. They know what is coming next. +They have seen these drills over and over again. And +so each trooper awaits anxiously the next command. +Alas! It comes! "Trot!" + +What peals of laughter from that cruel gallery! But +why? Ah! See there that trooper struggling in the +tan bark while a soldier pursues his steed. He is +not hurt. He gets up, brushes away the tan bark, +remounts and starts off again. But there, he's off +again! He's continually falling off or jumping off +purposely (?). What confusion! There comes one at a +full gallop, sticking on as best he can; but there, +the poor fellow is off. The horses are running away. +The troopers are dropping off everywhere in the hall. +No one is hurt. Alas! they pressed too hard to keep +on, and instead of relaxing the pressure at the +desired gait, the trot, they kept on pressing, the +horse taking the trot, the gallop, the run, and the +trooper, alas! the dust. Again they had the reins +too long, and instead of holding on by the flat of +the thighs with their feet parallel to the horse, +we see them making all sorts of angles. But that +gallery! that gallery! how I used to wish it wasn't +there! The very sight of a lady under such +circumstances is most embarrassing. + +Fair ones, why will you thus torture the "yearlings" +by your at other times so desirable presence? + +The fourth class have pure mathematics, and algebra, +daily from 8 to 11 A.M., and French also, daily, +from 2 to 4 P.M. Beginning on October 15th, or as +near that time as practicable, they have fencing, +and the use of the bayonet and small-sword. + +During the month of September cadets of all classes, +or the battalion, are instructed in the infantry +tactics in the "School of the Battalion." Near the +end of the month it is customary to excuse the +officers of the first class from these drills, and +to detail privates to perform their duties for one +drill only at a time. The other classes are in ranks, +or the line of file-closers, according as they are +sergeants, guides, or privates. + +During October the several classes receive practical +instruction as follows: The first class in military +engineering, the manner of making and recording the +details of a military reconnoissance, and field +sketching; the second class in siege and sea-coast +artillery, and military signalling and telegraphy. +The class is divided into two parts, composed of the +odd and even numbers, which attend drills on alternate +days--that is, artillery one day and signalling the +next; the third class in light or field artillery, +and the theory and principles of "target practice." +Sometimes this latter is given during camp, as is +most convenient. Sometimes, also, they receive +instruction in ordnance. This, however, is generally +deferred till they become first-classmen. + +For further instruction of the first class the +following part of the personnel of a light battery +is detailed from that class, viz.: three chiefs +of platoon, one chief of caissons, one guidon, and +six chiefs of section. Each member of the class is +detailed for each of these offices in his proper order. + +The fourth class receives instruction in field +artillery at the "foot batteries." This instruction +is limited to the nomenclature and manual of the +piece. Here, also, to assist the instructor, a chief +of piece for each piece is detailed. They are required +to correct all errors made by the plebes, and sometimes +even to drill them. Hence a knowledge of tactics is +indispensable, and the means of fixing such knowledge +in the mind is afforded. + +Sometimes also two first-classmen are required to +assist at the siege or sea-coast batteries. + +Every day throughout the year a guard is mounted. +It consists of two officers of the guard--sometimes +only one--one sergeant, three corporals--or more-- +and twenty-four privates--sometimes, also, eighteen +or twenty-one in camp, and twenty-seven in barracks. +Every day, also, there is one officer of the day +detailed from the first class. + +The weather permitting, we have "dress parade" daily. +When unfavorable, on account of snow, rain, or severe +cold, we have "undress parade"--that is, parade without +arms and in undress or fatigue uniform, the object +being to get us all together to publish the orders, +etc., for the morrow. After November 1st we usually +have "undress parade," and then "supper mess parade." +Between these two ceremonies the cadets amuse themselves +at the gymnasium, dancing or skating, or "spooneying," +or at the library; generally, I think--the upper classmen +at any rate--at the library. After supper we have +recreation and then study. And thus we "live and do" till +January. + +The semi-annual examination begins January 1st, or as +soon thereafter as practicable. The plebes are examined +first, and started in their new studies as soon as +possible. After the plebes the other classes are examined +in the order of their rank--that is, first class, second +class, and third class--and of the importance of their +studies, engineering being first, then philosophy, and +mathematics, etc. + +The examination being over, the deficient ones, +after receiving orders from the Secretary of War, +are dismissed. Studies are then resumed as follows: + +For the first class military engineering, ordnance, +and gunnery, constitutional law, military law, rules +of evidence, practice of courts-martial, mineralogy, +and geology, strategy, and grand tactics, and the +throwing and dismantling of pontoon bridges. For the +second class, acoustics and optics, astronomy, +analytical mechanics in review; infantry, artillery, +and cavalry tactics; drawing, riding, and signalling. +For the third class, calculus, surveying, geometry, +and riding. Immediately after the examination the +entire third class receive instruction in mechanical +drawing before they begin their other mathematical +studies. For the fourth class the studies are plane +geometry, trigonometry, descriptive geometry, and +fencing, including the use of the small-sword, broad- +sword, and bayonet. + +Parades, guard duty, etc., remain as previously +described until about the middle of March usually. +At that time the ordinary routine of drills, dress +parades, etc., is resumed; but drills in this order, +viz., from March 15th to April 1st instruction in +the school of the company; in artillery tactics, as +before described during April; and in infantry +tactics, in the "School of the Battalion," during +May. The annual examination takes place in June. The +following diary, made for the purpose of insertion +here, will best explain what generally occurs during +the month: + + MEMORANDA. + +Thursday, June 1, 1876.--Resumed white pants at 5.10 +P.M. Received Board of Visitors by a review at 5.10 +P.M. Examination begun at 9 A.M. First class, +engineering. Salute of fifteen guns at meridian to +Board of Visitors. + +Friday, June 2.--First class, engineering finished. +Second class, philosophy commenced. Siege battery +drill at 5.10 P.M. + +Saturday, June 3.--Second class, philosophy +continued. + +Monday, June 5.--Light battery at 5.10 P.M. A +yearling lost his "white continuations." Plebes +went to parade. + +Tuesday, June 6.--Fourth class, entire in French. +Examination written. Second class, philosophy +finished. First class, mineralogy and geology +begun. Third class, mathematics begun. Battalion +drill at 5.10 P.M. + +Wednesday, June 7.--Second class turned out, marched +to sea-coast battery at 11 A.M. Three detachments +selected. Rest marched back and dismissed. Cavalry +drill at 5.10 P.M. Six second-classmen turned out. +Plebes put in battalion. + +Thursday, June 8.--Plebes put on guard. Pontoon +bridging, 5.10 P. M. + +Friday, June 9.--Battalion skirmish drill 5.10 P.M. +Deployed to front at double time. Second, fourth, +and seventh companies reserve. Almost all manoeuvres +at double time. Deployed by numbers and charged. +Marched in in line, band on right. Broke into +column of companies to the left, changed direction +to the right, obliqued to the left, moved forward and +formed "front into line, faced to the rear." Arms +inspected, ammunition returned. Dismissed. + +Saturday, June 10.--Third class, mathematics finished. +Miss Philips sang to cadets in mess hall after supper. +First class, ordnance begun. + +Sunday, June 11.--Graduating sermon by Hon.--, of +Princeton, N. J., closing "hime," "When shall we meet +again?" Graduating dinner at 2 P.M. + +Monday, June 12.--Detail from first class to ride in +hall. Use of sabre and pistol on horseback. First +class, ordnance finished. Law begun. + +Tuesday, June 13.--First class finished. Board divided +into committees. Second class, chemistry begun. +Graduating parade. Corps cheered by graduates after +parade. Hop in evening; also German; whole continuing +till 3 A.M. Rumor has it two first-classmen, Slocum +and Guilfoyle, are "found" in ordnance and engineering. + +Wednesday, June 14.--Fourth class, mathematics begun. +Salute seventeen guns at 10 A.M. in honor of arrival +at post of General Sherman and Colonel Poe of his +staff. Graduating exercises from 11 A.M. till near +1 P.M. Addresses to graduates. Mortar practice and +fireworks at night. + +This ended the "gala" days at West Point in '76. + +Thursday, June 15.--Usual routine of duties resumed. +Company drills in the afternoon from 5.10 to 6.10 +P.M. Rather unusual, but we're going to the Centennial. +Rumor has it we encamp Saturday the 17th for ten days. + +Friday, June 16.--Dom Pedro, emperador de la Brasil +estaba recibiado para un "review" a las cuatro +horas y quarenta y cinco minutos. El embarcó por la +ciudad de Nueva York inmediatemente Second class, +chemistry finished. Third class, French begun. + +Saturday, June 17.--Third class, French finished. +Third class, Spanish begun. "Camp rumor" not true. + +Monday, June 19.--Moved into camp, aligned tent +floors at 5 A. M. in the rain. Required by order +to move in effects at 9 A. M., and to march in and +pitch tents at 12 M. Rained in torrents. Marched +in, etc., at 9 A.M. Effects moved in afterwards. +Rain ceased by 12 M. Marched in. Second class, +tactics finished. Third class, Spanish finished. + +Ordinarily as soon as the examination is over the +third class take advantage of the two months' +furlough allowed them, while other classes go into +camp. This encampment begins June 17th, or a day or +two earlier or later, according to circumstances. +This brings me to the end of the first year. I have +described camp life, and also, I observe, each of +the remaining years of cadet life. On July 1st the +plebes become the fourth class; the original fourth +the third; the third, now on furlough, the second; +and the second the first. I have given in an earlier +part of my narrative the studies, etc., of these +several classes. + +The plebe, or fourth class of the previous year, are +now become yearlings, and are therefore in their +"yearling camp." At the end of every month an extract +from the class and conduct report of each cadet is +sent to his parents or guardian for their information. +I insert a copy of one of these monthly reports. + + UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, + + West Point, N. Y., March 26, 1875. + +EXTRACT from the Class and Conduct Reports of the +MILITARY ACADEMY for the month of February, 1875, +furnished for the information of Parents and Guardians, + + THIRD CLASS--Composed of 83 Members. + +Cadet Henry O. Flipper + + Was, in Mathematics.........No. 48 + " French..............No. 48 + " Spanish,............No. 37 + " Drawing.............No. 40 + +His demerit for the month is 2, and since the +commencement of the academic half year, 23. + + Robt. H. Hall, + Captain 10th Infantry, + Adjutant Military Academy. + + + REGULATIONS FOR THE MILITARY ACADEMY. + +Par. 71.--When any Cadet shall have a total of +numbers [of demerit] thus recorded, exceeding one +hundred in six months, he shall be declared deficient +in discipline. + +Par. 153.--No Cadet shall apply for, or receive money, +or any other supplies from his parents, or from any +person whomsoever, without permission of the +Superintendent. + +Note.--The attention of Parents and Guardians is +invited to the foregoing Regulations. The permission +referred to in paragraph 153 must be obtained before +the shipment to the cadet of the supplies desired. + +[Tables omitted.] + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + YEARLING CAMP. + +IN this chapter I shall describe only those phases +of cadet life which are experienced by "yearlings" +in their "yearling camp." + +Beginning July 5th, or as soon after as practicable, +the third class receive practical instruction in the +nomenclature and manual of the field-piece. This drill +continues till August 1st, when they begin the "School +of the Battery." + +The class attend dancing daily. Attendance at dancing +is optional with that part of the third class called +"yearlings," and compulsory for the "Seps," who of +course do not become yearlings till the following +September. The third class also receive instruction +in the duties of a military laboratory, and "target +practice." These instructions are not always given +during camp. They may be given in the autumn or spring. + +Another delight of the yearling is to "bone colors." +Immediately in front of camp proper is a narrow path +extending entirely across the ground, and known as the +"color line." On the 1st of August--sometimes before-- +the "color line" is established, this name being +applied also to the purpose of the color line. This +ceremony consists in stacking arms just in rear of the +color line, and placing the colors on the two stacks +nearest the centre of the line. + +From the privates of the guard three are chosen to +guard the stacks and to require every one who crosses +the color line or passes within fifteen paces of the +colors to salute them. These three sentinels are known +as the "colors," or "color men," and are numbered +"first," "second," and "third." + +Those are chosen who are neatest and most soldierlike +in their appearance. Cadets prepare themselves +specially for this, and they toss up their guns to +the adjutant at guard-mounting. This signifies that +they intend competing for "colors." The adjutant falls +them out after the guard has marched to its post, and +inspects them. Absolute cleanliness is necessary. Any +spot of dirt, dust, or any thing unclean will often +defeat one. Yearlings "bone" their guns and accoutrements +for "colors," and sometimes get them every time they +toss up. + +A "color man" must use only those equipments issued to +him. He cannot borrow those of a man who has "boned +them up" and expect to get colors. Sometimes-- but +rarely--plebes compete and win. + +The inducement for this extra labor is simply this: +Instead of being on duty twenty-four hours, color men +are relieved from 4 P. M. till 8 A. M. the next day, +when they march off. They of course enjoy all other +privileges given the "Old Guard." + +"Sentinels for the Color Line.--The sentinels for the +color line will be permitted to go to their tents from +the time the stacks are broken till 8 A.M. the following +morning, when they will rejoin the guard. They will be +excused from marching to meals, but will report to the +officer of the guard at the roll-call for each meal, and +also at tattoo and reveille."--(From Résumé of Existing +Orders, U. S. C. C.) + +It is the yearling who does most of the hazing. Just +emerged from his chrysalis state, having the year +before received similar treatment at the hands of other +yearlings, he retaliates, so to speak, upon the now +plebe, and finds in such retaliation his share of +enjoyment. + +The practice, however, is losing ground. The cadets +are more generous, and, with few exceptions, never +interfere with a plebe. This is certainly an advance +in the right direction; for although hazing does +comprise some good, it is, notwithstanding, a low +practice, one which manliness alone should condemn. +None need information and assistance more than plebes, +and it is unkind to refuse it ; nay, it is even not +humane to refuse it and also to haze the asker. Such +conduct, more than any thing else, discourages and +disheartens him. It takes from him all desire to do +and earn, to study or strive for success. At best it +can be defended only as being effective where +regulations are not, viz., in the cases of rough +specimens who now not infrequently manage to win +their appointments. + +Formerly in yearling camp the corporals were all +"acting sergeants." They were so acting in the +absence of the de facto sergeants. These corporals +got the idea into their heads that to retain their +appointments they had to do a certain amount of +"skinning," and often "skins" were more fancied +than real. This was a rather sad condition of +affairs. Plebes would find their demerits +accumulating and become disheartened. It was all +due to this unnecessary rigor, and "being military," +which some of the yearling corporals affected. No +one bears, or rather did bear, such a reputation +as the yearling corporal. As such he was disliked +by everybody, and plebes have frequently fought +them for their unmanly treatment. This, however, +was. It is no more. We have no yearling corporals, +and plebes fare better generally than ever before. +Not because all yearling corporals thus subserved +their ambition by reporting men for little things +that might as well have been overlooked, did they +get this bad reputation, but rather because with it +they coupled the severest hazing, and sometimes even +insults. That was unmanly as well as mean. Hazing +could be endured, but not always insults. + +Whether for this reason or not I cannot say, the +authorities now appoint the corporals from the +second class, men who are more dignified and courteous +in their conduct toward all, and especially toward +plebes. The advantages of this system are evident. + +One scarcely appreciates cadet life--if such +appreciation is possible--till he becomes a +yearling. It is not till in yearling camp that +a cadet begins to "spoon." Not till then is he +permitted to attend the hops, and of course he +has but little opportunity to cultivate female +society, nor is he expected to do so till then, +for to assume any familiarity with the upper +classes would be considered rather in advance of +his "plebeship's" rights. How then can he--he is +little more than a stranger--become acquainted +with the fair ones who either dwell at or are +visiting West Point. Indeed, knowing "femmes" are +quite as prone to haze as the cadets, and most +unmercifully cut the unfortunate plebe. Some are +also so very haughty: they will admit only first- +classmen to their acquaintance and favor. + +But Mr. Plebe, having become a yearling finds that +the "Mr." is dropped, and that he is allowed all +necessary familiarity. He then begins to enjoy his +cadetship, a position which for pleasure and happiness +has untold advantages, for what woman can resist those +glorious buttons? A yearling has another advantage. The +furlough class is absent, and the plebes--well, they +are "plebes." Sufficient, isn't it? The spooneying +must all be done, then, by the first and third classes. +Often a great number of the first class are bachelors, +or not inclined to be spooney; and that duty then of +course devolves on the more gallant part of that class +and the yearlings. + +The hop managers of the third class have been mentioned +elsewhere. They enjoy peculiar facilities for pleasure, +and, where a good selection has been made, do much to +dispel the monotony of academic military life. Indeed, +they do very much toward inducing others to cultivate a +high sense of gallantry and respect for women. The +refining influence of female society has greater play, +and its good results are inevitable. + +But what a wretched existence was mine when all this +was denied me! One would be unwilling to believe I had +not, from October, 1875, till May, 1876, spoken to a +female of any age, and yet it was so. There was no +society for me to enjoy--no friends, male or female, +for me to visit, or with whom I could have any social +intercourse, so absolute was my isolation.* Indeed, I +had friends who often visited me, but they did so only +when the weather was favorable. In the winter season, +when nature, usually so attractive, presented nothing +to amuse or dispel one's gloom, and when, therefore, +something or some one suited for that purpose was so +desirable, no one of course visited me. But I will not +murmur. I suppose this was but another constituent of +that mechanical mixture of ills and anxieties and +suspense that characterized my cadet life. At any rate +I can console myself in my victory over prejudice, +whether that victory be admitted or not. I know I have +so lived that they could find in me no fault different +from those at least common to themselves, and have +thus forced upon their consciences a just and merited +recognition whether or not they are disposed to follow +conscience and openly accept my claim to their brotherly +love. + +*I could and did have a pleasant chat every day, more +or less, with "Bentz the bugler," the tailor, barber, +commissary clerk, the policeman who scrubbed out my +room and brought around the mail, the treasurer's +clerk, cadets occasionally, and others. The statement +made in some of the newspapers, that from one year's +end to another I never heard the sound of my own voice, +except in the recitation room, is thus seen to be +untrue. + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + FIRST-CLASS CAMP. + +IT is a common saying among cadets that "first-class +camp is just like furlough." I rather think the +assertion is an inheritance from former days and the +cadets of those days, for the similarity at present +between first-class camp and furlough is beyond our +conception. There is none, or if any it is chimerical, +depending entirely on circumstances. In the case of +a small class it would be greater than in that of a +large one. For instance, in "train drill" a certain +number of men are required. No more are necessary. It +would be inexpedient to employ a whole class when the +class had more men in it than were required for the +drill. In such cases the supernumeraries are instructed +in something else, and alternate with those who attend +train drill. In the case of a small class all attend the +same drill daily, and that other duty or drill is +reserved for autumn. Thus there is less drill in camp, +and it becomes more like furlough when there is none +at all. + +Again, first-classmen enjoy more privileges than +others, and for this reason their camp is more like +furlough. If, however, there are numerous drills, +the analogy will fail; for how can duty, drills, +etc., coexist with privileges such as first-class +privileges? Time which otherwise would be devoted +to enjoyment of privileges is now consumed in drills. +Still there is much in it which makes first-class +camp the most delightful part of a cadet's life. +There are more privileges, the duties are lighter +and more attractive, and make it withal more enjoyable. +First, members of the class attend drill both as +assistants and as students. They are detailed as +chiefs of platoon, chiefs of section, chiefs of +caissons, and as guidons at the light battery; as +chiefs of pieces at the several foot batteries; +attend themselves at the siege or sea-coast batteries, +train drill, pontoon drill, engineering, ordnance, and +astronomy, and they are also detailed as officers of +the guard. These duties are generally not very +difficult nor unpleasant to discharge. Second, from the +nature of the privileges allowed first-classmen, they +have more opportunity for pleasure than other cadets, +and therefore avoid the rather serious consequences of +their monotonous academic military life. A solitary +monotonous life is rather apt to engender a dislike for +mankind, and no high sense of honor or respect for women. +I deem these privileges of especial importance, as they +enable one to avoid that danger and to cultivate the +highest possible regard for women, and those virtues and +other Christian attributes of which they are the better +exponents. A soldier is particularly liable to fall into +this sans-souci way of looking at life, and those to +whom its pleasures, as well as its ills, are largely +due. We are indebted to our fellows for every thing +which affects our life as regards its happiness or +unhappiness, and this latter misfortune will rarely +be ours if we properly appreciate our friends and +those who can and will make life less wretched. To +shut one's self up in one's self is merely to trust, +or rather to set up, one's own judgment as superior +to the world's. That cannot be, nor can there be +happiness in such false views of our organization as +being of and for each other. + +At this point of the course many of the first-class +have attained their majority. They are men, and in +one year more will be officers of the army. It becomes +them, therefore, to lay aside the ordinary student's +rôle, and assume a more dignified one, one more in +conformity with their age and position. They leave +all cadet rôles, etc., to the younger classes, and +put on the proper dignity of men. + +There are for them more privileges. They are more +independent--more like men; and consequently they +find another kind of enjoyment in camp than that +of the cadet. It is a general, a proper, a rational +sort of pleasure such as one would enjoy at home +among relatives or friends, and hence the similarity +between first-class camp and furlough. + +But it is not thus with all first-classmen. Many, +indeed the majority, are cadets till they graduate. +They see every thing as a cadet, enjoy every thing +as a cadet, and find the duties, etc., of first-class +camp as irksome as those of plebe or yearling camp. +Of course such men see no similarity between first- +class camp and furlough. It is their misfortune. We +should enjoy as many things as we can, and not sorrow +over them. We should not make our life one of sorrow +when it could as well be one of comfort and pleasure. +I don't mean comfort and pleasure in an epicurean +sense, but in a moral one. Still first-classmen do +have many duties to perform, but there is withal one +consolation at least, there are no upper classmen to +keep the plebe or yearling in his place. There is no +feeling of humbleness because of junior rank, for the +first class is the first in rank, and therefore need +humble itself to none other than the proper authorities. + +Again, their honor, as "cadets and gentlemen," is +relied upon as surety for obedience and regard for +regulations. They are not subject to constant watching +as plebes are. The rigor of discipline is not so severe +upon them as upon others. It was expended upon them +during their earlier years at the Academy, and, as a +natural consequence, any violation of regulations, etc., +by a first-classman, merits and receives a severer +punishment than would be visited upon a junior classman +for a like infringement on his part. + +The duties of first-classmen in first-class camp are +as follows: The officer of the day and two officers +of the guard are detailed each day from the class. +Their duties are precisely those of similar officers +in the regular army. The junior officer of the guard +daily reports to the observatory to find the error of +the tower clock. Also each day are detailed the +necessary assistants for the several light batteries, +who are on foot or mounted, as the case may require. +The remainder of the class receive instructions in +the service of the siege and sea-coast artillery. +These drills come in the early forenoon. After them +come ordnance and engineering. + +The entire class is divided as equally as may be into +two parts, which alternate in attendance at ordnance +and engineering. + +In ordnance the instructions are on the preparation +of military fireworks, fixing of ammunition and +packing it, the battery wagon and forge. This +instruction is thoroughly practical. The cadets +make the cases for rockets, paper shells, etc., and +fill them, leaving them ready for immediate use. The +stands of fixed ammunition prepared are the grape and +canister, and shell and shot, with their sabots. + +The battery wagon and forge are packed as prescribed +in the "Ordnance Manual." + +The instructions in engineering are also practical +and military. They are in the modes of throwing and +dismantling pontoon bridges, construction of fascines, +gabions, hurdles, etc., and revetting batteries with +them. Sometimes also during camp, more often after, +foot reconnoissances are made. A morning and night +detail is made daily from the class to receive +practical instruction in astronomy in the field +observatory. + +Night signalling with torches, and telegraphy by day, +form other sources of instruction for the first class. + +Telegraphy, or train drill, as the drill is called, +consists in erecting the telegraph line and opening +communication between two stations, and when this is +done, in communicating so as to acquire a practical +knowledge of the instruments and their use. + +These various drills--all of them occurring daily, +Sunday of course excepted, and for part of them +Saturday also--complete the course of instruction +given the first class only during their first-class +camp. It will be observed that they all of them are +of a military nature and of the greatest importance. +The instruction is thorough accordingly. + +I have sufficiently described, I think, a cadet's +first-class camp. I shall, therefore, close the +chapter here. + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + OUR FUTURE HEROES. + + THE WEST POINT CADETS' VACATION. + +Ten Days of Centennial Sport for Prospective Warriors +--The Miseries of three hundred Young Gentlemen who +are limited to Ten Pairs of White Trousers each. + +"ALMOST at the foot of George's Hill, and not far +to the westward of Machinery Hall, is the camp of +the West Point cadets. From morning till night the +domestic economy of the three hundred young gentlemen +who compose the corps is closely watched, and their +guard mountings and dress parades attract throngs of +spectators. It would be hard to find anywhere a body +of young men so manly in appearance, so perfect in +discipline, and so soldier-like and intelligent. The +system of competitive examination for admission, so +largely adopted within the past few years in many of +our large cities, has resulted in recruiting the corps +with lads of bright intellect and more than ordinary +attainments, while the strict physical examination has +rigorously excluded all but those of good form and +perfect health. The competitive system has also given +to the Academy students who want to learn, instead of +lads who are content to scramble through the prescribed +course as best they can, escaping the disgrace of being +"found" (a cadet term equivalent to the old college word +"plucked") by nearly a hair's-breadth. + +"The camp.--The camp is laid out in regulation style, +and has four company streets. Near the western limit +of the Centennial grounds are the tents of the +commandant and the cadet captains and lieutenants. +Below, on a gentle incline, are the wall tents, +occupied by the cadets. Each of these has a board +floor, and it is so arranged that when desired it +may be thrown open on all sides. From two to four +narrow iron cots, a bucket for water, an occasional +chair, and now and then a mirror, comprise the +furniture. But scanty as it is, every article of this +little outfit has a place, and must be kept in it, or +woe to the unlucky wight upon whom the duty of +housekeeping devolves for the day. The bucket must +stand on the left-hand side of the tent, in front; +the beds must be made at a certain hour and in a +certain style--for the coming heroes of America have +to be their own chambermaids; while valises and other +baggage must be stowed away in as orderly a way as +possible. Every morning the tents are inspected, and +any lack of neatness or order insures for the +chambermaid of the day a misconduct mark. It may be +easily conceived that under a regime so strict as +this the cadets are particularly careful as to their +quarters, inasmuch as one hundred of these marks mean +dismissal from the Academy. + +"At daybreak the reveille sounds, and the cadets turn +out for roll-call. Then come breakfast, guard mounting, +and camp and general police duty, which consume the +time until 8.30 A.M., from which hour those who are not +on guard have the freedom of the Centennial grounds. At +5 P.M. they must fall in for dress parade; at 9 they +answer to 'tattoo' roll-call, and a few minutes later +'taps' or 'lights out' consigns them to darkness and +quiet. + +"West Point Aristocracy.--Small as is this corps, it +is still patent that the distinction of caste is very +strong. A first-classman--cadet officers are selected +from this class--looks down upon lower grade men, while +second-class cadets view their juniors with something +nearly allied to contempt, and third-class men are +amusingly patronizing in their treatment of 'plebes' +or new-comers. For the first year of their Academy +life the 'plebes' have rather a hard time of it; but +no sooner do they emerge from their chrysalis state +than they are as hard upon their unfortunate successors +as the third-class men of the year before were upon +them. + +"The cadets are delighted with their reception and +kind treatment in Philadelphia, and look upon their +ten days' visit to the Centennial as a most pleasant +break in the monotony of Academy life. That they +maintain the reputation of the Academy for gallantry +and devotion to the fair sex is evidenced by the +presence of numbers of beautiful young ladies in +their camp after dress parade every evening. Given, +a pretty girl, the twilight of a summer evening, and +a youth in uniform, and the result is easily guessed. + +"The Cadet Corps is to return to West Point to-morrow +morning. There the cadets are to go into camp until +September. General Sherman at one time purposed to +have them march from this city to the Academy, but +it was finally decided that the march would consume +time which might be more profitably devoted to drill. + +"One of the complaints of the cadets is that in the +arrangements for their visit, the Quartermaster's +Department was stricken with a spasm of economy as +regarded transportation, and each of the future heroes +was limited to the miserably insufficient allowance of +ten pairs of white trousers. + +"The cadets speak in warmly eulogistic terms of the +Seventh New York, to whose kindly attentions, they +say, much of their pleasure is due." + +Of this article, which was taken from the Philadelphia +Times, I need only say, those "two or four narrow iron +cots" and that "occasional chair" existed solely in the +imagination of the reporter, as they were nowhere +visible within the limits of our encampment. + + + + CHAPTER X. + + TREATMENT. + + A brave and honorable and courteous man + Will not insult me; and none other can."--Cowper. + +"How do they treat you?" "How do you get along?" and +multitudes of analogous questions have been asked me +over and over again. Many have asked them for mere +curiosity's sake, and to all such my answers have been +as short and abrupt as was consistent with common +politeness. I have observed that it is this class of +people who start rumors, sometimes harmless, but more +often the cause of needless trouble and ill-feeling. +I have considered such a class dangerous, and have +therefore avoided them as much as it was possible. I +will mention a single instance where such danger has +been made manifest. + +A Democratic newspaper, published I know not where, +in summing up the faults of the Republican party, +took occasion to advert to West Point. It asserted in +bold characters that I had stolen a number of articles +from two cadets, had by them been detected in the very +act, had been seen by several other cadets who had been +summoned for the purpose that they might testify +against me, had been reported to the proper authorities, +the affair had been thoroughly investigated by them, my +guilt established beyond the possibility of doubt, and +yet my accusers had actually been dismissed while I was +retained.* This is cited as an example of Republican +rule; and the writer had the effrontery to ask, "How +long shall such things be?" I did not reply to it then, +nor do I intend to do so now. Such assertions from such +sources need no replies. I merely mention the incident +to show how wholly given to party prejudices some men +can be. They seem to have no thought of right and +justice, but favor whatever promotes the aims and +interests of their own party, a party not Democratic +but hellish. How different is the following article +from the Philadelphia North American, of July 7th, +1876: + +*This article was cut from a newspaper, and, together +with the name of the paper, was posted in a conspicuous +place, where other cadets, as well as myself, saw and +read it. + +"It is very little to the credit of the West Point +cadets, a body of young men in whose superior +discipline and thoroughly excellent deportment we +feel in common with nearly all others a gratified +pride, that they should be so ungenerous and unjust +as they confess themselves to be in their treatment +of the colored boy, who, like themselves, has been +made a ward of the nation. We know nothing of this +young man's personal character or habits, but we +have seen no unkind criticism of them. For that +reason we condemn as beneath contempt the spirit +which drives him to an isolation, in bearing which +the black shows himself the superior of the white. +We do not ask nor do we care to encourage any thing +more than decent courtesy. But the young gentlemen +who boast of holding only official intercourse with +their comrade should remember that no one of them +stands before the country in any different light +from him. West Point is an academy for the training +of young men, presumably representative of the people, +for a career sufficiently honorable to gratify any +ambition. The cadets come from all parts of the +country, from all ranks of the social scale. Amalgamated +by the uniform course of studies and the similarity of +discipline, the separating fragments at the end of the +student life carry similar qualities into the life +before them, and step with almost remarkable social +equality into the world where they must find their +level. It would be expecting too much to hope that the +companionship which surmounts or breaks down all the +barriers of caste, should tread with equal heel the +prejudices of color. But it would be more manly in +these boys, if they would remember how easy ordinary +courtesy would be to them, how much it would lighten +the life of a young man whose rights are equal to +their own. It is useless to ignore the inevitable. +This colored boy has his place; he should have fair, +encouragement to hold it. Heaping neglect upon him +does not overcome the principle involved in his +appointment, and while we by no means approve of +such appointments we do believe in common justice." + +On the other hand, many have desired this information +for a practical use, and that, too, whether they were +prejudiced or not. That is, if friends, they were +anxious to know how I fared, whether or not I was to +be a success, and if a success to use that fact in +the interest of the people; and if enemies, they +wanted naturally to know the same things in order to +use the knowledge to the injury of the people if I +proved a failure. + +I have not always been able to distinguish one class +from the other, and have therefore been quite reticent +about my life and treatment at West Point. I have, too, +avoided the newspapers as much as possible. I succeeded +in this so well that it was scarcely known that I was +at the Academy. Much surprise was manifested when I +appeared in Philadelphia at the Centennial. One gentleman +said to me in the Government building: "You are quite +an exhibition yourself. No one was expecting to see a +colored cadet." + +But I wander from my theme. It is a remarkable fact +that the new cadets, in only a very few instances, +show any unwillingness to speak or fraternize. It is +not till they come in contact with the rougher elements +of the corps that they manifest any disposition to +avoid one. It was so in my own class, and has been so +in all succeeding classes. + +When I was a plebe those of us who lived on the same +floor of barracks visited each other, borrowed books, +heard each other recite when preparing for examination, +and were really on most intimate terms. But alas! in +less than a month they learned to call me "nigger," +and ceased altogether to visit me. We did the Point +together, shared with each other whatever we purchased +at the sulter's, and knew not what prejudice was. Alas! +we were soon to be informed! In camp, brought into +close contact with the old cadets, these once friends +discovered that they were prejudiced, and learned to +abhor even the presence or sight of a "d--d nigger." + +Just two years after my entrance into the Academy, I +met in New York a young man who was a plebe at the +time I was, and who then associated with me. He +recognized me, hurried to me from across the street, +shook my hand heartily, and expressed great delight at +seeing me. He showed me the photograph of a classmate, +told me where I could find him, evidently ignorant of +my ostracism, and, wishing me all sorts of success, +took his leave. After he left me I involuntarily asked +myself, "Would it have been thus if he had not been +'found on his prelim?' " Possibly not, but it is very, +very doubtful. + +There are some, indeed the majority of the corps are +such, who treat me on all occasions with proper +politeness. They are gentlemen themselves, and treat +others as it becomes gentlemen to do. They do not +associate, nor do they speak other than officially, +except in a few cases. They are perhaps as much +prejudiced as the others, but prejudice does not +prevent all from being gentlemen. On the other hand, +there are some from the very lowest classes of our +population. They are uncouth and rough in appearance, +have only a rudimentary education, have little or no +idea of courtesy, use the very worst language, and in +most cases are much inferior to the average negro. What +can be expected of such people? They are low, and their +conduct must be in keeping with their breeding. I am +not at all surprised to find it so. Indeed, in ordinary +civil life I should consider such people beneath me in +the social scale, should even reckon some of them as +roughs, and consequently give them a wide berth. + +What surprises me most is the control this class seems +to have over the other. It is in this class I have +observed most prejudice, and from it, or rather by it, +the other becomes tainted. It seems to rule the corps +by fear. Indeed, I know there are many who would +associate, who would treat me as a brother cadet, were +they not held in constant dread of this class. The +bullies, the fighting men of the corps are in it. It +rules by fear, and whoever disobeys its beck is "cut." +The rest of the corps follows like so many menials +subject to command. In short, there is a fearful lack +of backbone. There is, it seems at first sight, more +prejudice at West Point than elsewhere. It is not +really so I think. + +The officers of the institution have never, so far +as I can say, shown any prejudice at all. They have +treated me with uniform courtesy and impartiality. +The cadets, at least some of them, away from West +Point, have also treated me with such gentlemanly +propriety. The want of backbone predominates to such +an alarming extent at West Point they are afraid to +do so there. I will mention a few cases under this +subject of treatment. + +During my first-class camp I was rather surprised on +one occasion to have a plebe--we had been to the +Centennial Exhibition and returned, and of course my +status must have been known to him--come to my tent +to borrow ink of me. I readily complied with his +request, feeling proud of what I thought was the +beginning of a new era in my cadet life. I felt he +would surely prove himself manly enough, after thus +recognizing me, to keep it up, and thus bring others +under his influence to the same cause. And I was +still further assured in this when I observed he +made his visits frequent and open. At length, sure of +my willingness to oblige him, he came to me, and, after +expressing a desire to "bone up" a part of the fourth- +class course, and the need he felt for such "boning," +begged me to lend him my algebra. I of course readily +consented, gave him my key, and sent him to my trunk +in the trunk rooms to get it. He went. He got it, and +returned the key. He went into ecstasies, and made no +end of thanks to me for my kindness, etc. All this +naturally confirmed my opinion and hope of better +recognition ultimately. Indeed, I was glad of an +opportunity to prove that I was not unkind or ungenerous. +I supposed he would keep the book till about September, +at which time he would get one of his own, as every +cadet at that time was required to procure a full +course of text-books, these being necessary for +reference, etc., in future life. And so he did. Some +time after borrowing the book, he came to me and +asked for India ink. I handed him a stick, or rather +part of one, and received as usual his many thanks. +Several days after this, and at night, during my +absence--I was, if I remember aright, at Fort Clinton +making a series of observations with a zenith telescope +in the observatory there--he came to the rear of my +tent, raised the wall near one corner, and placed the +ink on the floor, just inside the wall, which he left +down as he found it. + +I found the ink there when I returned. I was utterly +disgusted with the man. The low, unmanly way in which +he acted was wholly without my approval. If he was +disposed to be friendly, why be cowardly about it? If +he must recognize me secretly, why, I would rather +not have such recognition. Acting a lie to his fellow- +cadets by appearing to be inimical to me and my +interests, while he pretended the reverse to me, +proved him to have a baseness of character with which +I didn't care to identify myself. + +September came at last, and my algebra was returned. +The book was the one I had used my first year at the +Academy. I had preserved it, as I have all of my +books, for future use and as a sort of souvenir of +my cadet life. It was for that sole reason of great +value to me. I enjoined upon him to take care of the +book, and in nowise to injure it. My name was on the +back, on the cover, and my initial, "F," in two other +places on the cover. When the book was returned he +had cut the calfskin from the cover, so as to remove +my name. The result was a horrible disfiguration of +the book, and a serious impairment of its durability. +The mere sight of the book angered me, and I found it +difficult to retrain from manifesting as much. He +undoubtedly did it to conceal the fact that the book +was borrowed from me. Such unmanliness, such cowardice, +such baseness even, was most disgusting; and I felt +very much as if I would like to--well, I don't know +that I would. There was no reason at all for mutilating +the book. If he was not man enough to use it with my +name on it, why did he borrow it and agree not to +injure it? On that sole condition I lent it. Why did +he not borrow some one else's and return mine? + +I have been asked, "What is the general feeling of the +corps towards you? Is it a kindly one, or is it an +unfriendly one. Do they purposely ill-treat you or do +they avoid you merely?" I have found it rather difficult +to answer unqualifiedly such questions; and yet I +believe, and have always believed, that the general +feeling of the corps towards me was a kindly one. +This has been manifested in multitudes of ways, on +innumerably occasions, and under the most various +circumstances. And while there are some who treat me +at times in an unbecoming manner, the majority of the +corps have ever treated me as I would desire to be +treated. I mean, of course, by this assertion that +they have treated me as I expected and really desired +them to treat me, so long as they were prejudiced. +They have held certain opinions more or less +prejudicial to me and my interests, but so long as +they have not exercised their theories to my +displeasure or discomfort, or so long as they have +"let me severely alone," I had no just reason for +complaint. Again, others, who have no theory of their +own, and almost no manliness, have been accustomed "to +pick quarrels," or to endeavor to do so, to satisfy I +don't know what; and while they have had no real +opinions of their own, they have not respected those +of others. Their feeling toward me has been any thing +but one of justice, and yet at times even they have +shown a remarkable tendency to recognize me as having +certain rights entitled to their respect, if not their +appreciation. + +As I have been practically isolated from the cadets, +I have had little or no intercourse with them. I have +therefore had but little chance to know what was +really the feeling of the corps as a unit toward +myself. Judging, however, from such evidences as I +have, I am forced to conclude that it is as given +above, viz., a feeling of kindness, restrained +kindness if you please. + +Here are some of the evidences which have come under +my notice. + +I once heard a cadet make the following unchristian +remark about myself when a classmate had been +accidentally hurt at light-battery drill: "I wish it +had been the nigger, and it had killed him." I couldn't +help looking at him, and I did; but that, and nothing +more. Some time after this, at cavalry drill, we were +side by side, and I had a rather vicious horse, one in +fact which I could not manage. He gave a sudden jump +unexpectedly to me. I almost lost my seat in the saddle. +This cadet seized me by the arm, and in a tone of voice +that was evidently kind and generous, said to me, "For +heaven's sake be careful. You'll be thrown and get +hurt if you don't." How different from that other wish +given above! + +Another evidence, and an important one, may be given +in these words. It is customary for the senior, or, +as we say, the first class, to choose, each member, +a horse, and ride him exclusively during the term. +The choice is usually made by lot, and each man +chooses according to the number he draws. By +remarkable good fortune I drew No. 1, and had +therefore the first choice of all the horses in the +stables. + +As soon as the numbers drawn were published, several +classmates hastened to me for the purpose of effecting +an exchange of choice. It will at once be seen that +any such change would in no manner benefit me, for +if I lost the first choice I might also lose the +chance of selecting a good horse. With the avowed +intention of proving that I had at least a generous +disposition, and also that I was not disposed to +consider, in my reciprocal relations with the cadets, +how I had been, and was even then treated by them, I +consented to exchange my first choice for the +fourteenth. + +This agreement was made with the first that asked for +an exchange. Several others came, and, when informed +of the previous agreement, of course went their way. +A day or two after this a number of cadets were +discussing the choice of horses, etc., and reverted to +the exchange which I had made. One of them suggested +that if an exchange of a choice higher than fourteen +were suggested to me, I might accept it. + +What an idea, he must have had of my character to +suppose me base enough to disregard an agreement I +had already made! + +However, all in the crowd were not as base as he was, +and one of them was man enough to say: + +"Oh no! that would be imposing upon Mr. Flipper's +good nature." He went on to show how ungentlemanly +and unbecoming in a "cadet and gentleman" such an +act would be. The idea was abandoned, or at least +was never broached to me, and if it had been I would +never have entertained it. Such an act on the part +of the cadet could have arisen only from a high sense +of manly honor or from a feeling of kindness. + +There are multitudes of little acts of kindness +similar to these, and even different ones. I need +not--indeed as I do not remember them all I cannot +--mention them all. They all show, however, that +the cadets are not avowedly inclined to ill-treat +me, but rather to assist me to make my life under +the circumstances as pleasant as can be. And there +may be outside influences, such as relatives or +friends, which bias their own better judgments and +keep them from fully and openly recognizing me. For +however hard either way may be, it is far easier to +do as friends wish than as conscience may dictate, +when conscience and friends differ. Under such +conditions it would manifestly be unjust for me to +expect recognition of them, even though they +themselves were disposed to make it. I am sure this +is at least a Christian view of the case, and with +such view I have ever kept aloof from the cadets. I +have not obtruded myself upon them, nor in any way +attempted to force recognition from them. This has +proved itself to be by far the better way, and I +don't think it could well be otherwise. + +The one principle which has controlled my conduct +while a cadet, and which is apparent throughout my +narrative, is briefly this: to find, if possible, +for every insult or other offence a reason or motive +which is consistent with the character of a gentleman. +Whenever I have been insulted, or any thing has been +done or said to me which might have that construction, +I have endeavored to find some excuse, some reason +for it, which was not founded on prejudice or on +baseness of character or any other ungentlemanly +attribute; or, in other words, I wanted to prove that +it was not done because of my color. If I could find +such a reason--and I have found them--I have been +disposed not only to overlook the offence, but to +forgive and forget it. Thus there are many cadets who +would associate, etc., were they not restrained by the +force of opinion of relatives and friends. This cringing +dependence, this vassalage, this mesmerism we may call +it, we all know exists. Why, many a cadet has openly +confessed to me that he did not recognize us because +he was afraid of being "cut." + +Again, I find some too high-toned, too punctilious, +to recognize me. I attribute this not to the +loftiness of their highnesses nor to prejudice, but +to the depth of their ignorance, and of course I +forgive and forget. Others again are so "reckless," +so "don't care" disposed, that they treat me as fancy +dictates, now friendly, now vacillating, and now +inimical. With these I simply do as the Romans do. +If they are friendly, so am I; if they scorn me, I +do not obtrude myself upon them; if they are +indifferent, I am indifferent too. + +There is a rather remarkable case under this subject +which has caused me no little surprise and +disappointment. I refer to those cadets appointed by +colored members of Congress. + +It was quite natural to expect of them better treatment +than of others, and yet if in any thing at all they +differed from the former, they were the more reserved +and discourteous. They most "severely let me alone." +They never associated, nor did they speak, except +officially, and then they always spoke in a haughty +and insolent manner that was to me most exasperating. +And in one case in particular was this so. One of those +so appointed was the son of the colored Congressman who +sent him there, and from him at least good treatment +was reasonably expected. There have been only two such +appointments to my knowledge, and it is a singular fact +that they were both overbearing, conceited, and by no +means popular with their comrades. The status of one +was but little better than my own, and only in that +his comrades would speak and associate. He was not +"cut," but avoided as much as possible without making +the offence too patent. + +There was a cadet in the corps with myself who +invariably dropped his head whenever our eyes met. +His complexion was any thing but white, his features +were rough and homely, and his person almost entirely +without symmetry or beauty. From this singular +circumstance and his physique, I draw the conclusion +that he was more African than Anglo-Saxon. Indeed, I +once heard as much insinuated by a fellow-cadet, to +whom his reply was: "It's an honor to be black." + +Near the close of this chapter I have occason to +speak of fear. There I mean by fear a sort of +shrinking demeanor or disposition to accept insults +and other petty persecutions as just dues, or to +leave them unpunished from actual cowardice, to +which fear some have been pleased to attribute my +generally good treatment. This latter fact has been +by many, to my personal knowledge, attributed to +fear in another quarter, viz., in the cadets +themselves. It has many times been said to me by +persons at West Point and elsewhere: "I don't suppose +many of those fellows would care to encounter you?" + +This idea was doubtless founded upon my physical +proportions--I am six feet one and three-quarter +inches high, and weigh one hundred and seventy-five +pounds. In behalf of the corps of cadets I would +disclaim any such notions of fear, + +First. Because the conception of the idea is not +logical. I was not the tallest, nor yet the largest +man in the corps, nor even did I give any evidence +of a disposition to fight or bully others. + +Second. Because I did not come to West Point purposely +to "go through on my muscle." I am not a fighting +character, as the cadets--those who know me--can well +testify. + +Third. Because it is ungenerous to attribute what +can result from man's better nature only to such +base causes as fear or cowardice. This seems to be +about the only way in which many have endeavored to +explain the difference between my life at West Point +and that of other colored cadets. They seem to think +that my physique inspired a sort of fear in the cadets, +and forced them at least to let me alone, while the +former ones, smaller in size, did therefore create no +such fear until by persistent retaliation it was shown +they were able to defend themselves. + +Now this, I think, is the most shallow of all reasoning +and entirely unworthy our further notice. + +Fourth. I should be grieved to suppose any one +feared me. It is not my desire to go through life +feared by any one. I can derive no pleasure from +any thing which is accorded me through motives of +fear. The grant must be spontaneous and voluntary +to give me the most pleasure. I want nothing, not +even recognition, unless it be freely given, hence +have I not forced myself upon my comrades. + +"But the sensible Flipper accepted the situation, +and proudly refused to intrude himself on the white +boys." -- Atlanta (Ga.) Herald. + +Fifth. Because it is incompatible with the dignity +of a "cadet and a gentleman" for one to fear another. + +Sixth. Because it is positively absurd to suppose +that one man of three hundred more or less would +be feared by the rest individually and collectively, +and no rational being would for an instant entertain +any such idea. There is, however, a single case +which may imply fear on the part of the cadet most +concerned. A number of plebes, among them a colored +one, were standing on the stoop of barracks. There +were also several cadets standing in the doorway, +and a sentinel was posted in the hall. This latter +individual went up to one of the cadets and said to +him, "Make that nigger out there get his hands +around," referring to this plebe mentioned above. + +I happened to come down stairs just at that time, +and as soon as he uttered those words he turned +and saw me. He hung his head, and in a cowardly +manner sneaked off, while the cadets in the door +also dispersed with lowered heads. Was it fear? +Verily I know not. Possibly it was shame. + +Again I recall a rather peculiar circumstance +which will perhaps sustain this notion of fear +on the part of the cadets. I have on every +occasion when I had command over my fellow-cadets +in any degree, noticed that they were generally +more orderly and more obedient than when this +authority was exercised by another. + + Thus whenever I commanded the guard there +were very few reports for offences committed by +members of the guard. They have ever been obedient +and military. In camp, when I was first in command +of the guard, I had a most orderly guard and a very +pleasant tour, and that too, observe, while some of +the members of it were plebes and on for the first +time. On all such occasions it is an immemorial +custom for the yearlings to interfere with and haze +the plebe sentinels. Not a sentinel was disturbed, +not a thing went amiss, and why? Manifestly because +it was thought --and rightly too--that I would not +connive at such interference, and because they feared +to attempt it lest they be watched and reported. +Later, however, even this semblance of fear disappeared, +and they acted under me precisely as they do under +others, because they are convinced that I will not +stoop to spy or retaliate. + +"The boys were rather afraid that when he should come +to hold the position as officer of the guard that he +would swagger over them; but he showed good sense and +taste, merely assuming the rank formally and leaving +his junior to carry out the duty."--New York Herald. + +And just here it is worthy of notice that the press, +in commenting upon my chances of graduating, has +never, so far as I know, entertained any doubts of +my ability to do so. It has, on the contrary, +expressed the belief that the probability of my +graduating depended upon the officers of the Academy, +and upon any others who, by influence or otherwise, +were connected with the Academy. Some have even +hinted at politics as a possible ground upon which +they might drop me. + +All such opinions have been created and nurtured by +the hostile portion of the press, and, I regret to +say, by that part also which ought to have been more +friendly, if not more discreet. No branch of the +government is freer from the influences and whims +of politicians than the National Military Academy. +Scarcely any paper has considered how the chances +of any cadet depended upon himself alone. The +authorities of the Academy are, or have been, +officers of the army. They are, with one or two +exceptions, graduates, and therefore, presumably, +"officers and gentlemen." To transform young men +into a like ilk as themselves is their duty. The +country intrusts them with this great responsibility. +To prove faithless to such a charge would be to risk +position, and even those dearer attributes of the +soldier, honor and reputation. They would not dare +ill-treat a colored cadet or a white one. Of course +the prejudice of race is not yet overcome entirely, +and possibly they may be led into some indiscretion +on account of it; but I do not think it would be +different at any other college in the country. It is +natural. + +There are prejudices of caste as well as prejudices +of race, and I am most unwilling to believe it +possible that any officer would treat with injustice +a colored cadet who in true gentlemanly qualities, +intelligence, and assiduousness equals or excels +certain white ones who are treated with perfect +equanimity. With me it has not been so. I have been +treated as I would wish to be in the majority of cases. +There have been of course occasions where I've fancied +wrong had been done me. I expected to be ill-treated. +I went to West Point fully convinced that I'd have "a +rough time of it." Who that has read the many newspaper +versions of the treatment of colored cadets, and of +Smith in particular would not have been so convinced? +When, therefore, any affront or any thing seemingly of +that nature was offered me, I have been disposed, +naturally I think, to unduly magnify it, because I +expected it. This was hasty and unjust, and so I +admit, now that I am better informed. What was +apparently done to incommode or discourage me has +been shown to have been done either for my own +benefit or for some other purpose, not to my harm. +In every single instance I have, after knowing better +the reason for such acts, felt obliged to acknowledge +the injustice of my fears. At other times I have been +agreeably surprised at the kindnesses shown me both by +officers and cadets, and have found myself at great +loss to reconcile them with acts I had already adjudged +as malicious wrongs. + +I have, too, been particularly careful not to fall +into an error, which, I think, has been the cause +of misfortune to at least one of the cadets of color. +If a cadet affront another, if a white cadet insult a +colored one for instance, the latter can complain to +The proper authorities, and, if there be good reason +for it, can always get proper redress. This undoubtedly +gives the consolation of knowing that the offence will +not be repeated, but beyond that I think it a great +mistake to have so sought it. A person who constantly +complains, even with some show of reason, loses more or +less the respect of the authorities. And the offenders, +while they refrain from open acts, do nevertheless +conduct their petty persecutions in such a manner that +one can shape no charge against them, and consequently +finds himself helpless. One must endure these little +tortures--the sneer, the shrug of the shoulder, the +epithet, the effort to avoid, to disdain, to ignore-- +and thus suffer; for any of them are--to me at least-- +far more hard to bear than a blow. A blow I may resist +or ignore. In either case I soon forget it. But a sneer, +a shrug of the shoulder, mean more. Either is a blow at +my sensitiveness, my inner feelings, and which through +no ordinary effort of mind can be altogether forgotten. +It is a sting that burns long and fiercely. How much +better to have ignored the greater offences which could +be reached, and to have thus avoided the lesser ones, +which nothing can destroy! How much wiser to stand like +a vast front of fortification, on some rocky moral height +absolutely unassailable, passively resisting alike the +attack by open assault and the surer one by regular +approaches! The assault can be repulsed, but who can, who +has ever successfully stopped the mines and the galleries +through which an entrance is at length forced into the +interior? + +"We cannot expect the sons to forget the lessons of the +sires; but we have a right to demand from the general +government the rooting out of all snobbery at West Point, +whether it is of that kind which sends poor white boys to +Coventry, because they haven't a family name or wealth, +or whether it be that smallest, meanest, and shallowest +of all aristocracies--the one founded upon color. + +"If the government is not able to root out these +unrepublican seeds in these hotbeds of disloyalty and +snobbery, let Congress shut up the useless and expensive +appendages and educate its officers at the colleges of +the country, where they may learn lessons in true +Republican equality and nationality. The remedy lies +with Congress. A remonstrance, at least, should be heard +from the colored members of Congress, who are insulted +whenever a colored boy is ill-treated by the students +or the officers of these institutions. So far from being +discouraged by defeats, the unjust treatment meted out +to the young men should redouble the efforts of others +of their class to conquer this new Bastile by storm. It +should lead every colored Congressman to make sure that +he either sends a colored applicant or a white one who +has not the seeds of snobbery or caste in his soul." + +I shall consider this last clause at the end of this +chapter, where I shall quote at length the article +from which this passage is taken. + +If I may be pardoned an opinion on this article, I do +not think the true remedy lies with Congress at all. +I do not question the right to demand of Congress any +thing, but I do doubt the propriety or need of such a +proceeding, of course, in the case under consideration. +As to "that kind which sends poor white boys to Coventry," +because of their poverty, etc., I can say with absolute +truthfulness it no longer exists. When it did exist the +power to discontinue it did not lie with Congress. +Congress has no control over personal whims or prejudices. +But I make a slight mistake. There was a time when +influence, wealth, or position was able to secure a +cadetship. At that time poor boys very rarely succeeded +in getting an appointment, and when they did they were +most unmercifully "cut" by the snobs of aristocracy who +were at the Academy. Then the remedy did lie with +Congress. The appointments could have been so made as +to exclude those snobs whose only recommendation was +their position in society, and so also as to admit boys +who were deserving, although they were perhaps poor. +This remedy has been made, and all classes (white), +whether poor or rich, influential or not, are on terms +of absolute equality. + +But for that other kind, "the one founded upon color," +Congress has no remedy, no more than for fanaticism or +something of that kind. + +This article also tells us that "the government has been +remiss in not throwing around them the protection of its +authority." I disdainfully scout the idea of such +protection. If my manhood cannot stand without a +governmental prop, then let it fall. If I am to stand +on any other ground than the one white cadets stand +upon, then I don't want the cadetship. If I cannot +endure prejudice and persecutions, even if they are +offered, then I don't deserve the cadetship, and much +less the commission of an army officer. But there is a +remedy, a way to root out snobbery and prejudice which +but needs adoption to have the desired effect. Of +course its adoption by a single person, myself for +instance, will not be sufficient to break away all +the barriers which prejudice has brought into existence. +I am quite confident, however, if adopted by all colored +cadets, it will eventually work out the difficult +though by no means insoluble problem, and give us further +cause for joy and congratulations. + +The remedy lies solely in our case with us. We can +make our life at West Point what we will. We shall +be treated by the cadets as we treat them. Of course +some of the cadets are low--they belong to the younger +classes-- and good treatment cannot be expected of +them at West Point nor away from there. The others, +presumably gentlemen, will treat everybody else as +becomes gentlemen, or at any rate as they themselves +are treated. For, as Josh Billings quaintly tells us, +"a gentleman kant hide hiz true karakter enny more +than a loafer kan." + +Prejudice does not necessarily prevent a man's being +courteous and gentlemanly in his relations with others. +If, then, they be prejudiced and treat one with ordinary +civility, or even if they let one "severely alone," is +there any harm done? Is such a course of conduct to be +denounced? Religiously, yes; but in the manner of every +-day life and its conventionalities, I say not by any +means. I have the right--no one will deny it--of +choosing or rejecting as companions whomsoever I will. +If my choice be based upon color, am I more wrong in +adopting it than I should be in adopting any other +reason? it may be an unchristian opinion or fancy that +causes me to do it, but such opinion or fancy is my own, +and I have a right to it. No one objects to prejudice +as such, but to the treatment it is supposed to cause. +If one is disposed to ill-treat another, he'll do it, +prejudiced or not prejudiced. Only low persons are so +disposed, and happily so for West Point, and indeed for +the whole country. + +"The system of competitive examination for admission, +so largely adopted within the past few years in many +of our large cities, has resulted in recruiting the +corps with lads of bright intellect and more than +ordinary attainments, while the strict physical +examination has rigorously excluded all but those of +good form and perfect health. The competitive system +has also given to the Academy students who want to +learn, instead of lads who are content to scramble +through the prescribed course as best they can, +escaping being "found" (a cadet term equivalent to +the old college word 'plucked') by merely a hair's- +breadth." + +The old way of getting rid of the rough, uncouth +characters was to "find" them. Few, very few of +them, ever got into the army. Now they are excluded +by the system of competitive examination even from +entering the Military Academy, and if they should +succeed in getting to West Point, they eventually +fail, since men with no fixed purpose cannot +graduate at West Point. + +Now if the "colored cadets" be not of this class +also, then their life at West Point will not be +much harder than that of the others. The cadets +may not associate, but what of that? Am I to blame +a man who prefers not to associate with me? If that +be the only charge against him, then my verdict is +for acquittal. Though his conduct arises from, to +us, false premises, it is to his sincere convictions +right, and we would not in the slightest degree be +justified in forcing him into our way of looking at +it. In other words, the remedy does not lie with +Congress. + +The kind of treatment we are to receive at the +hands of others depends entirely upon ourselves. +I think my life at West Point sufficiently proves +the truth of this assertion. I entered the Academy +at a time when, as one paper had it, West Point +was a "hotbed of disloyalty and snobbery, a useless +and expensive appendage." I expected all sorts of +ill-treatment, and yet from the day I entered till +the day I graduated I had not cause to utter so much +as an angry word. I refused to obtrude myself upon +the white cadets, and treated them all with uniform +courtesy. I have been treated likewise. It simply +depended on me what sort of treatment I should +receive. I was careful to give no cause for bad +treatment, and it was never put upon me. In making +this assertion I purposely disregard the instances +of malice, etc., mentioned elsewhere, for the reason +that I do not believe they were due to any deep +personal convictions of my inferiority or personal +desire to impose upon me, but rather were due to the +fear of being "cut" if they had acted otherwise. + +Our relations have been such, as any one will +readily observe, that even officially they would +have been obliged to recognize me to a greater or +less extent, or at the expense of their consciences +ignore me. They have done both, as circumstances +and not inclination have led them to do. + +A rather unexpected incident occurred in the summer +of '73, which will show perhaps how intense is that +gravitating force--if I may so term it--which so +completely changes the feelings of the plebes, and +even cadets, who, when they reported, were not at +all prejudiced on account of color. + +It was rather late at night and extremely dark. I +was on guard and on post at the time. Approaching +the lower end of my post, No. 5, I heard my name +called in a low tone by some one whom I did not +recognize. I stopped and listened. The calling was +repeated, and I drew near the place whence it came. +It proved to be a cadet, a classmate of mine, and +then a sentinel on the adjacent post, No. 4. We +stood and talked quite awhile, as there was no +danger either of being seen by other cadets--an +event which those who in any manner have recognized +me have strenuously avoided--or "hived standing on +post." It was too dark. He expressed great regret +at my treatment, hoped it would be bettered, assured +me that he would ever be a friend and treat me as a +gentleman should. + +Another classmate told me, at another time, in +effect the same thing. I very naturally expected a +fulfilment of these promises, but alas! for such +hopes! They not only never fulfilled them, but +treated me even as badly as all the others. One of +them was assigned a seat next to me at table. He +would eat scarcely anything, and when done with that +he would draw his chair away and pretend to be imposed +upon in the most degrading manner possible. The other +practised similar manoeuvres whenever we fell in at +any formation of company or section. They both called +me "nigger," or "d--d nigger," as suited their +inclination. Yet this ought, I verily believe, to be +attributed not to them, but to the circumstances that +led them to adopt such a course. + +On one occasion, however, one of them brought to +my room the integration of some differential +equation in mechanics which had been sent me by +our instructor. He was very friendly then, +apparently. He told me upon leaving, if I +desired any further information to come to his +"house," and he would give it. I observed that he +called me "Mr. Flipper." + +One winter's night, while on guard in barracks +during supper, a cadet of the next class above +my own stopped on my post and conversed with me +as long as it was safe to do so. He expressed-- +as all have who have spoken to me--great regret +that I should be so isolated, asked how I got +along in my studies, and many other like questions. +He spoke at great length of my general treatment. He +assured me that he was wholly unprejudiced, and would +ever be a friend. He even went far enough to say, to +my great astonishment, that he cursed me and my race +among the cadets to keep up appearances with them, +and that I must think none the less well of him for +so doing. It was a sort of necessity, he said, for he +would not only be "cut," but would be treated a great +deal worse than I was if he should fraternize with me. +Upon leaving me he said, "I'm d--d sorry to see you +come here to be treated so, but I am glad to see you +stay." + +Unfortunately the gentleman failed at the examination, +then not far distant, and of course did not have much +opportunity to give proof of his friendship. And thus, + + "The walk, the words, the gesture could supply, + The habit mimic and the mien belie." + +When the plebes reported in '76, and were given seats +in the chapel, three of them were placed in the pew +with myself. We took seats in the following order, +viz., first the commandant of the pew, a sergeant and +a classmate of mine, then a third-classman, myself, +and the plebes. Now this arrangement was wholly +unsatisfactory to the third-classman, who turned to +the sergeant and asked of him to place a plebe between +him and myself. The sergeant turned toward me, and +with an angry gesture ordered me to "Get over there." +I refused, on the ground that the seat I occupied had +been assigned me, and I therefore had no authority to +change it. Near the end of the service the third- +classman asked the sergeant to tell me to sit at the +further end of the seat. He did so. I refused on the +same ground as before. He replied, "Well, it don't +make any difference. I'll see that your seat is +changed." I feared he would go to the cadet +quartermaster, who had charge of the arrangement of +seats, and have my seat changed without authority. I +reported to the officer in charge of the new cadets, +and explained the whole affair to him. + +"You take the seat," said he, "assigned you in the +guard house"--the plan of the church, with names +written on the pews, was kept here, so that cadets +could consult it and know where their seats were-- +"and if anybody wants you to change it tell them I +ordered you to keep it." + +The next Sabbath I took it. I was ordered to change +it. I refused on the authority just given above. The +sergeant then went to the commandant of cadets, who +by some means got the impression that I desired to +change my seat. He sent for me and emphatically +ordered me to keep the seat which had by his order +been assigned me. Thus the effort to change my seat, +made by the third-classman through the sergeant, but +claimed to have been made by me, failed. It was out +of the question for it to be otherwise. If the sergeant +had wanted the seat himself he would in all probability +have got it, because he was my senior in class and +lineal rank. But the third-classman was my junior in +both, and therefore could not, by any military +regulation, get possession of what I was entitled to +by my superior rank. And the effort to do so must be +regarded a marvellous display of stupidity, or a belief +on the part of the cadet that I could be imposed upon +with impunity, simply because I was alone and had shown +no disposition to quarrel or demand either real or +imaginary rights. + +While in New York during my furlough--summer of '75 +--I was introduced to one of her wealthy bankers. We +conversed quite a while on various topics, and finally +resumed the subject on which we began, viz., West Point. +He named a cadet, whom I shall call for convenience +John, and asked if I knew him. I replied in the +affirmative. After asking various other questions of +him, his welfare, etc., he volunteered the following +bit of information: + +"Oh! yes," said he, "I've known John for several years. +He used to peddle newspapers around the bank here. I +was agreeably surprised when I heard he had been +appointed to a cadetship at West Point. The boys who +come in almost every morning with their papers told me +John was to sell me no more papers. His mother has +scrubbed out the office here, and cleaned up daily for +a number of years. John's a good fellow though, and +I'm glad to know of his success." + +This information was to me most startling. There +certainly was nothing dishonorable in that sort +of labor--nay, even there was much in it that +deserved our highest praise. It was honest, humble +work. But who would imagine from the pompous bearing +assumed by the gentleman that he ever peddled +newspapers, or that his mother earned her daily +bread by scrubbing on her knees office floors? And +how does this compare with the average negro? + +It is not to me very pleasant to thus have another's +private history revealed, but when it is done I can't +help feeling myself better in one sense at least than +my self-styled superiors. I certainly am not really +one thing and apparently another. The distant +haughtiness assumed by some of them, and the constant +endeavor to avoid me, as if I were "a stick or a stone, +the veriest poke of creation," had no other effect +than to make me feel as if I were really so, and to +discourage and dishearten me. I hardly know how I +endured it all so long. If I were asked to go over it +all again, even with the experience I now have, I fear +I should fail. I mean of course the strain on my mind +and sensitiveness would be so great I'd be unable to +endure it. + +There is that in every man, it has been said, either +good or bad, which will manifest itself in his speech +or acts. Keeping this in mind while I constantly +study those around me, I find myself at times driven +to most extraordinary conclusions. If some are as good +as their speech, then, if I may be permitted to judge, +they have most devoutly observed that blessed +commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother, that +thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy +God giveth thee," in that they have profited by their +teaching both mentally and morally. + +On the other hand, we hear from many the very worst +possible language. Some make pardonable errors, while +others make blunders for which there can be no excuse +save ignorance. Judging their character by their +speech, what a sad condition must be theirs; and more, +what a need for missionary work! + +This state of affairs gives way in the second, and +often in the first year, to instruction and discipline. +West Point's greatest glory arises from her unparalleled +success in polishing these rough specimens and sending +them forth "officers and gentlemen." No college in the +country has such a "heterogeneous conglomeration"--to +quote Dr. Johnson--of classes. The highest and lowest +are represented. The glory of free America, her +recognition of equality of all men, is not so apparent +anywhere else as at West Point. And were prejudice +entirely obliterated, then would America in truth be +that Utopia of which so many have but dreamed. It is +rapidly giving way to better reason, and the day is not +far distant when West Point will stand forth as the +proud exponent of absolute social equality. Prejudice +weakens, and ere long will fail completely. The advent +of general education sounds its death knell. And may +the day be not afar off when America shall proclaim her +emancipation from the basest of all servitudes, the +subservience to prejudice! + +After feeling reasonably sure of success, I have often +thought that my good treatment was due in a measure to +a sort of apprehension on the part of the cadets that, +when I should come to exercise command over them, I +would use my authority to retaliate for any ill-treatment +I had suffered. I have thought this the case with those +especially who have been reared in the principles of +prejudice, and often in none other, for "prejudices, it +is well known, are the most difficult to eradicate from +the heart whose soil has never been loosened or +fertilized by education. They grow there as firm as +weeds among rocks." + +When the time did come, and I proved by purely +gentlemanly conduct that it was no harder, no more +dishonorable, to be under me than under others, this +reserve vanished to a very great extent. I might +mention instances in which this is evident. + +At practical engineering, one day, three of us were +making a gabion. One was putting in the watling, +another keeping it firmly down, while I was preparing +it. I had had some instruction on a previous day as +to how it should be made, but the two others had not. +When they had put in the watling to within the proper +distance of the top they began trimming off the twigs +and butt ends of the withes. I happened to turn toward +the gabion and observed what they were doing. In a tone +of voice, and with a familiarity that surprised my own +self, I exclaimed, "Oh, don't do that. Don't you see +if you cut those off before sewing, the whole thing +will come to pieces? Secure the ends first and then +cut off the twigs." + +They stopped working, listened attentively, and one +of them replied, "Yes, that would be the most sensible +way." I proceeded to show them how to sew the watling +and to secure the ends. They were classmates. They +listened to my voluntary instruction and followed it +without a thought of who gave it, or any feeling of +prejudice. + +At foot battery drill one day I was chief of piece. +After a time the instructor rested the battery. The +cannoneers at my piece, instead of going off and +sitting down, gathered around me and asked questions +about the nomenclature of the piece and its carriage. +"What is this?" "What is it for?" and many others. +They were third-classmen. Certainly there was no +prejudice in this. Certainly, too, it could only be +due to good conduct on my part. And here is another. + +Just after taps on the night of July 12th, 1876, while +lying in my tent studying the stars, I happened to +overhear a rather angry conversation concerning my +unfortunate self. + +It seems the cadet speaking had learned beforehand +that he and myself would be on duty a few days hence, +myself as senior and he as junior officer of the guard. +His chums were teasing him on his misfortune of being +under me as junior, which act caused him to enter into +a violent panegyric upon me. He began by criticising +my military aptitude and the manner in which I was +treated by the authorities, that is, by the cadet +officers, as is apparent from what follows: + +"That nigger," said he, "don't keep dressed. Sometimes +he's 'way head of the line. He swings his arms, and +does other things not half as well as other 'devils,' +and yet he's not 'skinned' for it." + +What a severe comment upon the way in which the file- +closers discharge their duties! Severe, indeed, it +would be were it true. It is hardly reasonable, I +think, to suppose the file-closers, in the face of +prejudice and the probability of being "cut," would +permit me to do the things mentioned with impunity, +while they reported even their own classmates for them. + +And here again we see the fox and sour grapes. The +gentleman who so honored me with his criticism was +junior to me in every branch of study we had taken up +to that time except in French. I was his senior in +tactics by-- well, to give the number of files would +be to specify him too closely and make my narrative +too personal. Suffice it to say I ranked him, and I +rather fancy, as I did not gain that position by +favoritism, but by study and proficiency, he should +not venture to criticise. But so it is all through +life, at West Point as well as elsewhere. Malcontents +are ever finding faults in others which they never +think of discovering in themselves. + +When the time came the detail was published at +parade, and next day we duly marched on guard. +When I appeared on the general parade in full +dress, I noticed mischievous smiles on more than +one face, for the majority of the corps had turned +out to see me. I walked along, proudly unconscious +of their presence. + +Although I went through the ceremony of guard +mounting without a single blunder, I was not at +all at ease. I inspected the front rank, while my +junior inspected the rear. I was sorely displeased +to observe some of the cadets change color as they +tossed up their pieces for my inspection, and that +they watched me as I went through that operation. +Some of them were from the South, and educated to +consider themselves far superior to those of whom +they once claimed the right of possession. I know +it was to them most galling, and although I fully +felt the responsibility and honor of commanding the +guard, I frankly and candidly confess that I found +no pleasure in their apparent humiliation. + +I am as a matter of course opposed to prejudice, +but I nevertheless hold that those who are not +have just as much right to their opinions on the +matter as they would have to any one of the various +religious creeds. We in free America at least would +not be justified in forcing them to renounce their +views or beliefs on race and color any more than +those on religion. + +We can sometimes, by so living that those who differ +from us in opinion respecting any thing can find no +fault with us or our creed, influence them to a just +consideration of our views, and perhaps persuade them +unconsciously to adopt our way of thinking. And just +so it is, I think, with prejudice. There is a certain +dignity in enduring it which always evokes praise +from those who indulge it, and also often discovers +to them their error and its injustice. + +Knowing that it would be unpleasant to my junior +to have to ask my permission to do this or that, +and not wishing to subject him to more mortification +than was possible, I gave him all the latitude I +could, telling him to use his own discretion, and +that he need not ask my permission for any thing +unless he chose. + +This simple act, forgotten almost as soon as done, +was in an exceedingly short time known to every cadet +throughout the camp, and I had the indescribable +pleasure, some days after, of knowing that by it I +had been raised many degrees in the estimation of +the corps. Nor did this knowledge remain in camp. +It was spread all over the Point. The act was talked +of and praised by the cadets wherever they went, and +their conversations were repeated to me many times by +different persons. + +When on guard again I was the junior, and of course +subject to the orders of the senior. He came to me +voluntarily, and in almost my own words gave me +exactly the same privileges I had given my junior, +who was a chum of my present senior. In view of the +ostracism and isolation to which I had been subjected, +it was expected that I would be severe, and use my +authority to retaliate. When, however, I did a more +Christian act, did to others as I would have them do +to me, and not as they had sometimes done, I gave cause +for a similar act of good-will, which was in a degree +beyond all expectation accorded me. + +Indeed, while we are all prone to err, we are also +very apt to do to others as they really do to us. If +they treat us well, we treat them well; if badly, we +treat them so also. I believe such to be in accordance +with our nature, and if we do not always do so our +failure is due to some influence apart from our +better reason, if we do not treat them well, or our +first impulse if we do. If now, on the contrary, I +had been severe and unnecessarily imperious because +of my power, I should in all probability have been +treated likewise, and would have fallen and not have +risen in the estimation of the cadets. + +It has often occurred to me that the terms "prejudice +of race, of color," etc., were misnomers, and for this +reason. As soon as I show that I have some good +qualities, do some act of kindness in spite of insult, +my color is forgotten and I am well treated. Again, I +have observed that colored men of character and +intellectual ability have been treated as men should +be by all, whether friends or enemies; that is to say, +no prejudice of color or race has ever been manifested. + +I have been so treated by men I knew to be--to use a +political term--"vile democrats." Unfortunately a bad +temper, precipitation, stubbornness, and like qualities, +all due to non-education, are too often attributes of +colored men and women. These characteristics lower the +race in the estimation of the whites, and produce, I +think, what we call prejudice. In fact I believe +prejudice is due solely to non-education and its effects +in one or perhaps both races. + +Prejudice of--well, any word that will express these +several characteristics would be better, as it would +be nearer the truth. + +There is, of course, a very large class of ignorant +and partially cultured whites whose conceptions can +find no other reason for prejudice than that of color. +I doubt very much whether they are prejudiced on that +account as it is. I rather think they are so because +they know others are for some reason, and so cringing +are they in their weakness that they follow like so +many trained curs. This is the class we in the South +are accustomed to call the "poor white trash," and +speaking of them generally I can neglect them in this +discussion of my treatment, and without material error. + +In camp at night the duties of the officers of the +guard are discharged part of the night by the senior +and the other part by the junior officer. As soon as +it was night--to revert to the subject of this article +--my junior came to me and asked how I wished to +divide the night tour. + +"Just suit yourself. If you have any reason for wanting +a particular part of the night, I shall be pleased to +have you take it." + +He chose the latter half of the night, and asked me to +wake him at a specified time. After this he discovered +a reason for taking the first half, and coming to me +said: + +"If it makes no difference to you I will take the first +half of the night." + +"As you like," was my reply. + +"You 'pile in' then, and I'll wake you in time," was +his reply. + +Observe the familiarity in this rejoinder. + +The guard was turned out and inspected by the officer +of the day at about 12.20 P.M. After the inspection I +retired, and was awakened between 1 and 2 P.M. by my +junior, who then retired for the night. + +The officer in charge turned out and inspected the +guard between 2 and 3 p.m. + +Several of the cadets were reported to me by the +corporals for violating regulations. The reports +were duly recorded in the guard report for the day. +I myself reported but one cadet, and his offence was +"Absence from tattoo roll-call of guard." + +These reports were put in under my signature, though +not at all made by me, as also was another of a very +grave nature. + +It seems--for I didn't know the initial circumstances +of the case--that a citizen visiting at West Point +asked a cadet if he could see a friend of his who was +a member of the corps. The cadet at once sought out +the corporal then on duty, and asked him to go to camp +and turn out this friend. The corporal did not go. The +cadet who requested him to do so reported the fact to +the officer of the day. The latter came at once to me +and directed me, as officer of the guard, to order him +to go and turn out the cadet, and to see that he did it. +I did as ordered. The corporal replied, "I have turned +him out." As the cadet did not make his appearance the +officer of the day himself went into camp, brought him +out to his citizen friend, and then ordered me in +positive terms to report the corporal for gross +disobedience of orders. I communicated to him the +corporal's reply, and received a repetition of his +order. I obeyed it, entering on my guard report the +following: + +"--, disobedience of orders, not turning out a cadet +for citizen when ordered to do so by the officer of +the guard." + +The commandant sent for me, and learned from me all +the circumstances of the case as far as I knew them. +He made similar requirements of the corporal himself. + +Connected with this case is another, which, I think, +should be recorded, to show how some have been disposed +to act and think concerning myself. At the dinner table, +and on the very day this affair above mentioned +occurred, a cadet asked another if he had heard about--, +mentioning the name of the cadet corporal. + +"No, I haven't," he replied; "what's the matter with +him?" + +"Why, the officer of the day ordered him reported for +disobedience of orders, and served him right too." + +"What was it? Whose orders did he disobey?" + +"Some cit wanted to see a cadet and asked C--if he +could do so. C--asked--, who was then on duty, to go +to camp and turn him out. He didn't do it, but went +off and began talking with some ladies. The officer +of the day directed the senior officer of the guard +to order him to go. He did order him to go and-- +replied, "I have turned him out," and didn't go. The +officer of the day then turned him out, and ordered +him to be reported for disobedience of orders, and I +say served him right." + +"I don't see it," was the reply. + +"Don' t see it? Why--'s relief was on post, and it +was his duty to attend to all such calls during his +tour; and besides, I think ordinary politeness would +have been sufficient to make him go." + +"Well, I can sympathize with him anyhow." + +"Sympathize with him! How so?" + +"Because he's on guard to-day." What an excellent +reason! "Because he's on guard to-day," or, in other +words, because I was in command of the guard. + +He then went on to speak of the injustice of the +report, the malice and spirit of retaliation shown +in giving it, and hoped that the report would not +be the cause of any punishment. And all this because +the report was under my signature. + +When the corporal replied to me that he had turned +out the cadet, I considered it a satisfactory answer, +supposing the cadet's non-appearance was due to delay +in arranging his toilet. I had no intention of +reporting him, and did so only in obedience to +positive orders. There surely was nothing malicious +or retaliatory in that; and to condemn me for +discharging the first of all military duties--viz., +obedience of orders--is but to prove the narrowness +of the intellect and the baseness of the character +which are vaunted as so far superior to those of the +"negro cadet," and which condemn him and his actions +for no other reason than that they are his. How could +it be otherwise than that he be isolated and persecuted +when such minds are concerned? + +In his written explanation to the commandant the +corporal admitted the charge of disobedience of +orders on his part, but excused himself by saying +he had delegated another cadet to discharge the +duty for him. This was contrary to regulations, +and still further aggravated his offence. + +For an incident connected with this tour of guard +duty, see chapter on "Incidents, Humor," etc. + +The only case of downright malice that has come to +my knowledge--and I'm sure the only one that ever +occurred--is the following: + +It is a custom, as old as the institution I dare +say, for cadets of the first and second classes to +march in the front rank, while all others take +their places in the rear rank, with the exception +that third-classmen may be in the front rank whenever +it is necessary for the proper formation of the +company to put them there. The need of such a custom +is apparent. Fourth-classmen, or plebes not accustomed +to marching and keeping dressed, are therefore unfit +to be put in the front rank. Third- classmen have to +give way to the upper classmen on account of their +superior rank, and are able to march in the front +rank only when put there or allowed to remain there +by the file-closers. When I was a plebe, and also +during my third-class year, I marched habitually in +the rear rank, as stated with reason elsewhere. But +when I became a second-classman, and had by class +rank a right to the front rank, I took my place there. + +Just about this time I distinctly heard the cadet +captain of my company say to the first sergeant, or +rather ask him why he did not put me in the rear rank. +The first sergeant replied curtly, "Because he's a +second-classman now, and I have no right to do it." +This settled the question for the time, indeed for +quite a while, till the incident above referred to +occurred. + +At a formation of the company for retreat parade in +the early spring of '76, it was necessary to transfer +some one from the front to the rear rank. Now instead +of transferring a third- classman, the sergeant on +the left of the company ordered me, a second classman, +into the rear rank. I readily obeyed, because I felt +sure I'd be put back after the company was formed and +inspected, as had been done by him several times +before. But this was not done. I turned to the sergeant +and reminded him that he had not put me-back where I +belonged. He at once did so without apparent hesitation +or unwillingness. He, however, reported me for speaking +to him about the discharge of his duties. For this +offence, I submitted the following explanation: + +WEST POINT, N. Y., April 11, 1876. + +Offense: Speaking to sergeant about formation of company +at parade. + +Explanation: I would respectfully state that the above +report is a mistake. I said nothing whatever about the +formation of the company. I was put in the rear rank, +and, contrary to custom, left there. As soon as the +command " In place, rest," was given, I turned to the +nearest sergeant and said, "Mr.--, can I take my place +in the front rank?" He leaned to the front and looked +along the line. I then said, "There are men in the front +rank who are junior to me." I added, a moment after, +"There is one just up there," motioning with my head +the direction meant. He made the change. + +Respectfully submitted, + +HENRY O. FLIPPER, + +Cadet Priv., Comp. "D," First Class. + +To Lieut. Colonel--, Commanding Corps of Cadets. + +This explanation was sent by the commandant to the +reporting sergeant. He indorsed it in about the +following words: + +Respectfully returned with the following statement: +It was necessary in forming the company to put Cadet +Flipper in the rear rank, and as I saw no third- +classman in the front rank, I left him there as +stated. I reported him because I did not think he +had any right to speak to me about the discharge of +my duty. + +"------, Cadet Sergeant Company "D." + +A polite question a reflection on the manner of +discharging one's duty! A queer construction indeed! +Observe, he says, he saw no third-classman in the +front rank. It was his duty to be sure about it, and +if there was one there to transfer him to the rear, +and myself to the front rank. In not doing so he +neglected his duty and imposed upon me and the +dignity of my class. I was therefore entirely +justified in calling his attention to his neglect. + +This is a little thing, but it should be borne in mind +that it is nevertheless of the greatest importance. We +know what effect comity or international politeness has +on the relations or intercourse between nations. The +most trifling acts, such as congratulations on a birth +or marriage in the reigning family, are wonderfully +efficacious in keeping up that feeling of amity which +is so necessary to peace and continued friendship between +states. To disregard these little things is considered +unfriendly, and may be the cause of serious consequences. + +There is a like necessity, I think, in our own case. +Any affront to me which is also an affront to my class +and its dignity deserves punishment or satisfaction. To +demand it, then, gives my class a better opinion of me, +and serves to keep that opinion in as good condition as +possible. + +I knew well that there were men in the corps who would +readily seize any possible opportunity to report me, +and I feared at the time that I might be reported for +speaking to the sergeant. I was especially careful to +guard against anger or roughness in my speech, and to +put my demand in the politest form possible. The offence +was removed. I received no demerits, and the sergeant +had the pleasure or displeasure of grieving at the failure +of his report. + +I am sorry to know that I have been charged, by some not +so well acquainted with West Point and life there as they +should be to criticise, with manifesting a lack of dignity +in that I allowed myself to be insulted, imposed upon, and +otherwise ill-treated. There appears to them too great a +difference between the treatment of former colored cadets +and that of myself, and the only way they are pleased to +account for this difference is to say that my good +treatment was due to want of "spunk," and even to fear, +as some have said. It evidently never occurred to them +that my own conduct determined more than all things else +the kind of treatment I would receive. + +Every one not stubbornly prejudiced against West Point, +and therefore not disposed to censure or criticise every +thing said or done there, knows how false the charge is. +And those who make it scarcely deserve my notice. I would +say to them, however, that true dignity, selon nous, +consists in being above the rabble and their insults, and +particularly in remaining there. To stoop to retaliation +is not compatible with true dignity, nor is vindictiveness +manly. Again, the experiment suggested by my accusers has +been abundantly tried, and proved a most ridiculous +failure, while my own led to a glorious success. + +I do not mean to boast or do any thing of the kind, +but I would suggest to all future colored cadets to +base their conduct on the aristonmetpon, the golden +mean. It is by far the safer, and surely the most +Christian course. + +Before closing this chapter I would add with just +pride that I have ever been treated by all other +persons connected with the Academy not officially, +as becomes one gentleman to treat another. I refer +to servants, soldiers, other enlisted men, and +employés. They have done for me whatever I wished, +whenever I wished, and as I wished, and always kindly +and willingly. They have even done things for me to +the exclusion of others. This is important when it is +remembered that the employés, with one exception, are +white. + + "NATIONAL SCHOOLS AND SNOBOCRACY. + +"'Cadet Smith has arrived in Columbia. He did not +"pass."' --Phoenix + +"'Alexander Bouchet, a young man of color, graduates +from Yale College, holding the fifth place in the +largest class graduated from that ancient institution.' +--Exchange. + +"These simple announcements from different papers +tersely sum up the distinction between the military +and civil education of this country. One is exclusive, +snobbish, and narrow, the other is liberal and +democratic. + +"No one who has watched the course of Cadet Smith +and the undemocratic, selfish, and snobbish treatment +he has experienced from the martinets of West Point, +men educated at the expense of the government, supported +by negro taxes, as well as white, who attempt to dictate +who shall receive the benefits of an education in our +national charity schools--no one who has read of his +court-martialings, the degradations and the petty insults +inflicted upon him can help feeling that he returns home +to-day, in spite of the Phoenix's sneers, a young hero +who has 'passed' in grit, pluck, perseverance, and all +the better qualities which go to make up true manhood, +and only has been 'found' because rebel sympathizers at +West Point, the fledglings of caste, and the Secretary +of War, do not intend to allow, if they can prevent it, +a negro to graduate at West Point or Annapolis, if he is +known to be a negro. + +"Any one conversant with educational matters who has +examined the examinations for entrance, or the +curriculum of the naval and military academies, will +not for a moment believe that their requirements, not +as high as those demanded for an ordinary New England +high school, and by no means equal in thoroughness, +quantity, or quality to that demanded for entrance at +Yale, Amherst, Dartmouth, or Brown, are too high or +abstruse to be compassed by negroes, some of whom have +successfully stood all these, and are now pursuing +their studies in the best institutions of the North. + +"No fair-minded man believes that Smith, Napier and +Williams, Conyers and McClellan, have had impartial +treatment. The government itself has been remiss in +not throwing about them the protection of its authority. +Had these colored boys been students at St. Cyr, in +Paris, or Woolwich, in England, under despotic France +and aristocratic England, they would have been treated +with that courtesy and justice of which the average +white American has no idea. The South once ruled West +Point, much to its detriment in loyalty, however much, +by reason of sending boys more than prepared. It +dominated in scholarship. It seeks to recover the lost +ground, and rightly fears to meet on terms of equality +in the camp the sons of fathers to whom it refused +quarter in the war and butchered in cold blood at Fort +Pillow. We cannot expect the sons to forget the lessons +of the sires; but we have a right to demand from the +general government the rooting out of all snobbery at +West Point, whether it is of that kind which sends poor +white boys to Coventry, because they haven't a family +name or wealth, or whether it be that smallest, meanest, +and shallowest of all aristocracies--the one founded +upon color. + +"If the government is not able to root out these +unrepublican seeds in these hot-beds of disloyalty +and snobbery, then let Congress shut up the useless +and expensive appendages and educate its officers at +the colleges of the country, where they may learn +lessons in true republican equality and nationality. +The remedy lies with Congress. A remonstrance at least +should be heard from the colored members of Congress, +who are insulted whenever a colored boy is ill-treated +by the students or the officers of these institutions. +So far from being discouraged by defeats, the unjust +treatment meted out to these young men should redouble +the efforts of others of their class to carry this new +Bastile by storm. It should lead every colored +Congressman to make sure that he either sends a colored +applicant or a white one who has not the seeds of +snobbery and caste in his soul. Smith, after four years +of torture, comes home, is driven home, because, forsooth, +he might attend the ball next year! He is hounded out of +the Academy because he would have to be assigned to a +white regiment! There are some negroes who feel that +their rights in the land of their birth are superior to +the prejudices of the enemies of the Union, and who dare +to speak and write in behalf of these rights, as their +fathers dared to fight for them a very few years ago. + +"Bouchet, under civil rule, enters Yale College the +best prepared student of one hundred and thirty +freshmen, and all through his course is treated like +a gentleman, both by the faculty and the students, men +who know what justice means, and have some adequate +idea of the true theory of education and gentlemanly +conduct. Two freed boys, from North Carolina and South +Carolina, slaves during the war, prepare at the best +Northern academics, and enter, without remonstrance, +Amherst and Dartmouth. What divinity, then, hedges +West Point and Annapolis? What but the old rebel +spirit, which seeks again to control them for use in +future rebellions as it did in the past. The war +developed some unwelcome truths with regard to this +snobbish and disloyal spirit of our national +institutions, and the exploits of some volunteer +officers showed that all manhood, bravery, skill, and +energy were not contained in West Point or Annapolis, +or, if there, did not pertain solely to the petty +cliques that aim to give tone to those academies. It +is not for any officer, the creature of the government +--it is not for any student, the willing ward of that +government--to say who shall enter the national schools +and be the recipients of my bounty. It is the duty of +every member of Congress to see that the government +sanctions no such spirit; and it becomes every loyal +citizen who wishes to avoid the mistakes of the former +war to see to it that no class be excluded, and that +every boy, once admitted, shall have the strictest +justice dealt out to him, a thing which, thus far, +has not been done in the case of the colored cadets. + +"The true remedy lies in the feelings and sympathies +of the officers of these academies, in the ability +and fair investigations of the board of examiners; +not from such gentlemen as at present seem to rule +these institutions. + +"NIGER NIGRORUM." + +This article was taken from some South Carolina paper +during the summer of '74. Its tone is in accordance +with the multitude of articles upon the same subject +which occurred about the same time, and, like them all, +or most of them, is rather farfetched. It is too broad. +Its denunciations cover too much ground. They verge +upon untruth. + +As to Conyers and McClellan at the Naval Academy I +know nothing. Of Napier I know nothing. Of Smith I +prefer to say nothing. Of Williams I do express the +belief that his treatment was impartial and just. +He was regularly and rightly found deficient and +duly dismissed. The article seems to imply that he +should not have been "found" and dismissed simply +because he was a negro. A very shallow reason indeed, +and one "no fair-minded man" will for an instant +entertain. + +Of four years' life at the Academy, I spent the +first with Smith, rooming with him. During the +first half year Williams was also in the corps +with us. The two following years I was alone. The +next and last year of my course I spent with +Whittaker, of South Carolina. I have thus had an +opportunity to become acquainted with Smith's +conduct and that of the cadets toward him. Smith +had trouble under my own eyes on more than one +occasion, and Whittaker* has already received blows +in the face, but I have not had so much as an angry +word to utter. There is a reason for all this, and +had "Niger Nigrorum" been better acquainted with it +he had never made the blunder he has. + +*Johnson Chestnut Whittaker, of Camden, South Carolina, +appointed to fill vacancy created by Smith's dismissal, +after several white candidates so appointed had failed, +entered the Academy in September, 1876. Shortly after +entering he was struck in the face by a young man from +Alabama for sneering at him, as he said, while passing +by him. Whittaker immediately reported the affair to the +cadet officer of the day, by whose efforts this +belligerent Alabama gentleman was brought before a court- +martial, tried, found guilty, and suspended for something +over six months, thus being compelled to join the next +class that entered the Academy. + +I cannot venture more on the treatment of colored +cadets generally without disregarding the fact that +this is purely a narrative of my own treatment and +life at West Point. To go further into that subject +would involve much difference of opinion, hard +feelings in certain quarters, and would cause a +painful and needless controversy. + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + RESUME. + +JULY 1, 1876! Only one year more; and yet how wearily +the days come and go! How anxiously we watch them, how +eagerly we count them, as they glimmer in the distance, +and forget them as they fade! What joyous anticipation, +what confident expectation, what hope animates each +soul, each heart, each being of us! What encouragement +to study this longing, this impatience gives us, as if +it hastened the coming finale! And who felt it more +than I? Who could feel it more than I? To me it was +to be not only an end of study, of discipline, of +obedience to the regulations of the Academy, but even +an end to isolation, to tacit persecution, to melancholy, +to suspense. It was to be the grand realization of my +hopes, the utter, the inevitable defeat of the minions +of pride, prejudice, caste. Nor would such consummation +of hopes affect me only, or those around me. Nay, even +I was but the point of "primitive disturbance," whence +emanates as if from a focus, from a new origin, prayer, +friendly and inimical, to be focused again into +realization on one side and discomfiture on the other. +My friends, my enemies, centre their hopes on me. I +treat them, one with earnest endeavor for realization, +the other with supremest indifference. They are deviated +with varying anxiety on either side, and hence my joy, +my gratitude, when I find, July 1, 1876, that I am a +first-classman. + +A first-classman! The beginning of realization, for had +I not distanced all the colored cadets before me? Indeed +I had, and that with the greater prospect of ultimate +success gave me double cause for rejoicing. + +A first-classman! "There's something prophetic in it," +for behold + +"The country begins to be agitated by the approaching +graduation of young Flipper, the colored West Point +cadet from Atlanta. If he succeeds in getting into the +aristocratic circles of the official army there will +be a commotion for a certainty. Flipper is destined to +be famous." + +Such was the nature of the many editorials which +appeared about this time, summer of '76. The +circumstance was unusual, unexpected, for it had +been predicted that only slaughter awaited me at +that very stage, because Smith had failed just +there, just where I had not. + +"Henry Flipper, of Atlanta, enjoys the distinction +of being the only negro cadet that the government is +cramming with food and knowledge at West Point. He +stands forty-sixth in the third class, which includes +eighty-five cadets. A correspondent of the New York +Times says that, while all concede Flipper's progress, +yet it is not believed that he will be allowed to +graduate. No negro has passed out of the institution +a graduate, and it is believed that Flipper will be +eventually slaughtered in one way or another. The +rule among the regulars is: No darkeys need apply." + +Or this: + +"Smith's dismissal leaves Henry Flipper the sole +cadet of color at West Point. Flipper's pathway +will not be strewn with roses, and we shall be +surprised if the Radicals do not compel him, within +a year, to seek refuge from a sea of troubles in his +father's quiet shoe shop on Decatur Street." + +Isn't it strange how some people strive to drag +everything into politics! A political reason is +assigned to every thing, and "every thing is +politics." + +The many editors who have written on the subject +of the colored cadets have, with few exceptions, +followed the more prejudiced and narrow-minded +critics who have attributed every thing, ill- +treatment, etc., to a natural aversion for the +negro, and to political reasons. They seem to +think it impossible for one to discharge a duty +or to act with justice in any thing where a negro +is concerned. Now this is unchristian as well as +hasty and undeserved. As I have said elsewhere in +my narrative, aside from the authorities being de +facto "officers and gentlemen," and therefore +morally bound to discharge faithfully every duty, +they are under too great a responsibility to permit +them to act as some have asserted for them, to compel +me "to seek refuge from a sea of troubles," or to +cause me to "be eventually slaughtered in one way or +another." Who judges thus is not disposed to judge +fairly, but rather as suits some pet idea of his own, +to keep up prejudice and all its curses. + +It would be more Christian, and therefore more just, +I apprehend, to consider both sides of the question, +the authorities and those under them. Other and better +reasons would be found for some things which have +occurred, and reasons which would not be based on +falsehood, and which would not tend to perpetuate +the conflict of right and prejudice. My own success +will prove, I hope, not only that I had sufficient +ability to graduate--which by the way none have +questioned--but also that the authorities were not +as some have depicted them. This latter proof is +important, first, because it will remove that fear +which has deterred many from seeking, and even from +accepting appointments when offered, to which determent +my isolation is largely due; and second, because it will +add another to the already long list of evidences of +the integrity of our national army. + +To return to the last quotation. Immediately after the +dismissal of Smith, indeed upon the very day of that +event, it was rumored that I intended to resign. I +learned of the rumor from various sources, only one of +which I need mention. + +I was on guard that day, and while off duty an officer +high in rank came to me and invited me to visit him at +his quarters next day. I did so, of course. His first +words, after greeting, etc., were to question the truth +of the rumor, and before hearing my reply, to beg me to +relinquish any such intention. He was kind enough to +give me much excellent advice, which I have followed +most religiously. He assured me that prejudice, if it +did exist among my instructors, would not prevent them +from treating me justly and impartially. I am proud to +testify now to the truth of his assurance. He further +assured me that the officers of the Academy and of the +army, and especially the older ones, desired to have me +graduate, and that they would do all within the legitimate +exercise of their authority to promote that end. This +assurance has been made me by officers of nearly every +grade in the army, from the general down, and has ever +been carried out by them whenever a fit occasion presented +itself. + +Surely this is not discouraging. Surely, too, it is not +causing me "to seek refuge from a sea of troubles." We +need only go back to the article quoted from the Era, +and given in Chapter III., to find an explanation for +this conduct. + +"We know that any young man, whether he be poor or black, +or both, may enter any first-class college in America and +find warm sympathetic friends, both among students and +faculty, if he but prove himself to be possessed of some +good qualities." + +This is the keynote to the whole thing. One must not +expect to do as one pleases, whether that be right or +wrong, or right according to some fanatical theory, +and notwithstanding to be dealt with in a manner +warranted only by the strictest notion of right. +We must force others to treat us as we wish, by giving +them such an example of meekness and of good conduct as +will at least shame them into a like treatment of us. +This is the safer and surer method of revenge. + +"Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, +give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of +fire on his head." + +To proceed: I am undoubtedly a first-classman. None +other has enjoyed that eminence. There are many honors +and responsibilities incident to that position or rank. +First-classmen have authority at times over their fellow- +cadets. How will it be when I come to have that authority? +Will that same coldness and distance be manifested as +hitherto? These are important questions. I shall be brought +necessarily into closer relations with the cadets than +before. How will they accept such relationship? The +greatest proof of their personal convictions will be +manifested in their conduct here. If they evade my +authority, or are stubborn or disobedient, then are their +convictions unfriendly indeed. But if kind, generous, +willing to assist, to advise, to obey, to respect myself +as well as my office, then are they, as I ever believed +them to be, gentlemen in all that recognizes no prejudice, +no caste, nothing inconsistent with manhood. + +There are certain privileges accorded to first-classmen +which the other classes do not enjoy. The privates of +the first class do duty as officers of the guard, as +company officers at company and battalion drills, at +light battery drills, and at other drills and ceremonies. +In all these cases they have command of other cadets. +These cadets are subject to their orders and are liable +to be reported--indeed such is required--for disobedience, +stubbornness, or for any thing prejudicial to good order +and good discipline. + +In this fact is a reason--the only one, I think, which +will in any manner account for the unpardonable reserve +of many of the cadets. To be subject to me, to my orders, +was to them an unbearable torture. As they looked forward +to the time when I should exercise command over them, they +could not help feeling the mortification which would be +upon them. + +I must modify my statement. They may be prejudiced, and +yet gentlemen, and if gentlemen they will not evade +authority even though vested in me. + +We go into camp at West Point on the 17th of June, '76 +for ten days. During all that time I enjoy all the +privileges of first-classmen. Nothing is done to make it +unpleasant or in any way to discourage or dishearten me. +We go to Philadelphia. We visit the Centennial, and there +not only is the same kindness shown me, but I find a +number of cadets accost me whenever we meet, on the +avenues and streets, on the grounds and in the city. +They ask questions, converse, answer questions. This +occurred several times at the Southern Restaurant, as +well as elsewhere. After the parade on the 4th of July, +every kindness was shown me. Those cadets near me bought +lemons, lemonade, etc, and shared with me, and when, on +another occasion, I was the purchaser, they freely partook +of my "good cheer." What conclusion shall I draw from this? +That they are unfriendly or prejudiced? I fain would drop +my pen and burn my manuscript if for even an instant I +thought it possible. And yet how shall I explain away this +bit of braggadocio in the words italicized in this article +from the Philadelphia Times? + +"The Color Line.--One of the first-classmen is Mr. +Flipper, of Georgia, a young colored man. 'We don't +have any thing to do with him off duty,' said one of +the cadets yesterday. 'We don't even speak to him. Of +course we have to eat with him, and drill with him, +and go on guard with him, but that ends it. Outside +of duty, we don't know him.' 'Is he intelligent?' 'Yes; +he stands high in his class, and I see no reason to +doubt that he will graduate next June. He has the negro +features strongly developed, but in color he is rather +light.'" + +Easily enough, I think. In the first place the +statement is too broad, if made by a cadet, which +I very much doubt. There are some of that "we" who +do know me outside of duty. And if a cadet made the +statement he must have been a plebe, one unacquainted +with my status in the corps, or one who, strenuously +avoiding me himself, supposed all others likewise did +so. The cadet was not a first-classman. There is a +want of information in his last answer which could not +have been shown by a first-classman. + +Again, he says we "go on guard with him." Now that +is untrue, as I understand it. The word "with" would +imply that we were on guard in the same capacity, viz., +as privates. But first-classmen do no guard duty in +that capacity, and hence not being himself a first- +classman he could not have been on guard"with" me. If +he had said "under him," his statement would have been +nearer the truth. + +After a stay of ten days in Philadelphia, we return +to West Point, and still the same respect is shown +me. There is but little more of open recognition, if +any, than before, and yet that I am respected is shown +in many ways. See, for example, the latter part of +chapter on "Treatment." + +Again, during my first year I many times overheard +myself spoken of as "the nigger," "the moke," or "the +thing." Now openly, and when my presence was not known, +I always hear myself mentioned as Mr. Flipper. There are +a few who use both forms of address as best suits their +convenience or inclination at the time. But why is it? +Why not "nigger," "moke," or "thing" as formerly? Is +there, can there be any other reason than that they +respect me more now than then? I am most unwilling to +believe there could be. + +We begin our regular routine of duties, etc. We have +practical military engineering, ordnance, artillery, +practical astronomy in field and permanent observatories, +telegraphy, and guard. We are detailed for these duties. +Not the least distinction is made. Not the slightest +partiality is shown. Always the same regard for my +feelings, the same respect for me! See the case of +gabion in the chapter on "Treatment." + +At length, in my proper order, I am detailed for officer +of the guard. True, the cadets expressed some wonderment, +but why? Simply, and reasonably enough too, because I +was the first person of color that had ever commanded a +guard at the Military Academy of the United States. It is +but a natural curiosity. And how am I treated? Is my +authority recognized? Indeed it is. My sergeant not only +volunteered to make out the guard report for me, but also +offered any assistance I might want, aside from the +discharge of his own duty as sergeant of the guard. +Again, a number of plebes were confined in the guard +tents for grossness and carelessness. I took their +names, the times of their imprisonment, and obtained +permission to release them. I was thanked for my +trouble. Again, a cadet's father wishes to see him. +He is in arrest. I get permission for him to visit +his father at the guard tents. I go to his tent +and tell him, and start back to my post of duty. +He calls me back and thanks me. Must I call that +natural aversion for the negro, or even prejudice? +Perhaps it is, but I cannot so comprehend it. It +may have that construction, but as long as the other +is possible it is generous to accept it. And again, +I am ordered to report a cadet. I do it. I am +stigmatized, of course, by some of the low ones (see +that case under "Treatment"); but my conduct, both +in obeying the order and subsequently, is approved +by the better portion of the corps. The commandant +said to me: "Your duty was a plain one, and you +discharged it properly. You were entirely right in +reporting Mr.--." What is the conduct of this cadet +himself afterwards? If different at all from what it +was before, it is, in my presence at least, more +cordial, more friendly, more kind. Still there is no +ill-treatment, assuming of course that my own conduct +is proper, and not obtrusive or overbearing. And so +in a multitude of ways this fact is proved. I have +noticed many things, little things perhaps they were, +but still proofs, in the conduct of all the cadets +which remove all doubt from my mind. And yet with all +my observation and careful study of those around me, +I have many times been unable to decide what was the +feeling of the cadets toward me. Some have been one +thing everywhere and at all times, not unkind or +ungenerous, nor even unwilling to hear me and be with +me, or near me, or on duty with me, or alone with me. +Some again, while not avoiding me in the presence of +others have nevertheless manifested their uneasy dislike +of my proximity. When alone with me they are kind, and +all I could wish them to be. Others have not only +strenuously avoided me when with their companions, but +have even at times shown a low disposition, a desire to +wound my feelings or to chill me with their coldness. +But alone, behold they know how to mimic gentlemen. The +kind of treatment which I was to receive, and have +received at the hands of the cadets, has been a matter +of little moment to me. True, it has at times been +galling, but its severest effects have been but temporary +and have caused me no considerable trouble or +inconvenience. I have rigidly overlooked it all. + +The officers, on the contrary, as officers and gentlemen, +have in a manner been bound to accord me precisely the +Same privileges and advantages, etc., which they granted +the other cadets, and they have ever done so. + +I must confess my expectations in this last have been +most positively unfulfilled, and I am glad of it. The +various reports, rumors, and gossips have thus been +proved not only false but malicious, and that proof +is of considerable consequence. That they have not +been unkind and disposed to ill-treat me may be +readily inferred from the number of demerits I have +received, and the nature of the offences for which +those demerits were given. They have never taken it +upon themselves to watch me and report me for trifling +offences with a view of giving me a bad record in +conduct, and thereby securing my dismissal, for one +hundred demerits in six months means dismissal. They +have ever acted impartially, and, ignoring my color, +have accorded me all immunities and privileges enjoyed +by other cadets, whether they were allowed by regulations +or were mere acts of personal favor. Of the majority of +the cadets I can speak likewise, for they too have power +to spy out and report. + +As to treatment in the section-room, where there were +many opportunities to do me injustice by giving me low +marks for all recitations, good or bad, for instance, +they have scrupulously maintained their honor, and have +treated me there with exact justice and impartiality. +This is not a matter of opinion. I can give direct and +positive proof of its truthfulness. In the chapter on +"Studies," in the record of marks that proof can be +found, my marks per recitation, and the average are +good. By rank in section is meant the order of my mark-- +that is, whether best, next, the next, or lowest. Are +these marks not good? In law, for example, once I +received the eighth out of nine marks, then the fifth, +the first, second, third, first, first, and so on. +Surely there was nothing in them to show I was marked +low either purposely or otherwise. + +My marks in the section for each week, month, and the +number of men in each section, afford the means of +comparison between the other members of the section +and myself. And my marks are not only evidence of the +possession on my part of some "good faculties," but +also of the honor of my instructors and fellow-members +of section. + +What manner of treatment the cadets chose to manifest +toward me was then of course of no account. But what +is of importance, and great importance too, is how +they will treat me in the army, when we have all +assumed the responsibilities of manhood, coupled with +those of a public servant, an army officer. Of course +the question cannot now be answered. I feel nevertheless +assured that the older officers at least will not +stoop to prejudice or caste, but will accord me proper +treatment and respect. Men of responsibility are +concerned, and it is not presumable that they will +disregard the requirements of their professions +so far as to ill-treat even myself. There is none +of the recklessness of the student in their actions, +and they cannot but recognize me as having a just +claim upon their good-will and honor. + +The year wears away--the last year it is too--and I +find myself near graduation, with every prospect of +success. And from the beginning to the close my life +has been one not of trouble, persecution, or punishment, +but one of isolation only. True, to an unaccustomed +nature such a life must have had many anxieties and +trials and displeasures, and, although it was so with +me, I have nothing more than that of which to complain. +And if such a life has had its unpleasant features, it +has also had its pleasant ones, of which not the least, +I think, was the constantly growing prospect of ultimate +triumph. Again, those who have watched my course and +have seen in its success the falsity of certain reports, +can not have been otherwise than overjoyed at it, at the, +though tardy, vindication of truth. I refer especially +to certain erroneous ideas which are or were extant +concerning the treatment of colored cadets, in which it +is claimed that color decides their fate. (See chapter +on "Treatment.") + +I hope my success has proved that not color of face, +but color of character alone can decide such a question. +It is character and nothing else that will merit a harsh +treatment from gentlemen, and of course it must be a bad +character. If a man is a man, un homme comme il faut, he +need fear no ill-treatment from others of like calibre. +Gentlemen avoid persons not gentlemen. Resentment is not +a characteristic of gentlemen. A gentlemanly nature must +shrink from it. There may be in it a certain amount of +what is vulgarly termed pluck, and perhaps courage. But +what of that? Everybody more or less admires pluck. +Everybody worships courage, if it be of a high order, but +who allows that pluck or even courage is an excuse for +passion or its consequences? The whites may admire pluck +in the negro, as in other races, but they will never +admit unwarrantable obtrusiveness, or rudeness, or +grossness, or any other ungentlemanly trait, and no more +in the negro than in others. This is quite just. A negro +would not allow it even in another. + +I did not intend to discuss social equality here, but +as it is not entirely foreign to my subject I may be +pardoned a word or so upon it. + +Social equality, as I comprehend it, must be the natural, +and perhaps gradual, outgrowth of a similarity of instincts +and qualities in those between whom it exists. That is to +say, there can be no social equality between persons who +have nothing in common. A civilized being would not accept +a savage as his equal, his socius , his friend. It would +be repugnant to nature. A savage is a man, the image of +his Maker as much so as any being. He has all the same +rights of equality which any other has, but they are +political rights only. He who buried his one talent to +preserve it was not deemed worthy to associate with him +who increased his five to ten. So also in our particular +case. There are different orders or classes of men in +every civilized community. The classes are politically +equal, equal in that they are free men and citizens and +have all the rights belonging to such station. Among the +several classes there can be no social equality, for they +have nothing socially in common, although the members of +each class in itself may have. + +Now in these recent years there has been a great clamor +for rights. The clamor has reached West Point, and, if +no bad results have come from it materially, West Point +has nevertheless received a bad reputation, and I think +an undeserved one, as respects her treatment of colored +cadets. + +A right must depend on the capacity and end or aim of +the man. This capacity and end may, and ought to be, +moral, and not political only. Equal capacities and a +like end must give equal rights, and unequal capacities +and unlike ends unequal rights, morally, of course, for +the political end of all men is the same. And therefore, +since a proper society is a moral institution where a +certain uniformity of views, aims, purposes, properties, +etc., is the object, there must be also a uniformity or +equality of rights, for otherwise there would be no +society, no social equality. + +This, I apprehend, is precisely the state of affairs +in our own country. Among those who, claiming social +equality, claim it as a right, there exists the +greatest possible diversity of creeds, instincts, and +of moral and mental conditions, in which they are +widely different from those with whom they claim this +equality. They can therefore have no rights socially +in common; or, in other words, the social equality +they claim is not a right, and ought not to and cannot +exist under present circumstances, and any law that +overreaches the moral reason to the contrary must be +admitted as unjust if not impolitic. + +But it is color, they say, color only, which determines +how the negro must be treated. Color is his misfortune, +and his treatment must be his misfortune also. Mistaken +idea! and one of which we should speedily rid ourselves. +It may be color in some cases, but in the great majority +of instances it is mental and moral condition. Little or +no education, little moral refinement, and all their +repulsive consequences will never be accepted as equals +of education, intellectual or moral. Color is absolutely +nothing in the consideration of the question, unless we +mean by it not color of skin, but color of character, and +I fancy we can find considerable color there. + +It has been said that my success at West Point would be +a grand victory in the way of equal rights, meaning, I +apprehend, social rights, social equality, inasmuch as +all have, under existing laws, equal political rights. +Doubtless there is much truth in the idea. If, however, +we consider the two races generally, we shall see there +is no such right, no such social right, for the very +basis of such a right, viz., a similarity of tastes, +instincts, and of mental and moral conditions, is +wanting. The mental similarity especially is wanting, +and as that shapes and refines the moral one, that too +is wanting. + +To illustrate by myself, without any pretensions to +selfishness. I have this right to social equality, +for I and those to whom I claim to be equal are similarly +educated. We have much in common, and this fact alone +creates my right to social and equal recognition. + +"But the young gentlemen who boast of holding only +official intercourse with their comrade, should +remember that no one of them stands before the +country in any different light from him. . . . +Amalgamated by the uniform course of studies and +the similarity of discipline, the separating fragments +at the end of the student life carry similar qualities +into the life before them, and step with almost +remarkable social equality into the world where they +must find their level."--Philadelphia North American, +July 7th, 1876. + +If we apply this to the people as a unit, the similarity +no longer exists. The right, therefore, also ceases to +exist. + +The step claimed to have been made by my success is one +due to education, and not to my position or education at +West Point, rather than at some other place; so that it +follows if there be education, if the mental and moral +condition of the claimants to that right be a proper one, +there will necessarily be social equality, and under other +circumstances there can be no such equality. + +"Remember, dear friend," says a correspondent, "that +you carry an unusual responsibility. The nation is +interested in what you do. If you win your diploma, +your enemies lose and your friends gain one very +important point in the great argument for equal +rights. When you shall have demonstrated that you +have equal powers, then equal rights will come in +due time. The work which you have chosen, and from +which you cannot now flinch without dishonor, proves +far more important than either you or me (Faculty at +A. U.) at first conceived. Like all great things its +achievement will involve much of trial and hardship." + +Alas! how true! What a trial it is to be socially +ostracized, to live in the very midst of life and +yet be lonely, to pass day after day without saying +perhaps a single word other than those used in the +section-room during a recitation. How hard it is to +live month after month without even speaking to woman, +without feeling or knowing the refining influence of +her presence! What a miserable existence! + + Oh! 'tis hard, this lonely living, to be + In the midst of life so solitary, + To sit all the long, long day through and gaze + In the dimness of gloom, all but amazed + At the emptiness of life, and wonder + What keeps sorrow and death asunder. + 'Tis the forced seclusion most galls the mind, + And sours all other joy which it may find. + 'Tis the sneer, tho' half hid, is bitter still, + And wakes dormant anger to passion's will. + But oh! 'tis harder yet to bear them all + Unangered and unheedful of the thrall, + To list the jeer, the snarl, and epithet + All too base for knaves, and e'en still forget + Such words were spoken, too manly to let + Such baseness move a nobler intellect. + But not the words nor even the dreader disdain + Move me to anger or resenting pain. + 'Tis the thought, the thought most disturbs my mind, + That I'm ostracized for no fault of mine, + 'Tis that ever-recurring thought awakes + Mine anger-- + +Such a life was mine, not indeed for four years, but +for the earlier part of my stay at the Academy. + +But to return to our subject. There are two questions +involved in my case. One of them is, Can a negro +graduate at West Point, or will one ever graduate +there? And the second, If one never graduate there, +will it be because of his color or prejudice? + +My own success answers most conclusively the first +question, and changes the nature of the other. Was +it, then, color or actual deficiency that caused the +dismissal of all former colored cadets? I shall not +venture to reply more than to say my opinion is +deducible from what I have said elsewhere in my +narrative. + +However, my correspondent agrees with me that color +is of no consequence in considering the question of +equality socially. My friends, he says, gain an +important point in the argument for equal rights. +It will be in this wise, viz., that want of education, +want of the proof of equality of intellect, is the +obstacle, and not color. And the only way to get this +proof is to get education, and not by "war of races." +Equal rights must be a consequence of this proof, and +not something existing before it. Equal rights will +come in due time, civil rights bill, war of races, or +any thing of that kind to the contrary not-withstanding. + +And moreover, I don't want equal rights, but identical +rights. The whites and blacks may have equal rights, +and yet be entirely independent, or estranged from +each other. The two races cannot live in the same +country, under the same laws as they now do, and yet +be absolutely independent of each other. There must, +there should, and there will be a mutual dependence, +and any thing that tends to create independence, while +it is thus so manifestly impossible, can engender +strife alone between them. On the other hand, whatever +brings them into closer relationship, whatever increases +their knowledge and appreciation of fellowship and its +positive importance, must necessarily tend to remove +all prejudices, and all ill-feelings, and bring the two +races, and indeed the world, nearer that degree of +perfection to which all things show us it is approaching. +Therefore I want identical rights, for equal rights may +not be sufficient. + +"It is for you, Henry, more than any one I know of, to +demonstrate to the world around us, in this part of it +at least (the North), the equality of intellect in the +races. You win by your uprightness and intelligence, +and it cannot be otherwise than that you will gain +respect and confidence." + +Thus a lady correspondent (Miss M. E. H., Durham Centre, +Ct.) encourages, thus she keeps up the desire to graduate, +to demonstrate to the world "the equality of intellect in +the races," that not color but the want of this proof in +this semi-barbarous people is the obstacle to their being +recognized as social equals. A tremendous task! Not so +much to prove such an equality--for that had already been +abundantly demonstrated--but rather to show the absurdity +and impracticability of prejudice on account of color; or, +in other words, that there is no such prejudice. It is +prejudice on account of non-refinement and non-education. + +As to how far and how well I have discharged that duty, +my readers, and all others who may be in any manner +interested in me, must judge from my narrative and my +career at West Point. Assuring all that my endeavor has +been to act as most becomes a gentleman, and with +Christian forbearance to disregard all unfriendliness +or prejudice, I leave this subject, this general résumé +of my treatment at the hands of the cadets, and my own +conduct, with the desire that it be criticised impartially +if deemed worthy of criticism at all. + +"Reporter.--Have you any more colored cadets? + +"Captain H--.--Only one--Henry O. Flipper, of Georgia. +He is a well-built lad, a mulatto, and is bright, +intelligent, and studious. + +"Reporter.--Do the cadets dislike him as much as they +did Smith? + +"Captain H--.--No, sir; I am told that he is more popular. +I have heard of no doubt but that he will get through all +right."--New York Herald, July, 1874. + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + PLEASURES AND PRIVILEGES. + +THE privileges allowed cadets during an encampment +are different generally for the different classes. +These privileges are commonly designated by the rank +of the class, such, for instance, as "first-class +privileges," "third-class privileges," etc. Privileges +which are common receive their designation from some +characteristic in their nature or purpose. Thus we +have "Saturday afternoon privileges," and "Old Guard +privileges." + +The cadets are encamped and are not supposed to leave +their camp save by permission. This permission is +granted by existing orders, or if for any reason it be +temporarily denied it can be obtained by "permit" for +some specified time. Such permission or privilege +obtained by "permit" for a particular class is known +as "class privileges," and can be enjoyed only by the +class that submits and gets the permit. + +"First-class privileges" permit all members of the +first class to leave camp at any time between troop +and retreat, except when on duty, and to take advantage +of the usual "Saturday afternoon privileges," which are +allowed all classes and all cadets. These privileges, +however, cannot be enjoyed on the Sabbath by any except +the first-class officers, without special permission. + +The usual form of a permit is as follows: + +WEST POINT, N. Y., November 6, 1876. + +Cadet A-- B-- C-- has permission to walk on public +lands between the hours of 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. + +-- -- --, +Lieut.--Colonel First Art'y Comd'g Corps of Cadets. + +-- -- --, +Commanding Company "A." + +By "Saturday afternoon privileges" is meant the right +or privilege to walk on all public lands within cadet +limits on Saturday afternoon. This includes also the +privilege of visiting the ruins of old Fort Putnam, +which is not on limits. These privileges are allowed +throughout the year. + +The second class being absent on furlough during the +encampment, of course have no privileges. Should any +member of the class be present during the encampment, +he enjoys "first-class privileges," unless they are +expressly denied him. + +"Third-class privileges" do not differ from "first- +class privileges," except in that they cannot be taken +advantage of on the Sabbath by any member of the class. + +The fourth class as a class have no privileges. + +"Old Guard privileges" are certain privileges by which +all members of the "Old Guard" are exempted from all +duty on the day they march off guard until one o'clock, +and are permitted to enjoy privileges similar to those +of Saturday afternoon during the same time. They also +have the privilege of bathing at that time. + +The baths are designated as "first," "second," and +"third." The officers and non-commissioned officers +have the first baths, and the privates the others. + +Cadets who march off guard on Sunday are restricted in +the enjoyment of their privileges to exemption from duty +on the Sabbath only. They may take advantage of the other +privileges on the following Monday during the usual time, +but are not excused from any duty. All members of the +"Old Guard," to whatever class they may belong, are +entitled to "Old Guard privileges." + +Besides these there are other privileges which are enjoyed +by comparatively few. Such are "Hop managers' privileges." +"Hop managers" are persons elected by their classmates from +the first and third classes for the management of the hops +of the summer. To enable them to discharge the duties of +their office, they are permitted to leave camp, whenever +necessary, by reporting their departure and return. + +Under pleasures, or rather sources of pleasure, may be +enumerated hops, Germans, band practice, and those +incident to other privileges, such as "spooneying," or +"spooning." The hops are the chief source of enjoyment, +and take place on Mondays and Fridays, sometimes also on +Wednesdays, at the discretion of the Superintendent. + +Germans are usually given on Saturday afternoons, and a +special permit is necessary for every one. These permits +are usually granted, unless there be some duty or other +cause to prevent. + +Two evenings of every week are devoted to band practice, +Tuesday evening for practice in camp, and Thursday evening +for practice in front of the Superintendent's quarters. Of +course these entertainments, if I may so term them, have +the effect of bringing together the young ladies and cadets +usually denied the privilege of leaving camp during the +evening. It is quite reasonable to assume that they enjoy +themselves. On these evenings "class privileges" permit the +first- and third-classmen to be absent from camp till the +practice is over. Sometimes a special permit is necessary. +It might be well to say here, ere I forget it, that +Wednesday evening is devoted to prayer, prayer-meeting +being held in the Dialectic Hall. All cadets are allowed to +attend by reporting their departure and return. The meeting +is under the sole management of the cadets, although they +are by no means the sole participants. Other privileges, +more or less limited, such as the holding of class meetings +for whatever purpose, must be obtained by special permit in +each case. + + We have not much longer here to stay, + Only a month or two, + Then we'll bid farewell to cadet gray, + And don the army blue. + Army-blue, army blue, we'll don the army blue, + We'll bid farewell to cadet gray and don the army blue. + + To the ladies who come up in June, + We'll bid a fond adieu, + And hoping they will be married soon, + We'll don the army blue. + Army blue, army blue, we'll don the army blue, + We'll bid farewell to cadet gray and don the army blue. + +Addresses to the Graduating Class of the U. S. Military +Academy, West Point, N. Y., June 14th, 1877. By +PROFESSOR C. O. THOMPSON, MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD S. +HANCOCK, HONORABLE GEORGE W. MCCRARY, Secretary of War, +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, Superintendent U. S. +Military Academy. + + ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR C. O. THOMPSON, + President of the Board of Visitors. + +YOUNG GENTLEMEN OF THE GRADUATING CLASS: The courtesy +of your admirable Superintendent forbids a possible +breach in an ancient custom, and lays upon me, as +the representative, for the moment, of the Board of +Visitors, the pleasant duty of tendering to you their +congratulations on the close of your academic career, +and your auspicious future. + +The people of this country have a heavy stake in the +prosperity of this institution. They recognize it as +the very fountain of their security in war, and the +origin of some of their best methods of education. And +upon education in colleges and common schools the +pillars of the State assuredly rest. + +To participants and to bystanders, this ceremony of +graduation is as interesting and as exciting as if +this were the first, instead of the seventy-fifth +occurrence. Every such occasion is clothed with the +splendor of perpetual youth. The secret of your future +success lies in the impossibility of your entering into +the experience of your predecessors. Every man's life +begins with the rising sun. The world would soon become +a frozen waste but for the inextinguishable ardor of +youth, which believes success still to be possible +where every attempt has failed. + +That courage which avoids rashness by the restraints +of knowledge, and dishonor by the fear of God, is the +best hope of the world. + +History is not life, but its reflection. + +The great armies of modern times which have won +immortal victories have been composed of young men +who have turned into historic acts the strategy of +experienced commanders. + +To bystanders, for the same and other reasons, the +occasion is profoundly interesting. + +For educated men who are true to honor and to +righteousness, the world anxiously waits; but +an educated man who is false, the world has good +reason to dread. The best thing that can be said +of this Academy, with its long roll of heroes in +war and in peace, is, that every year the conviction +increases among the people of the United States, that +its graduates are men who will maintain, at all +hazards, the simple virtues of a robust manhood--like +Chaucer's young Knight, courteous, lowly, and +serviceable. + +I welcome you, therefore, to the hardships and perils +of a soldier's life in a time of peace. The noise and +the necessities of war drive men in upon themselves +and keep their faculties awake and alert; but the +seductive influence of peace, when a soldier must +spend his time in preparation for the duties of his +profession rather than in their practice, this is +indeed a peril to which the horrors of warfare are +subordinate. It is so much easier for men to fight +other men than themselves. So much easier to help +govern other men than to wholly govern themselves. + +But, young gentlemen, as we have listened to your +examination, shared in your festivities, and enjoyed +personal acquaintance with you, we strongly hope for +you every thing lovely, honorable, and of good report. + +You who have chosen the sword, may be helped in some +trying hour of your coming lives by recalling the +lesson which is concealed in a legend of English +history. It is the old lesson of the advantage of +knowledge over its more showy counterfeits, and +guards against one of the perils of our American +society. + +A man losing his way on a hillside, strayed into a +chamber full of enchanted knights, each lying +motionless, in complete armor, with his horse +standing motionless beside him. On a rock near the +entrance lay a sword and a horn, and the intruder +was told that he must choose between these, if he +would lead the army. He chose the horn, and blew a +loud blast; whereupon the knights and their horses +vanished in a whirlwind, and their visitor was blown +back into common air, these words sounding after him +upon the wind: + + "Cursed be the coward, that ever he was born, + Who did not draw the sword before he blew the horn." + +Young gentlemen, the Board of Visitors can have no +better wish for our common country than that your +future will fulfil the promise of the present. + + ADDRESS BY MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK. + +To me has been assigned the pleasant duty of welcoming +into the service as commissioned officers, the Graduates +of the Military Academy of to-day. + +Although much time has elapsed since my graduation here, +and by contact with the rugged cares of life some of the +sharp edges of recollection may have become. dulled, yet +I have not lived long enough to have forgotten the joy +of that bright period. You only experience it to-day as +I have felt it before you. + +I have had some experience of life since, and it might +be worth something to you were I to relate it. But youth +is self-confident and impatient, and you may at present +doubt the wisdom of listening to sermons which you can +learn at a later day. + +You each feel that you have the world in a sling, and +that it would be wearisome to listen to the croakings +of the past, and especially from those into whose shoes +you soon expect to step. That is the rule of life. The +child growing into manhood, believes that its judgment +is better than the knowledge of its parents; and yet if +that experience was duly considered, and its unselfish +purposes believed in, many shoals would be avoided, +otherwise certain to be met with in the journey of life, +by the inexperienced but confident navigator. + +You should not forget that there were as bright +intellects, and men who possessed equal elements +of greatness in past generations as in this, and +that deeds have been performed in earlier times +which, at best, the men of the present day can +only hope to rival. Why then should we not profit +by the experiences of the past; and as our lives +are shot at best, instead of following the ruts +of our predecessors, start on the road of life +where they left off, and not continue to repeat +their failures? I cannot say why, unless it proceeds +from the natural buoyancy of youth, self-confidence +in its ability to overcome all obstacles, and to +carve out futures more dazzling than any successes +of the past. In this there is a problem for you to +solve. Yet I may do well by acknowledging to you, +to-day, that after an active military life of no mean +duration, soldiers of my length of service feel +convinced that they might have learned wisdom by +listening to the experience of those who preceded +them. Had they been prepared to assume that experience +as a fact at starting, and made departures from it, +instead of disregarding it, in the idea that there was +nothing worthy of note to be learned from a study of +the past, it would be safe to assume that they would +have made greater advances in their day. + +Were I to give you my views in extenso, applicable to +the occasion, I could only repeat what has been well +and vigorously said here by distinguished persons in +the past, in your hearing, on occasions of the graduation +of older classes than your own. + +You are impatient, doubtless, as I was in your time, +and if you have done as my class did before you, you +have already thrown your books away, and only await +the moment of the conclusion of these ceremonies to +don the garb of the officer or the civilian. The shell +of the cadet is too contracted to contain your impatient +spirits. Nevertheless, if you will listen but for a few +minutes to the relation of an old soldier, I will repeat +of the lessons of experience a few of those most worthy +of your consideration. + +There is but one comrade of my class remaining in +active service to-day, and I think I might as truly +have said the same ten years ago. + +In the next thirty years, those of you who live will +see that your numbers have become sensibly reduced, +if not in similar proportion. + +Some will have studied, have kept up with the times, +been ready for service at the hour of their country's +call, been prepared to accomplish the purposes for +which their education was given to them. + +Some will have sought the active life of the frontiers, +and been also ready to perform their part in the hour +of danger. + +A few will have seized the passing honors. + +It may have depended much upon opportunity among +those who were well equipped for the occasion, who +gained the greatest distinction; but it cannot for +a moment be doubted that the roll of honor in the +future of this class will never again stand as it +stands to-day. + +It will be a struggle of life to determine who among +you will keep their standing in the contest for future +honors and distinctions. + +You who have been the better students here, and +possessed the greater natural qualities, have a +start in the race; but industry, study, perseverance, +and other qualities will continue to be important +factors in the future, as they have been in the past. + +Through continuous mental, moral, and physical +development, with progress in the direction of +your profession and devotion to duty, lies the +road to military glory; and it may readily come +to pass that "the race will not be to the swift, +nor the battle to the strong," as you regard +your classmates to-day. + +It must be admitted, however, that great leaders +are born. + +A rare combination of natural qualities causes +men to develop greatness. Education and training +make them greater; nevertheless, men with fewer +natural qualities often succeed, with education +and training, when those more richly endowed fail +to reach the higher places, and you have doubtless +witnessed that in your experience here. + +A man in a great place in modern times is not +respectable without education. That man must be +a God to command modern armies successfully +without it; yet war is a great school; men learn +quickly by experience, and in long wars there +will be found men of natural abilities who will +appear at the front. It will be found, however, +in the long run, that the man who has prepared +himself to make the best use of his natural +talents will win in the race, if he has the +opportunity, while others of equal or greater +natural parts may fail from lack of that mental +and moral training necessary to win the respect +of those they command. + +Towards the close of our civil war, men came to +the front rank who entered the service as privates. +They were men of strong natural qualities. How far +the best of them would have proceeded had the war +continued, cannot be told; but it may be safely +assumed that if they possessed the moral qualities +and the education necessary to command the respect +of the armies with which they were associated, they +would have won the highest honors; and yet our war +lasted but four years. + +Some of them had the moral qualities, some the +education; and I have known of those men who thus +came forward, some who would certainly have reached +the highest places in a long race, had they had the +training given to you. + +War gives numerous opportunities for distinction, and +especially to those who in peace have demonstrated +that they would be available in war; and soldiers can +win distinction in both peace and war if they will but +seize their opportunities. + +"There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at +the flood, leads on to victory." + +Great responsibilities in time of danger are not given +to the ignorant, the slothful, or to those who have +impaired their powers of mind or body by the indulgences +of life. In times of danger favorites are discarded. When +work is to be done, deeds to be performed, men of action +have their opportunities and fail not to seize them. It +is the interest of commanders that such men should be +selected for service, when success or failure may follow, +according to the wisdom of the selection, as the instrument +may be--sharp or dull, good or bad. + +I would say to you, lead active, temperate, studious +lives, develop your physical qualities as well as mental. +Regard the education acquired here as but rudimentary; +pursue your studies in the line of your profession and +as well in such other branches of science or language +as may best accord with your inclinations. It will make +you greater in your profession and cause you to be +independent of it. The latter is but prudent in these +practical days. + +Study to lead honorable, useful, and respected lives. +Even if no opportunity presents for martial glory you +will not fail to find your reward. + +Avoid the rocks of dissipation, of gambling, of debt; +lead those manly lives which will always find you in +health in mind and body, free from entanglements of +whatever kind, and you may be assured you will find +your opportunities for great services, when otherwise +you would have been overlooked or passed by. Such men are +known and appreciated in every army and out of it. + +Knowledge derived from books may bring great distinction +outside of the field of war, as an expert in the lessons +of the military profession and in others, but the lessons +of hard service are salutary and necessary to give the +soldier a practical understanding of the world and its +ways as he will encounter them in war. I would advise +you to go when young to the plains--to the wilderness-- +seek active service there, put off the days of indulgence +and of ease. Those should follow years. + +Take with you to the frontier your dog, your rod and +gun; the pursuit of a life in the open air with such +adjuncts will go far to give you health and the vigor +to meet the demands to be made upon you in trying +campaigns, and to enable you to establish the physical +condition necessary to maintain a life of vigor such +as a soldier requires. You will by these means, too, +avoid many of the temptations incident to an idle life +--all calculated to win you from your usefulness in the +future, and by no means leave your books behind you. + +When I graduated, General Scott, thinking possibly to +do me a service, asked me to what regiment I desired +to be assigned; I replied, to the regiment stationed +at the most western post in the United States. I was +sent to the Indian Territory of to-day. We had not +then acquired California or New Mexico, and our western +boundary north of Texas was the one hundredth degree of +longitude. + +I know that that early frontier service and the +opportunities for healthy and vigorous out-door +exercise were of great advantage to me in many +ways, and would have been more so had I followed +the advice in reference to study that I have given +to you. + +There are many "extreme western" posts to-day. It +is difficult to say which is the most western in +the sense of that day, when the Indian frontiers +did not as now, lie in the circumference of an inner +circle; but the Yellowstone will serve your purpose +well. And if any of you wish to seek that service your +taste will not be difficult to gratify, for the hardest +lessons will be certain to be avoided by many. There +will be those who in the days of youth will seek the +softer places. They may have their appropriate duties +there and do their parts well, but it may be considered +a safe maxim that the indulgence of the present will +have to be paid for in the future A man may not acquire +greatness by pursuing religiously the course I have +indicated as the best, but it will be safe to assume +that when the roll of honor of your class is called +after a length of service equal to mine, but few, if +any of your number, will have done their part well in +public estimation save of those who shall have pretty +closely followed these safe rules of life. + +Gentlemen, I bid you welcome. + + ADDRESS BY HON. G. W. McCRARY, + Secretary of War. + +GENTLEMEN OF THE GRADUATING CLASS: Although not a +part of the programme arranged for these exercises, +I cannot refuse to say a word by way of greeting, +and I would make it as hearty and earnest as possible +to you, gentlemen, one and all, upon this occasion, +so interesting to you as well is to the entire army, +and to the people of the whole country. + +There are others here who will speak to you as +soldiers, to whom you will listen, and from whom +you will receive all counsel and admonition as +coming from men who have distinguished themselves +in the command of the greatest armies the world +has ever seen, and by the achievement of some of +the grandest victories recorded upon the pages of +history. + +I would speak to you as a citizen; and as such, I +desire to assure you that you are to-day the centre +of a general interest pervading every part of our +entire country. It is not the army alone that is +interested in the graduating class of 1877. West +Point Military Academy, more than any other institution +in the land--far more--is a national institution--one +in which we have a national pride. + +It is contrary to the policy of this country to +keep in time of peace a large standing army We have +adopted what I think is a wiser and better policy-- +that of educating a large number of young men in the +science of arms, so that they may be ready when the +time of danger comes. You will go forth from this +occasion with your commissions as Second Lieutenants +in the army; but I see, and I know that the country +sees, that if war should come, and large armies +should be organized and marshalled, we have here +seventy-six young gentlemen, any one of whom can +command not only a company, but a brigade; and I +think I may say a division, or an army corps. + +The experience of the past teaches that I do not +exaggerate when I say this. At all events, such is +the theory upon which our government proceeds, and +it is expected that every man who is educated in this +institution, whether he remains in the ranks of the +army or not, wherever he may be found and called upon, +shall come and draw his sword in defence of his +country and her flag. + +It is a happy coincidence that one hundred years +ago to-day, on the 14th of June, 1777, the Continental +Congress passed the act which fixed our national +emblem as the stars and stripes. It is a happy +coincidence that you graduate upon the anniversary +of the passage of that act--the centennial birthday +of the stars and stripes. I do not know that it will +add any thing to your love of the flag and of your +country. I doubt whether any thing would add to that; +but I refer to this coincidence with great pleasure. + +Gentlemen of the Graduating Class: I am not qualified +to instruct you in your duties as soldiers, but these +is one thing I may say to you, because it ought to be +said to every graduating class, and to all young men +about to enter upon the active duties of life, and that +is, that the profession does not ennoble the man, but +the man ennobles the profession Behind the soldier is +the man. + +Character, young men, is every thing; without it, +your education is nothing; without it, your country +will be disappointed in you. Go forth into life, then, +firmly resolved to be true, not only to the flag of +your country, not only to the institutions of the +land, not only to the Union which our fathers +established, and which the blood of our countrymen +has cemented, but to be true to yourselves and the +principles of honor, of rectitude, of temperance, of +virtue, which have always characterized the great and +successful soldier, and must always characterize such +a soldier in the future. + + ADDRESS BY MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, + Superintendent U. S. Military Academy. + +GENTLEMEN OF THE GRADUATING CLASS: The agreeable duty +now devolves upon me of delivering to you the diplomas +which the Academic Board have awarded you as Graduates +of the Military Academy. + +These diplomas you have fairly won by your ability, +your industry, and your obedience to discipline. You +receive them, not as favors from any body, but as +the just and lawful reward of honest and persistent +effort. + +You have merited, and are about to receive, the +highest honors attainable by young men in our +country. You have won these honors by hard work +and patient endurance, and you are thus prepared +to prize them highly. Unless thus fairly won, honors, +like riches, are of little value. + +As you learn, with advancing years, to more fully +appreciate the value in life of the habits you have +acquired of self-reliance, long-sustained effort, +obedience to discipline, and respect for lawful +authority, a value greater even than that of the +scientific knowledge you have gained, you will more +and more highly prize the just reward which you are +to-day found worthy to receive. + +You are now prepared to enter upon an honorable +career in the great arena of the world. The West +Point Diploma has ever been a passport to public +respect, and to the confidence of government. But +such respect and confidence imply corresponding +responsibilities. The honor of West Point and that +of the army are now in your keeping; and your country +is entitled to the best services, intellectual, moral, +and physical, which it may be in your power to render. + +That you may render such services, do not fail to +pursue your scientific studies, that you may know +the laws of nature, and make her forces subservient +to the public welfare. Study carefully the history, +institutions, and laws of your country, that you may +be able to see and to defend what is lawful and right +in every emergency. Study not only the details of your +profession, but the highest principles of the art of +war, You may one day be called to the highest +responsibility. And, above all, be governed in all +things by those great moral principles which have been +the guide of great and good men in all ages and in all +countries. Without such guide the greatest genius can +do only evil to mankind. + +One of your number, under temptation which has sometimes +proved too great for even much older soldiers, committed +A breach of discipline for which he was suspended. The +Honorable Secretary of War has been kindly pleased to +remit the penalty, so that your classmate may take his +place among you according to his academic rank. + +You have to regret the absence of one of your number, +who has been prevented by extreme illness from pursuing +the studies of the last year. But I am glad to say that +Mr. Barnett has so far recovered that he will be able to +return to the Academy, and take his place in the next +class. + +Another member of the class has been called away by the +death of his father, but he had passed his examination, +and will graduate with you. His diploma will be sent to +him. + +With the single exception, then, above mentioned, I have +the satisfaction of informing you that you graduate with +the ranks of your class unbroken. + +We take leave of you, gentlemen, not only with hope, but +with full confidence that you will acquit yourselves well +in the honorable career now before you. We give you our +parental blessing, with fervent wishes for your prosperity, +happiness, and honor. + +Loud applause greeted the close of the general's speech, +and the graduates were then called up one by one and +Their diplomas delivered to them. The first to step +forward was Mr. William M. Black, of Lancaster, Penn., +whose career at the Academy has been remarkable. He has +stood at the head of his class for the whole four years, +actually distancing all competitors. He is a young man +of signal ability, won his appointment in a competitive +examination, and has borne himself with singular modesty +and good sense. During the past year he has occupied the +position of Adjutant of the Corps of Cadets--the highest +post which can be held. General Sherman shook hands with +the father of the young cadet--a grand-looking old +gentleman, and very proud of his son, as he has a right to +be--and warmly congratulated him on the brilliant career +which was before the young man. The next on the list was +Mr. Walter F. Fisk. When Mr. Flipper, the colored cadet, +stepped forward, and received the reward of four years of +as hard work and unflinching courage and perseverance as +any young man could be called upon to go through, the crowd +of spectators gave him a round of hearty applause. He +deserves it. Any one who knows how quietly and bravely +this young man--the first of his despised race to graduate +at West Point--has borne the difficulties of his position; +how for four years he has had to stand apart from his +classmates as one with them but not of them; and to all +the severe work of academic official life has had added +the yet more severe mental strain which +bearing up against a cruel social ostracism puts on any +man; and knowing that he has done this without getting +soured, or losing courage for a day--any one, I say, who +knows all this would be inclined to say that the young man +deserved to be well taken care of by the government he is +bound to serve. Everybody here who has watched his course +speaks in terms of admiration of the unflinching courage +he has shown. No cadet will go away with heartier wishes +for his future welfare. + +When the last of the diplomas had been given, the line +reformed, the band struck up a lively tune, the cadets +marched to the front of the barracks, and there Cadet +Black, the Adjutant, read the orders of the day, they +being the standing of the students in their various +classes, the list of new officers, etc. This occupied +some time, and at its conclusion Colonel Neil, Commandant +of Cadets, spoke a few kind words to the First Class, +wished them all success in life, and then formally +dismissed them. + +At the close of the addresses the Superintendent of the +Academy delivered the diplomas to the following cadets, +members of the Graduating Class. The names are +alphabetically arranged: + + Ammon A. Augur, + William H. Baldwin, + Thomas H. Barry, + George W. Baxter, + John Baxter, Jr., + John Bigelow, Jr., + William M. Black, + Francis P. Blair, + Augustus P. Blocksom, + Charles A. Bradley, + John J. Brereton, + Oscar J. Brown, + William C. Brown, + Ben. I. Butler, + George N. Chase, + Edward Chynoweth, + Wallis O. Clark, + Charles J. Crane, + Heber M. Creel, + Matthias W. Day, + Millard F. Eggleston, + Robert T. Emmet, + Calvin Esterly, + Walter L. Fisk, + Henry O. Flipper, + Fred. W. Foster, + Daniel A. Frederick, + F. Halverson French, + Jacob G. Galbraith, + William W. Galbraith, + Charles B. Gatewood, + Edwin F. Glenn, + Henry J. Goldman, + William B. Gordon, + John F. Guilfoyle, + John J. Haden, + Harry T. Hammond, + John F. C. Hegewald, + Curtis B. Hoppin, + George K. Hunter, + James B. Jackson, + Henry Kirby, + Samuel H. Loder, + James A. Maney, + James D. Mann, + Frederick Marsh, + Medad C. Martin, + Solon F. Massey, + Ariosto McCrimmon, + David N. McDonald, + John McMartin, + Stephen C. Mills, + Cunliffe H. Murray, + James V. S. Paddock, + Theophilus Parker, + Alexander M. Patch, + Francis J. Patten, + Thomas C. Patterson, + John H. Philbrick, + Edward H. Plummer, + David Price, Jr., + Robert D. Read, Jr., + Solomon W. Roessler, + Robert E. Safford, + James C. Shofner, + Adam Slaker, + Howard A. Springett, + Robert R. Stevens, + Monroe P. Thorington, + Albert Todd, + Samuel P. Wayman, + John V. White, + Wilber E. Wilder, + Richard H. Wilson, + William T. Wood, + Charles G. Woodward. + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + FURLOUGH. + +OF all privileges or sources of pleasure which tend +to remove the monotony of military life, there are +none to which the stripling soldier looks forward +with more delight than furlough. Indeed it is hard +to say which is the stronger emotion that we +experience when we first receive information of our +appointment to a cadetship, or that which comes upon +us when we are apprised that a furlough has been +granted us. Possibly the latter is the stronger +feeling. It is so with some, with those, at least, +who received the former announcement with indifference, +as many do, accepting it solely to please a mother, or +father, or other friend or relative. With whatever +feeling, or for whatever reason the appointment may +have been accepted, it is certain that all are equally +anxious to take advantage of their furlough when the +time comes. This is made evident in a multitude of ways. + +A furlough is granted to those only who have been +present at two annual examinations at least, and by +and with the consent of a parent or guardian if a +minor. + +Immediately after January next preceding their +second annual examination, the furloughmen, as +they are called, have class meetings, or rather +furlough meetings, to celebrate the "good time +coming." They hold them almost weekly, and they +are devoted to music, jesting, story-telling, and +to general jollification. It can be well imagined +with what joy a cadet looks forward to his furlough. +It is the only interruption in the monotony of his +Academy life, and it is to him for that very reason +extremely important. During all this time, and even +long before January, the furloughmen are accustomed +to record the state of affairs respecting their +furlough by covering every available substance that +will bear a pencil or chalk mark with numerous +inscriptions, giving the observer some such information +as this: "100 days to furlough," "75 days to furlough," +"only two months before furlough," and thus even to the +day before they actually leave. + +The crowning moment of all is the moment when the order +granting furloughs is published. + +I am sure my happiest moment at West Point, save when I +grasped my "sheepskin" for the first time, was when I +heard my name read in the list. It was a most joyous +announcement. To get away from West Point, to get out +among friends who were not ashamed nor afraid to be +friends, could not be other than gratifying. It was +almost like beginning a new life, a new career, and as +I looked back from the deck of the little ferryboat my +feelings were far different from what they were two +years before. + +My furlough was something more than an interruption of +my ordinary mode of life for the two years previous. It +was a complete change from a life of isolation to one +precisely opposite. And of course I enjoyed it the more +on that account. + +The granting of furloughs is entirely discretionary +with the Superintendent. It may be denied altogether, +but usually is not, except as punishment for some grave +offence. + +It is customary to detain for one, two, three, or even +more days those who have demerits exceeding a given +number for a given time. The length of their leave is +therefore shortened by just so many days. + +There are a number of customs observed by the cadets +which I shall describe here. + +To disregard these customs is to show--at least it is so +construed--a want of pride. To say that this or that "is +customary," is quite sufficient to warrant its conception +and execution. Among these customs the following may be +mentioned: + +To begin with the fourth class. Immediately after their +first semi-annual examination the class adopts a class +crest or motto, which appears on all their stationery, +and often on many other things. To have class stationary +is a custom that is never overlooked. Each class chooses +its own design, which usually bears the year in which +the class will graduate. + +Class stationary is used throughout the period of one's +cadetship. + +In the early spring, the first, second, and third classes +elect hop managers, each class choosing a given number. +This is preparatory to the hop given by the second to +the graduating class as a farewell token. This custom is +rigorously kept up. + +Next to these are customs peculiar to the first class. +They are never infringed upon by other classes, nor +disregarded even by the first class. + +First, prior to graduation it is an invariable custom +of the graduating class to adopt and procure, each of +them, a class ring. This usually bears the year of +graduation, the letters U. S. M. A., or some other +military character. + +This ring is the signet that binds the class to their +Alma Mater, and to each other. It is to be in after +years the souvenir that is to recall one's cadet life, +and indeed every thing connected with a happy and yet +dreary part of one's career. + +The class album also is intended for the same +purpose. It contains the "smiling shadows" of +classmates, comrades, and scenes perhaps never +more to be visited or seen after parting at +graduation. Oh! what a feeling of sadness, of +weariness of life even, must come upon him who +in after years opens his album upon those handsome +young faces, and there silently compares their then +lives with what succeeding years have revealed! Who +does not, would not grieve to recall the sad tidings +that have come anon and filled one's heart and being +with portentous gloom? This, perhaps a chum, an +especial favorite, or at any rate a classmate, has +fallen under a rude savage warfare while battling +for humanity, without the advantages or the glory +of civilized war, but simply with the consciousness +of duty properly done. That one, perchance, has fallen +bravely, dutifully, without a murmur of regret, and +this one, alas! where is he? Has he, too, perished, +or does he yet remember our gladsome frolics at our +beloved Alma Mater. My mind shudders, shrinks from +the sweet and yet sad anticipations of the years I +have not seen and may perhaps never see. But there +is a sweetness, a fondness that makes me linger +longingly upon the thought of those unborn days. + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + INCIDENT, HUMOR, ETC. + +IT may not be inappropriate to give in this place a +few--as many as I can recall--of the incidents, more +or less humorous, in which I myself have taken part +or have noticed at the various times of their +occurrence. First, then, an adventure on "Flirtation." + +During the encampment of 1873--I think it was in July-- +Smith and myself had the--for us--rare enjoyment of a +visit made us by some friends. We had taken them around +the place and shown and explained to them every thing of +interest. We at length took seats on "Flirtation," and +gave ourselves up to pure enjoyment such as is found in +woman's presence only. The day was exceedingly beautiful; +all nature seemed loveliest just at that time, and our +lone, peculiar life, with all its trials and cares, was +quite forgotten. We chatted merrily, and as ever in such +company were really happy. It was so seldom we had +visitors--and even then they were mostly males--that we +were delighted to have some one with whom we could converse +on other topics than official ones and studies. While we +sat there not a few strangers, visitors also, passed us, +and almost invariably manifested surprise at seeing us. + +I do think uncultivated white people are unapproachable +in downright rudeness, and yet, alas! they are our +superiors. Will prejudice ever be obliterated from +the minds of the people? Will man ever cease to +prejudge his fellow-being for color's sake alone? +Grant, O merciful God, that he may! + +But au fait! Anon a cadet, whose perfectly fitting +uniform of matchless gray and immaculate white +revealed the symmetry of his form in all its manly +beauty, saunters leisurely by, his head erect, +shoulders back, step quick and elastic, and those +glorious buttons glittering at their brilliant +points like so many orbs of a distant stellar +world. Next a plebe strolls wearily along, his +drooping shoulders, hanging head, and careless +gait bespeaking the need of more squad drill. Then +a dozen or more "picnicers," all females, laden +with baskets, boxes, and other et ceteras, laughing +and playing, unconscious of our proximity, draw +near. The younger ones tripping playfully in front +catch sight of us. Instantly they are hushed, and +with hands over their mouths retrace their steps to +disclose to those in rear their astounding discovery. +In a few moments all appear, and silently and slowly +pass by, eyeing us as if we were the greatest natural +wonder in existence. They pass on till out of sight, +face about and "continue the motion," passing back and +forth as many as five times. Wearied at length of this +performance, Smith rose and said, "Come, let's end this +farce," or something to that effect. We arose, left the +place, and were surprised to find a moment after that +they were actually following us. + +The "Picnicers," as they are called in the corps, +begin their excursions early in May, and continue +them till near the end of September. They manage +to arrive at West Point at all possible hours of +the day, and stay as late as they conveniently can. +In May and September, when we have battalion drills, +they are a great nuisance, a great annoyance to me +especially. The vicinity of that flank of the battalion +in which I was, was where they "most did congregate." +It was always amusing, though most embarrassing, to see +them pointing me out to each other, and to hear their +verbal accompaniments, "There he is, the first"--or such +--"man from the right"--"or left." "Who?" "The colored +cadet." "Haven't you seen him? Here, I'll show him to +you," and so on ad libitum. + +All through this encampment being "--young; a novice +in the trade," I seldom took advantage of Old Guard +privileges, or any other, for the reason that I was +not accustomed to such barbarous rudeness, and did not +care to be the object of it. + +It has always been a wonder to me why people visiting +at West Point should gaze at me so persistently for +no other reason than curiosity. What there was curious +or uncommon about me I never knew. I was not better +formed, nor more military in my bearing than all the +other cadets. My uniform did not fit better, was not +of better material, nor did it cost more than that of +the others. Yet for four years, by each and every +visitor at West Point who saw me, it was done. I know +not why, unless it was because I was in it. + +There is an old man at Highland Falls, N. Y., who is +permitted to peddle newspapers at West Point. He comes +up every Sabbath, and all are made aware of his presence +by his familiar cry, "Sunday news! Sunday news!" Indeed, +he is generally known and called by the soubriquet, +"Sunday News." + +He was approaching my tent one Sunday afternoon but +was stopped by a cadet who called out to him from +across the company street, "Don't sell your papers to +them niggers!" This kind advice was not heeded. + +This and subsequent acts of a totally different +character lead me to believe that there is not +so much prejudice in the corps as is at first +apparent. A general dislike for the negro had +doubtless grown up in this cadet's mind from +causes which are known to everybody at all +acquainted with affairs at West Point about +that time, summer of 1873. On several occasions +during my second and third years I was the grateful +recipient of several kindnesses at the hands of +this same cadet, thus proving most conclusively +that it was rather a cringing disposition, a dread +of what others might say, or this dislike of the +negro which I have mentioned, that caused him to +utter those words, and not a prejudiced dislike of +"them niggers," for verily I had won his esteem. + +Just after returning from this encampment to our +winter quarters, I had another adventure with Smith, +my chum, and Williams, which cost me dearly. + +It was just after "evening call to quarters." I knew +Smith and Williams were in our room. I had been out +for some purpose, and was returning when it occurred +to me to have some fun at their expense. I accordingly +walked up to the door--our "house" was at the head of +the stairs and on the third floor--and knocked, +endeavoring to imitate as much as possible an officer +inspecting. They sprang to their feet instantly, +assumed the position of the soldier, and quietly +awaited my entrance. I entered laughing. They resumed +their seats with a promise to repay me, and they did, +for alas! I was "hived." Some cadet reported me for +"imitating a tactical officer inspecting." For this I +was required to walk three tours of extra guard duty on +three consecutive Saturdays, and to serve, besides, a +week's confinement in my quarters. The "laugh" was thus, +of course, turned on me. + +During the summer of '74, in my "yearling camp," I +made another effort at amusement, which was as complete +a failure as the attempt with Smith and Williams. I had +been reported by an officer for some trifling offence. +It was most unexpected to me, and least of all from this +particular officer. I considered the report altogether +uncalled for, but was careful to say nothing to that +effect. I received for the offence one or two demerits. +A short while afterwards, being on guard, I happened to +be posted near his tent. Determined on a bit of revenge, +and fun too, at half-past eleven o'clock at night I +placed myself near his tent, and called off in the +loudest tone I could command, "No.----half-past eleven +o'clock, and all-l-l-l's well-l-l!" It woke him. He +arose, came to the front of his tent, and called me +back to him. I went, and he ordered me to call the +corporal. I did so. When the corporal came he told him +to "report the sentinel on No.--for calling off +improperly." If I mistake not, I was also reported for +not calling off at 12 P.M. loud enough to be heard by +the next sentinel. Thus my bit of revenge recoiled +twofold upon myself, and I soon discovered that I had +been paying too dear for my whistle. + +On another occasion during the same camp I heard a +cadet say he would submit to no order or command of, +nor permit himself to be marched anywhere by "the +nigger," meaning myself. We were in the same company, +and it so happened at one time that we were on guard +the same day, and that I was the senior member of our +company detail. When we marched off the next day the +officer of the guard formed the company details to the +front, and directed the senior member of each fifteen +to march it to its company street and dismiss it. I +instantly stepped to front and assumed command. I +marched it as far as the color line at "support arms;" +brought them to a "carry" there and saluted the colors. +When we were in the company street, I commanded in +loud and distinct tone, "Trail arms! Break ranks! +March!" A cadet in a tent near by recognized my voice, +and hurried out into the company street. Meeting the +cadet first mentioned above, he thus asked of him: + +"Did that nigger march you in?" + +"Yes-es, the nigger marched us in," speaking slowly +and drawling it out as if he had quite lost the power +of speech. + +At the following semi-annual examination (January, +'75), the gentleman was put on the "retired list," +or rather on the list of "blasted hopes." I took +occasion to record the event in the following manner, +changing of course the names: + + FAILED. + +SCENE.--Hall of Cadet Barracks at West Point. +Characters: RANSOM and MARS, both Cadets. RANSOM, +who has been "found" at recent semiannual examination, +meets his more successful chum, MARS, on the stoop. +After a moment's conversation, they enter the hall. + + MARS (as they enter). + Ah! how! what say? Found! Art going away? + Unfortunate rather! 'm sorry! but stay! + Who hadst thou? How didst thou? Badly, I'm sure. + Hadst done well they had not treated thee so. + + RANSOM (sadly). + Thou sayest aright. I did do my best, + Which was but poorly I can but confess. + The subject was hard. I could no better + Unless I'd memorized to the letter. + + MARS. + Art unfortunate! but tho' 'twere amiss + Me half thinks e'en that were better than this. + Thou couldst have stood the trial, if no more + Than to come out low. That were better, 'm sure. + + RANSOM. + But 'tis too late. 'Twas but an afterthought, + Which now methinks at most is worth me naught; + Le sort en est jetté, they say, you know; + 'Twere idle to dream and still think of woe. + + MARS. + Thou sayest well! Yield not to one rebuff. + Thou'rt a man, show thyself of manly stuff. + The bugle calls! I must away! Adieu! + May Fortune grant, comrade, good luck to you! + +They shake hands, MARS hurries out to answer the bugle +call. RANSOM prepares for immediate departure for home.) + +"O dear! it is hawid to have this cullud cadet-- +perfectly dre'fful. I should die to see my Geawge +standing next to him." Thus did one of your models +of womankind, one of the negro's superiors, who +annually visit West Point to flirt, give vent to +her opinion of the "cullud cadet," an opinion +thought out doubtless with her eyes, and for which +she could assign no reason other than that some of +her acquaintances, manifestly cadets, concurred in +it, having perhaps so stated to her. And the cadets, +with their accustomed gallantry, have ever striven +to evade "standing next to him." No little amusement +--for such it was to me--has been afforded me by the +many ruses they have adopted to prevent it. Some of +them have been extremely ridiculous, and in many +cases highly unbecoming a cadet and a gentleman. + +While I was a plebe, I invariably fell in in the +rear rank along with the other plebes. This is a +necessary and established custom. As soon as I +became a third-classman, and had a right to fall in +in the front rank whenever necessary or convenient, +they became uneasy, and began their plans for keeping +me from that rank. The first sergeant of my company +did me the honor of visiting me at my quarters and +politely requested me--not order me, for he had no +possible authority for such an act--to fall in +invariably on the right of the rear rank. To keep +down trouble and to avoid any show of presumption or +forwardness on my part, as I had been advised by an +officer, I did as he requested, taking my place on +the right of the rear rank at every formation of the +company for another whole year. But with all this +condescension on my part I was still the object of +solicitous care. My falling in there did not preclude +the possibility of my own classmates, now also risen +to the dignity of third-classmen, falling in next to +me. To perfect his plan, then, the first sergeant had +the senior plebe in the company call at his "house," +and take from the roster an alphabetical list of all +the plebes in the company. With this he (the senior +plebe) was to keep a special roster, detailing one of +his own classmates to fall in next to me. Each one +detailed for such duty was to serve one week--from +Sunday morning breakfast to Sunday morning breakfast. +The keeper of the roster was not of course to be +detailed. + +It is astonishing how little care was taken to +conceal this fact from me. The plan, etc., was +formed in my hearing, and there seems to have +been no effort or even desire to hide it from me. +Returning from supper one evening, I distinctly +heard this plebe tell the sergeant that "Mr.-- +refused to serve." "You tell him," said the +sergeant, "I want to see him at my 'house' after +supper. If he doesn't serve I'll make it so hot +for him he'll wish he'd never heard of West Point." + +Is it not strange how these models of mankind, +these our superiors, strive to thrust upon each +other what they do not want themselves? It is a +meanness, a baseness, an unworthiness from which +I should shrink. It would be equally astonishing +that men ever submit to it, were it not that they +are plebes, and therefore thus easily imposed upon. +The plebe in this case at length submitted. + +When I became a second-classman, no difference was +made by the cadets in their manner of falling in, +whether because their scruples were overcome or +because no fitting means presented themselves for +avoiding it, I know not. If they happened to be near +me when it was time to fall in, they fell in next to +me. + +In the spring of '76, our then first sergeant ordered +us to fall in at all formations as nearly according +to size as possible. As soon as this order was given, +for some unknown reason, the old régime was readopted. +If I happened to fall in next to a first-classman, and +he discovered it, or if a first-classman fell in next +to me, and afterward found it out, he would fall out +and go to the rear. The second and third-classmen, for +no other reason than that first-classmen did it, "got +upon their dignity, and refused to stand next to me. We +see here a good illustration of that cringing, "bone- +popularity" spirit which I have mentioned elsewhere. + +The means of prevention adopted now were somewhat +different from those of a year before. A file-closer +would watch and follow me closely, and when I fell in +would put a plebe on each side of me. It was really +amusing sometimes to see his eagerness, and quite as +amusing, I may add, to see his dismay when I would +deliberately leave the place thus hemmed in by plebes +and fall in elsewhere. + +We see here again that cringing disposition to which +I believe the whole of the ill-treatment of colored +cadets has been due. The file-closers are usually +second-class sergeants and third-class corporals. By +way of "boning popularity" with the upper classmen, +they stoop to almost any thing. In this case they +hedged me in between the two plebes to prevent upper +classmen from falling in next to me. + +But it may be asked why I objected to having plebes +next to me. I would answer, for several reasons. Under +existing circumstances of prejudice, it was of the +utmost importance to me to keep them away from me. +First--and by no means the least important reason--to +put them in the front rank was violating a necessary +and established custom. The plebes are put in the +rear rank because of their inexperience and general +ignorance of the principles of marching, dressing, +etc. If they are in the front rank, it would simply +be absurd to expect good marching of them. A second +reason, and by far the most important, results directly +from this one. Being between two plebes, who would not, +could not keep dressed, it would be impossible for me +to do so. The general alignment of the company would be +destroyed. There would be crowding and opening out of +the ranks, and it would all originate in my immediate +vicinity. The file-closers, never over-scrupulous when +I was concerned, and especially when they could forward +their own "popularity-boning" interests, would report +me for these disorders in the company. I would get +demerits and punishment for what the plebes next to me +were really responsible for. The plebes would not be +reported, because if they were their inexperience would +plead strongly in their favor, and any reasonable +explanation of an offence would suffice to insure its +removal. I was never overfond of demerits or punishments, +and therefore strenuously opposed any thing that might +give me either; for instance, having plebes put next to +me in ranks. + +Toward the end of the year the plebes, having +learned more about me and the way the corps +looked upon me, became as eager to avoid me as +the others. Not, however, all the plebes, for +there were some who, when they saw others trying +to avoid falling in next to me, would deliberately +come and take their places there. These plebes, or +rather yearlings now, were better disciplined, and, +of course, my own scruples vanished. + +During the last few months of the year no distinction +was made, save by one or two high-toned ones. + +When the next class of plebes were put in the battalion, +the old cadets began to thrust them into the front rank +next to me. At first I was indignant, but upon second +thought I determined to tolerate it until I should be +reported for some offence which was really an offence +of the plebes. I intended to then explain the case, à +priori, in my written explanation to the commandant. I +knew such a course would cause a discontinuance of the +practice, which was plainly malicious and contrary to +regulations. Fortunately, however, for all concerned, +the affair was noticed by an officer, and by him +summarily discontinued. I was glad of this, for the +other course would have made the cadets more unfriendly, +and would have made my condition even worse than it was. +Thereafter I had no further trouble with the plebes. + +One day, during my yearling camp, when I happened to +be on guard, a photographer, wishing a view of the +guard, obtained permission to make the necessary +negative. As the officer of the day desired to be +"took" with the guard, he came down to the guard tents, +and the guard was "turned out" for him by the sentinel. +He did not wish it then, and accordingly so indicated +by saluting. I was sitting on a camp-stool in the shade +reading. A few minutes after the officer of the day +came. I heard the corporal call out, "Fall in the guard." +I hurried for my gun, and passing near and behind the +officer of the day, I heard him say to the corporal: + +"Say, can't you get rid of that nigger? We don't want +him in the picture." + +The corporal immediately ordered me to fetch a pail +of water. As he had a perfect right to thus order +me, being for the time my senior officer, I proceeded +to obey. While taking the pail the officer of the day +approached me and most politely asked: "Going for +water, Mr. Flipper?" + +I told him I was. + +"That's right," continued he; "do hurry. I'm nearly +dead of thirst." + +It is simply astonishing to see how these young men +can stoop when they want any thing. A cadet of the +second class--when I was in the third class--was once +arrested for a certain offence, and, from the nature +of the charge, was likely to be court-martialed. His +friends made preparation for his defence. As I was +not ten feet from him at the time specified in the +charge, my evidence would be required in the event +of a trial. I was therefore visited by one of his +friends. He brought paper and pencil and made a +memorandum of what I had to say. The cadet himself +had the limits of his arrest extended and then visited +me in person. We conversed quite a while on the subject, +and, as my evidence would be in his favor, I promised +to give it in case he was tried. He thanked me very +cordially, asked how I was getting along in my studies, +expressed much regret at my being ostracized, wished me +all sorts of success, and again thanking me took his +leave. + +There is an article in the academic regulations which +provides or declares that no citizen who has been a +cadet at the Military Academy can receive a commission +in the regular army before the class of which he was a +member graduates, unless he can get the written consent +of his former classmates. + +A classmate of mine resigned in the summer of '75, and +about a year after endeavored to get a commission. A +friend and former classmate drew up the approval, and +invited the class to his "house" to sign it. When half +a dozen or more had signed it, it was sent to the guard- +house, and the corporal of the guard came and notified +me it was there for my consideration. I went to the +guard- house at once. A number of cadets were sitting +or standing around in the room. As soon as I entered +they became silent and remained so, expecting, no doubt, +I'd refuse to sign it, because of the treatment I had +received at their hands. They certainly had little cause +to expect that I would add my signature. Nevertheless I +read the paper over and signed it without hesitation. +Their anxiety was raised to the highest possible pitch, +and scarcely had I left the room ere they seized the +paper as if they would devour it. I heard some one who +came in as I went out ask, "Did he sign it?" + +Another case of condescension on the part of an upper +classman occurred in the early part of my third year +at the Academy, and this time in the mess hall. We +were then seated at the tables by classes. Each table +had a commandant, who was a cadet captain, lieutenant +or sergeant, and in a few instances a corporal. At +each table there was also a carver, who was generally +a corporal, occasionally a sergeant or private. The +other seats were occupied by privates, and usually +in this order: first-classmen had first and second +seats, second-classmen second and third seats, third- +classmen third and fourth seats, and fourth-classmen +fourth and fifth seats, which were at the foot of the +table. I had a first seat, although a second-classman. +For some reason a first-classman, who had a first seat +at another table, desired to change seats with me. He +accordingly sent a cadet for me. I went over to his +room. I agreed to make the change, provided he himself +obtained permission of the proper authorities. It was +distinctly understood that he was to take my seat, a +first seat, and I was to take his seat, also a first +seat. He obtained permission of the superintendent of +the mess hall, and also a written permit from the +commandant. The change was made, but lo and behold! +Instead of a first seat I got a third. The agreement +was thus violated by him, my superior (?), and I was +dissatisfied. The whole affair was explained to the +commandant, not, however, by myself, but by my consent, +the permit revoked, and I gained my former first seat. +A tactical officer asked me, "Why did you exchange +with him? Has he ever done any thing for you?" + +I told him he had not, and that I did it merely to +oblige him. It was immaterial to me at what table I +sat, provided I had a seat consistent with the dignity +of my class. + +The baseness of character displayed by the gentleman, +the reflection on myself and class would have evoked +a complaint from me had not a classmate anticipated +me by doing so himself. + +This gentleman (?) was practically "cut" by the whole +corps. He was spoken to, and that was about all that +made his status in the corps better than mine. + +Just after the semiannual examination following this +adventure, another, more ridiculous still, occurred, +of which I was the innocent cause. The dismissal of +a number of deficient plebes and others made necessary +a rearrangement of seats. The commandant saw fit to +have it made according to class rank. It changed +completely the former arrangement, and gave me a third +seat. A classmate, who was senior to me, had the second +seat. He did not choose to take it, and for two or more +weeks refused to do so. I had the second seat during all +this time, while he was fed in his quarters by his chum. +He had a set of miniature cooking utensils in his own +room, and frequently cooked there, using the gas as a +source of heat. These were at last "hived," and he was +ordered to " turn them in. He went to dinner one day +when I was absent on guard. At supper he appeared again. +Some one asked him how it was he was there, glancing at +the same time at me. He laughed--it was plainly forced +--and replied, "I forgot to fall out." + +He came to his meals the next day, the next, and +every succeeding day regularly. Thus were his +scruples overcome. His refusing to go to his meals +because he had to sit next to me was strongly +disapproved by the corps for two reasons, viz., +that he ought to be man enough not to thrust on +others what he himself disliked; and that as others +for two years had had seats by me, he ought not to +complain because it now fell to his lot to have one +there too. + +Just after my return, in September, 1875, from a +furlough of two months, an incident occurred which, +explained, will give some idea of the low, unprincipled +manner in which some of the cadets have acted toward +me. It was at cavalry drill. I was riding a horse that +was by no means a favorite with us. He happened to fall +to my lot that day, and I rather liked him. His greatest +faults were a propensity for kicking and slight inequality +in the length of his legs. We were marching in a column +of fours, and at a slow walk. I turned my head for some +purpose, and almost simultaneously my horse plunged +headlong into the fours in front of me. It was with +difficulty that I retained my seat. I supposed that when +I turned my head I had accidentally spurred him, thus +causing him to plunge forward. I regained my proper place +in ranks. + +None of this was seen by the instructor, who was riding +at the head of the column. Shortly after this I noticed +that those near me were laughing. I turned my head to +observe the cause and caught the trooper on my left in +the act of spurring my horse. I looked at him long and +fiercely, while he desisted and hung his head. Not long +afterwards the same thing was repeated, and this time +was seen by the instructor, who happened to wheel about +as my horse rushed forward. He immediately halted the +column, and, approaching, asked me, "What is the matter +with that horse, Mr. F.?" To which I replied, "The trooper +on my left persists in kicking and spurring him, so that +I can do nothing with him." + +He then caused another trooper in another set of fours +to change places with me, and thereafter all went well. + +Notwithstanding the secrecy of hazing, and the great +care which those who practised it took to prevent +being "hived," they sometimes overreached themselves +and were severely punished. Cases have occurred where +cadets have been dismissed for hazing, while others +have been less severely punished. + +Sometimes, also, the joke, if I may so call it, has +been turned upon the perpetrators to their utter +discomfort. I will cite an instance. + +Quite often in camp two robust plebes are selected and +ordered to report at a specified tent just after the +battalion returns from supper. When they report each is +provided with a pillow. They take their places in the +middle of the company street, and at a given signal +commence pounding each other. A crowd assembles from +all parts of camp to witness the "pillow fight," as it +is called. Sometimes, also, after fighting awhile, the +combatants are permitted to rest, and another set +continues the fight. + +On one of these occasions, after fighting quite a +while, a pillow bursted, and one of the antagonists +was literally buried in feathers. At this a shout of +laughter arose and the fun was complete. But alas for +such pleasures! An officer in his tent, disturbed by +the noise, came out to find its cause. He saw it at a +glance, aided no doubt by vivid recollections of his +own experience in his plebe camp. He called an orderly +and sent for the cadet captain of the company. When he +came he was ordered to send the plebes--he said new +cadets--to their tents, and order them to remain there +till permission was given to leave them. He then had +every man, not a plebe, who had been present at the +pillow fight turned out. When this was done he ordered +them to pick up every feather within half an hour, and +the captain to inspect at the end of that time and to +see that the order was obeyed. Thus, therefore, the +plebes got the better part of the joke. + +It was rumored in camp one day that the superintendent +and commandant were both absent from the post, and that +the senior tactical officer was therefore acting +superintendent. A plebe sentinel on Post No. 1, seeing +him approaching camp, and not knowing under the +circumstances how to act, or rather, perhaps, I should +say, not knowing whether the report was true or not, +called a corporal, and asked if he should salute this +officer with "present arms." To this question that +dignitary replied with righteous horror, "Salute him +with present arms! No, sir! You stand at attention, and +when he gets on your post shout, 'Hosannah to the supe!' +This rather startled the plebe, who found himself more +confused than ever. When it was about time for the +sentinel to do something the corporal told him what to +do, and returned to the guard tents. The officer was at +the time the commanding officer of the camp. + +While walking down Sixth Avenue, New York, with a +young lady, on a beautiful Sabbath afternoon in the +summer of 1875, I was paid a high compliment by an +old colored soldier. He had lost one leg and had been +otherwise maimed for life in the great struggle of +1861-65 for the preservation of the Union. As soon +as he saw me approaching he moved to the outside of +the pavement and assumed as well as possible the +position of the soldier. When I was about six paces +from him he brought his crutch to the position of +"present arms," in a soldierly manner, in salute to +me. I raised my cap as I passed, endeavoring to be as +polite as possible, both in return for his salute and +because of his age. He took the position of "carry +arms," saying as he did so, "That's right! that's +right! Makes me glad to see it." + +We passed on, while he, too, resumed his course, +ejaculating something about "good-breeding," etc., +all of which we did not hear. + +Upon inquiry I learned, as stated, that he had served +in the Federal army. He had given his time and energy, +even at the risk of his life, to his country. He had +lost one limb, and been maimed otherwise for life. I +considered the salute for that reason a greater honor. + +During the summer of 1873 a number of cadets, who were +on furlough, visited Mammoth Cave. While there they +noticed on the wall, written in pencil, the name of an +officer who was an instructor in Spanish at West Point. +One of them took occasion to add to the inscription the +following bit of information: + +"Known at the U. S. Military Academy as the 'Spanish +Inquisition.'" + +A number of cadets accosted a plebe, who had just +reported in May, 1874, and the following conversation +ensued: + +"Well, mister, what's your name?" + +"John Walden." + +"Sir!" yelled rather than spoken. + +"John Walden." + +"Well, sir, I want to see you put a 'sir' on it," +with another yell. + +"Sir John Walden," was the unconcerned rejoinder. + +Now it was not expected that the "sir" would be put +before the name after the manner of a title, but this +impenetrable plebe put it there, and in so solemn and +"don't-care" a manner that the cadets turned away in +a roar of laughter. + +Ever afterward he was known in the corps as "Sir John." + +Another incident, even more laughable perhaps than +the preceding, occurred between a cadet and plebe, +which doubtless saved the plebe from further hazing. +Approaching him with a look of utter contempt on his +face, the cadet asked him: + +"Well, thing, what's your name?" + +"Wilreni, sir," meekly responded he. + +"Wilreni, sir!" repeated the cadet slowly, and bowing +his head he seemed for a moment buried in profoundest +thought. Suddenly brightening up, he rejoined in the +most unconcerned manner possible: "Oh! yes, yes, I +remember now. You are Will Reni, the son of old man +Bill Reni," put particular stress on "Will" and "Bill." + +I think, though, the most laughable incident that has +come under my notice was that of a certain plebe who +made himself famous for gourmandizing. + +Each night throughout the summer encampment, the +guard is supplied from the mess hall with an +abundance of sandwiches. The old cadets rarely eat +them, but to the plebes, as yet unaccustomed to guard +duty, they are quite a treat. + +On one occasion when the sandwiches were unusually +well prepared, and therefore unusually inviting, it +was desirable to preserve them till late in the night, +till after the guard had been turned out and inspected +by the officer of the day. They were accordingly--to +conceal them from the plebes--transferred, with the +vessel containing them, to one of the chests of a +caisson of the light battery, just in front of camp in +park. Here they were supposed to be safe. But alas for +such safety! At an hour not far advanced into the night, +two plebes, led by an unerring instinctiveness, +discovered the hiding-place of the sandwiches and +devoured them all. + +Now when the hour of feasting was come, a corporal was +dispatched for the dainty dish, when, lo, and behold! +it had vanished. The plebes--for who else could thus +have secretly devoured them--were brought to account +and the guilty ones discovered. They were severely +censured in that contemptuous manner in which only a +cadet, an upper classman, can censure a plebe, and +threatened with hazing and all sorts of unpleasantness. + +Next morning they were called forth and marched +ingloriously to the presence of the commandant. +Upon learning the object of the visit he turned +to the chief criminal--the finder of the sandwiches +--and asked him, "Why did you eat all the sandwiches, +Mr. S--?" + +"I didn't eat them all up, sir. I ate only fifteen," +was his ready reply. + +The gravity of the occasion, coupled with the enormity +of the feast, was too much, and the commandant turned +away his head to conceal the laughter he could not +withhold. The plebe himself was rather short and fleshy, +and the picture of mirth. Indeed to see him walking even +along the company street was enough to call forth laughter +either at him as he waddled along or at the humorous +remarks the act called forth from onlooking cadets. + +He was confined to one of the guard tents by order of +the commandant, and directed by him to submit a written +explanation for eating all the sandwiches of the guard. +The explanation was unsatisfactory, and the gentleman +received some other light punishment, the nature of +which has at this late day escaped my memory. + +The other plebe, being only a particeps criminis, was +not so severely punished. A reprimand, I think, was +the extent of his punishment. + +The two gentlemen have long since gone where the +"woodbine twineth"--that is, been found deficient +in studies and dismissed. + +There was a cadet in the corps who had a wonderful +propensity for using the word "mighty." + +With him everything was "mighty." I honestly do not +believe I ever heard him conversing when he did not +use "mighty." + +Speaking of me one day, and unconscious of my presence, +he said, "I tell you he does 'mighty' well." + +During drill at the siege battery on the 25th of April, +1876, an accident occurred which came near proving fatal +to one of us. I had myself just fired an 8-inch howitzer, +and gone to the rear to observe the effect of the other +shots. One piece had been fired, and the command for the +next to fire had been given. I was watching intently the +target when I was startled by the cry of some one near +me, "Look out! look out!" I turned my eyes instinctively +toward the piece just fired, but saw only smoke. I then +looked up and saw a huge black body of some kind moving +rapidly over our heads. It was not until the smoke had +nearly disappeared that I knew what was the cause of the +disturbance. A number of cannoneers and our instructor +were vociferously asking, "Anybody hurt? Anybody hurt?" +We all moved up to the piece, and, finding no one was +injured, examined it. The piece, a 41/2-inch rifle, +mounted on a siege carriage, had broken obliquely from +the trunnions downward and to the rear. The re-enforce +thus severed from the chase broke into three parts, the +nob of the cascabel, and the other portion split in the +direction of the bore. The right half of the re-enforce, +together with the nob of the cascabel, were projected +into the air, describing a curve over our heads, and +falling at about twenty feet from the right of the +battery, having passed over a horizontal distance of +about sixty or seventy feet. The left half was thrown +obliquely to the ground, tearing away in its passage +the left cheek of the carriage, and breaking the left +trunnion plate. A cannoneer was standing on the platform +of the next piece on the left with the lanyard in his +hand. His feet were on two adjacent deck planks, his +heels being on line with the edge of the platform. These +two planks were struck upon their ends, and moved bodily, +with the cadet upon them, three or four inches from their +proper place. The bolts that held them and the adjacent +planks together were broken, while not the slightest +injury was done the cadet. + +It was hardly to be believed, and was not until two or +three of the other cannoneers had examined him and found +him really uninjured. It was simply miraculous. The +instructor sent the cannoneers to the rear, and fired the +next gun himself. + +After securing the pieces and replacing equipments, we +were permitted to again examine the bursted gun, after +which the battery was dismissed. + +There had been some difficulty in loading the piece, +especially in getting the projectile home. It was +supposed that this not being done properly caused the +bursting. + +I was one summer day enjoying a walk on "Flirtation." +I was alone, and, if I remember aright, "on Old Guard +privileges." Walking leisurely along I soon observed +in front of me a number of young ladies, a servant girl, +and several small children. + +They were all busily occupied in gathering wild +flowers, a kind of moss and ferns which grow here +in abundance. I was first seen by one of the children, +a little girl. She instantly fixed her eyes upon me, +and began vociferating in a most joyous manner, "The +colored cadet! the colored cadet! I'm going to tell +mamma I've seen the colored cadet." + +The servant girl endeavored to quiet her, but she +continued as gayly as ever: + +"It's the colored cadet! I'm going to tell mamma. I'm +going to tell mamma I've seen the colored cadet." + +All the others stopped gathering flowers, and watched +me till I was out of sight. + +A similar display of astonishment has occurred at every +annual examination since I became a cadet, and on these +occasions the ladies more than anybody else have been +the ones to show it. + +Whenever I took my place on the floor to receive my +enunciation or to be questioned, I have observed +whisperings, often audible, and gestures of surprise +among the lady visitors. I have frequently heard such +exclamations as this: "Oh! there's the colored cadet! +there's the colored cadet!" + +All of this naturally tended to confuse me, and it was +only by determined effort that I maintained any degree +of coolness. Of course they did not intend to confuse +me. Nothing was, I dare say, further from their thoughts. +But they were women; and it never occurs to a woman to +think before she speaks. + +It was rather laughable to hear a cadet, who was +expounding the theory of twilight, say, pointing +to his figure on the blackboard: "If a spectator +should cross this limit of the crepuscular zone +he would enter into final darkness." + +Now "final darkness," as we usually understand it, +refers to something having no resemblance whatever +to the characteristics of the crepuscular zone. + +The solemn manner in which he spoke it, together +with their true significations, made the circumstance +quite laughable. + +The most ludicrous case of hazing I know of is, I +think, the following: + +For an unusual display of grossness a number of +plebes were ordered by the cadet lieutenant on +duty over them to report at his "house" at a +specified hour. They duly reported their presence, +and were directed to assume the position of the +soldier, facing the wall until released. After +silently watching them for a considerable time, +the lieutenant, who had a remarkable penchant for +joking, called two of them into the middle of the +room. He caused them to stand dos à dos, at a +distance of about one foot from each other, and +then bursting into a laugh, which he vainly +endeavored to suppress, he commanded, "Second, +exercise!" + +Now to execute this movement the hands are extended +vertically over the head and the hands joined. At +the command "Two!" given when this is done, the arms +are brought briskly forward and downward until the +hands touch if possible the ground or floor. The +plebes having gone through the first motion, the +lieutenant thus cautioned them: + +"When I say 'Two!' I want to see you men come down +with life, and touch the floor. Two!" + +At the command they both quickly, and "with life" +brought their bodies forward and their arms downward; +nay, they but attempted, for scarcely had they left +the vertical ere their bodies collided, and they were +each hurled impetuously, by the inevitable reaction in +opposite directions, over a distance of several feet. + +Their bodies being in an inclined position when struck, +and the blow being of great force, they were necessarily +forced still further from the erect attitude, and were +with much difficulty able to keep themselves from falling +outright on the floor. Of course all present, save those +concerned, enjoyed it immensely. Indeed it was enjoyable. +Even the plebes themselves had a hearty laugh over it +when they were dismissed. + +Again a cadet lieutenant, who was on duty at the time +over the "Seps," ordered a number of them to report +at his "house" at a given hour. They had been unusually +gross, and he intended to punish them by keeping them +standing in his quarters. They reported, and were put +in position to serve their punishment. For some reason +the lieutenant left the room, when one of the "Seps" +faced to the others and thus spoke to them: + +"Say, boys, let's kick up the devil. P--has gone out." + +Now it so happened that P--'s chum was present, but in +his alcove, and this was not known to the Seps. When +the Sep had finished speaking, this chum came forth and +"went for" him. He made the Sep assume the soldier's +position, and then commanded, "Second, exercise!" which +command the Sep proceeded to obey. + +Another cadet coming in found him vigorously at it, and +queried, "Well, mister, what's all that for?" + +"Eccentricity of Mr. M--, sir," he promptly replied. + +The word eccentricity was not interpreted by the cadet, +of course, as the Sep meant it should be, but in the +sense we use it when we speak of the eccentricity of +an orbit for instance. + +Hence it was that Mr. M--asked, "Well, sir, what's the +expression for my eccentricity?" + +There is another incident remotely connected with my +first tour of guard duty which may be mentioned here. + +At about eleven o'clock A.M., in obedience to a then +recent order, my junior reported at the observatory +to make the necessary observations for finding the +error of the Tower clock. After an elaborate explanation +by an officer then present upon the graduation of the +vernier and the manner of reading it, the cadet set the +finders so as to read the north polar distance of the +sun for that day at West Point apparent noon. When it +was about time for the sun's limb to begin its transit +of the wires, the cadet took position to observe it. The +instructor was standing ready to record the times of +transit over each wire. Time was rapidly passing, and +not yet had the cadet called out "Ready." The anxious +instructor cautiously queried: + +"Do you see any light, Mr. P--?," + +"No, sir." + +"Can you see the wires?" + +"No, sir, not yet." + +"Any light yet, Mr. P--?" + +"Yes, sir, it is getting brighter." + +"Can you see the wires at all?" + +"No, Sir; it keeps getting brighter, but I can't see +the wires yet." + +Fearing he might be unable to make his observations +that day unless the difficulty was speedily removed, +the instructor himself took position at the transit, +and made the ridiculous discovery that the cap had +not been removed from the farther end of the telescope, +and yet it kept getting brighter. + +One day in the early summer of 1875, a cadet was +showing a young lady the various sights and wonders +at West Point, when they came across an old French +cannon bearing this inscription, viz., "Charles de +Bourbon, Compte d'Eu, ultima ratio regum." + +She was the first to notice it, and astonished the +cadet with the following rendition of it: + +"I suppose that means Charles Bourbon made the gun, +and the Spanish (?) that the artilleryman must have +his rations." + +What innocence! Or shall I say, what ignorance? + +"The authorities of West Point have entered an +interdict against the cadets loaning their sashes +and other military adornments to young ladies, and +great is the force of feminine indignation." Summer +of 1873. + + COME KISS ME, LOVE. + +A young lieutenant at the Academy and his fiancée +were seen by an old maid at the hotel to kiss each +other. At the first opportunity she reproved the +fair damsel for, to her, such unmaidenly conduct. +With righteous indignation she repelled the reproof +as follows: + +"Not let S--kiss me! Why, I should die!" Then lovingly, + + "Come kiss me, love, list not what they say, + Their passions are cold, wasted away. + They know not how two hearts like ours are + Long to mingle i' the sweetness o' the kiss, + That like the soft light of a heavenly star, + As it wanders from its world to this, + Diffuses itself through ev'ry vein + And meets on the lips to melt again." + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + GRADUATION--IN THE ARMY. + + "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." + +MY four years were drawing to a close. They had been +years of patient endurance and hard and persistent +work, interspersed with bright oases of happiness and +gladness and joy, as well as weary barren wastes of +loneliness, isolation, unhappiness, and melancholy. +I believe I have discharged--I know I have tried to +do so--every duty faithfully and conscientiously. +It had been a sort of bittersweet experience, this +experimental life of mine at West Point. It was almost +over, and whatever of pure sweetness, whatever of +happiness, or whatever reward fortune had in store for +me, was soon to become known. + +"Speaking of the Military Academy, we understand that +the only colored cadet now at West Point will not only +graduate at the coming June commencement, but that his +character, acquirements, and standing on the merit roll +are such as will insure his graduation among the highest +of his class."--Harper's Weekly, April 28th, 1877. + +All recitations of the graduating class were +discontinued on the last scholar day of May. +On June 1st examination began. The class was +first examined in mineralogy and geology. In +this particular subject I "maxed it," made +a thorough recitation. I was required to discuss +the subject of "Mesozoic Time." After I had been +examined in this subject Bishop Quintard, of +Tennessee, a member of the Board of Visitors, +sent for me, and personally congratulated me on +my recitation of that day, as well as for my +conduct during the whole four years. My hopes +never were higher; I knew I would graduate. I felt +it, and I made one last effort for rank. I wanted +to graduate as high up as possible. I was not +without success, as will subsequently appear. The +New York Herald was pleased to speak as follows +of my recitation in mineralogy and geology: + +"To-day the examination of the first class in +mineralogy and geology was completed, and the +first section was partially examined in engineering. +In the former studies the class acquitted themselves +in a highly creditable manner, and several members +have shown themselves possessed of abilities far +above the average. The class has in its ranks a son +of General B. F. Butler, Hon. John Bigelow's son, +and sons of two ex-Confederate officers. Flipper, +the colored cadet, was examined to-day, and produced +a highly favorable impression upon the board not less +by his ready and intelligent recitation than by his +modest, unassuming, and gentlemanly manner. There is +no doubt that he will pass, and he is said to have +already ordered a cavalry uniform, showing that he +has a predilection for that branch of the service." + +The class was next examined in law. In this, also, I +exceeded my most sanguine expectations, again "maxing +it" on a thorough recitation. My subject was "Domicile." +Senator Maxey, of the Board of Visitors, questioned me +closely. The Bishop of Tennessee left his seat in the +board, came outside when the section was dismissed, and +shook my hand in hearty congratulation. These were the +proudest moments of my life. Even some of my own +classmates congratulated me on this recitation. All +that loneliness, dreariness, and melancholy of the +four years gone was forgotten. I lived only in the +time being and was happy. I was succeeding, and was +meeting with that success which humble effort never +fails to attain. + +The New York Tribune joins in with its good words as +follows: + + LIEUTENANT FLIPPER, THE COLORED GRADUATE OF + WEST POINT. + +"The examination of the first class in law will be +completed tomorrow. The sections thus far called +up have done very well. The colored cadet, Flipper, +passed uncommonly well this morning, showing a +practical knowledge of the subject very satisfactory +to Senator Maxey, who questioned him closely, and to +the rest of the board. He has a good command of plain +and precise English, and his voice is full and pleasant. +Mr. Flipper will be graduated next week with the respect +of his instructors, and not the less of his fellows, who +have carefully avoided intercourse with him. The quiet +dignity which he has shown during this long isolation of +four years has been really remarkable. Until another of +his race, now in one of the lower classes, arrived, +Flipper scarcely heard the sound of his own voice except +in recitation, and it is to be feared that unless he is +detailed at Howard University, which has been mentioned +as possible, his trials have only begun." + +The class was next examined in civil and military +engineering. In this also I did as well as in either +of the other studies. I made a thorough recitation. +I was required to explain what is meant by an "order +of battle," and to illustrate by the battles of Zama, +Pharsalia, and Leuctra. + + THE COLORED CADET. + +"Flipper, the colored cadet from South Carolina, was +up this afternoon and acquitted himself remarkably +well. Some time since he was recommended for a higher +grade than the one he holds, and his performance to-day +gained him a still higher standing in the class." + +In ordnance and gunnery the class was next examined. +In this I was less successful. I was to assume one of +Captain Didion's equations of the trajectory in air, +and determine the angle of projection represented by +phi, and the range represented by x in the following +equation: + + y = x tan. phi - gx2/2V2 B, + +and to explain the construction and use of certain +tables used in connection with it. I made a fair +recitation, but one by no means satisfactory to myself. +I lost four files on it at least. A good recitation in +ordnance and gunnery would have brought me out forty- +five or six instead of fifty. I did not make it, and it +was too late to better it. This was the last of our +examination. It ended on the 11th day of June. On the +14th we were graduated and received our diplomas. + +During the examination I received letters of +congratulation in every mail. Some of them may not +be uninteresting. I give a few of them: + +POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, ROOM 48, +WASHINGTON, D.C., June 3, 1877. + +MY DEAR MR. FLIPPER: It has been four years since I +last addressed you. Then you had just entered the +Academy with other young colored men, who have since +dropped by the way. I was at that time the editor of +the Era in this city, and wrote an article on West +Point and snobocracy which you may remember reading. + +I felt a thrill of pleasure here the other day when I +read your name as the first graduate from the Academy. +I take this opportunity of writing you again to extend +my hearty congratulations, and trust your future career +may be as successful as your academic one. "My boy," +Whittaker, has, I am told, been rooming with you, and I +trust has been getting much benefit from the association. + +I am, your friend and well-wisher, + +RICHARD T. GREENER. + + +42 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, June 4, 1877. + +CADET HENRY O. FLIPPER, +West Point, N. Y.: + +DEAR SIR: I have been much pleased reading the +complimentary references to your approaching +graduation which have appeared in the New York +papers the past week. I beg to congratulate you +most heartily, and I sincerely trust that the same +intelligence and pluck which has enabled you to +successfully complete your academic course may be +shown in a still higher degree in the new sphere of +duty soon to be entered upon. + +I inclose an editorial from to-day's Tribune. + +Respectfully, --. + + +DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, +UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, +WASHINGTON, D.C., June 5, 1877. + +HENRY O. FLIPPER, Esq., +U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y. + +DEAR SIR: Having noticed in the daily papers of +this city an account of the successful termination +of your course at the Military Academy, we hasten +to tender you our sincere congratulations. + +We are prompted to this act by an experimental +knowledge of the social ostracism and treacherous +duplicity to which you must have been made the +unhappy victim during the long years of faithful +study through which you have just passed. + +We congratulate you upon the moral courage and +untiring energy which must have been yours, to +enable you to successfully battle against the +immeasurable influence of the prejudice shown to +all of us at both of our national schools. We hail +your success as a national acknowledgment, in a new +way, of the mental and moral worth of our race; and +we feel amply repaid for the many privations we have +undergone in the naval branch of our service, in +noting the fact that one of us has been permitted to +successfully stand the trying ordeal. + +Trusting that the same firmness of purpose and +untiring energy, which have characterized your stay +there, may ever be true of your future career on the +field and at the hearth side, + +We remain, very truly yours, --, --. + + +POST-OFFICE, NEW YORK CITY, N. Y. +OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER, +Wednesday, June 7, 1877. + +MY DEAR FRIEND: Let me extend to you my full gratitude +upon your success at West Point. I was overjoyed when +I saw it. My friends are delighted with you, and they +desire to see you when you come down. Let me know when +you think you will leave West Point, and I will look +out for you. + +Very truly yours, -- . + +HENRY O. FLIPPER, ESQ., +West Point Military Academy. + + + +WASHINGTON, D. C., June 13, 1877. + +HENRY O. FLIPPER, ESQ., +West Point, N. Y.: + +MY DEAR FRIEND: I wish to congratulate you upon +passing successfully your final examination, and +salute you as the first young colored man who has +had the manhood and courage to struggle through and +overcome every obstacle. So many of our young men +had failed that I wondered if you would be able to +withstand all the opposition you met with, whether +you could endure the kind of life they mete out to +our young men at our national Military Academy. I +rejoice to know that you have won this important +victory over prejudice and caste. This will serve +you in good stead through many a conflict in life. +Your path will not be all strewn with roses; something +of that caste and prejudice will still pursue you as +you enter the broader arena of military life, but you +must make up your mind to live it down, and your first +victory will greatly aid you in this direction. One +thing, allow me to impress upon you: you are not +fighting your own battle, but you are fighting the +battle of a struggling people; and for this reason, +my dear Flipper, resolve now in your deepest soul that +come what may you will never surrender; that you will +never succumb. Others may leave the service for more +lucrative pursuits; your duty to your people and to +yourself demand that you remain. + +Be assured that whatever you do, wherever you may go, +you always have my deepest sympathy and best wishes. + +I return to Europe in a few weeks. + +Cordially yours, --. + +Even the cadets and other persons connected with +the Academy congratulated me. Oh how happy I was! +I prized these good words of the cadets above all +others. They knew me thoroughly. They meant what +they said, and I felt I was in some sense deserving +of all I received from them by way of congratulation. +Several visited my quarters. They did not hesitate +to speak to me or shake hands with me before each +other or any one else. All signs of ostracism were +gone. All felt as if I was worthy of some regard, and +did not fail to extend it to me. + +At length, on June 14th, I received the reward of my +labors, my "sheepskin," the United States Military +Academy Diploma, that glorious passport to honor and +distinction, if the bearer do never disgrace it. + +Here is the manner of ceremony we had on that day, +as reported in the New York Times: + +"The concluding ceremony in the graduation exercises +at the West Point Academy took place this morning, +when the diplomas were awarded to the graduates. The +ceremony took place in the open air under the shadow +of the maple trees, which form almost a grove in front +of the Academy building. Seats had been arranged here +for the spectators, so as to leave a hollow square, +on one side of which, behind a long table, sat the +various dignitaries who were to take part in the +proceedings. In front of them, seats were arranged +for the graduating class. The cadets formed line in +front of the barracks at 10.30, and, preceded by the +band playing a stirring air, marched to the front of +the Academy building. The first class came without +their arms; the other classes formed a sort of escort +of honor to them. The graduating class having taken +their seats, the other classes stacked arms and +remained standing in line around the square. The +proceedings were opened by an address from Professor +Thompson, of the School of Technology, Worcester Mass., +who is the Chairman of the Board of Visitors." + +And thus after four years of constant work amid many +difficulties did I obtain my reward. + +"Lieutenant H. O. Flipper was the only cadet who +received the cheers of the assembled multitude at +West Point upon receiving his parchment. How the +fellows felt who couldn't associate with him we +do not know; but as the old Christian woman said, +they 'couldn't a been on the mountain top.'" +--Christian Recorder. + +Victor Hugo says somewhere in his works that he who +drains a marsh must necessarily expect to hear the +frogs croak. I had graduated, and of course the +newspapers had to have a say about it. Some of the +articles are really amusing. I couldn't help laughing +at them when I read them. Here is something from the +New York Herald which is literally true: + + "MR. BLAINE AND THE COLORED CADET. + +"Senator James G. Blaine, with his wife and daughter +and Miss Dodge ('Gail Hamilton') left at noon yesterday +in anticipation of the rush. Before going the Senator +did a very gracious and kindly deed in an unostentatious +way. Sending for Flipper, the colored cadet, he said: + +"'I don't know that you have any political friends in +your own State, Mr. Flipper, and you may find it +necessary to have an intermediary in Congress to help +you out of your difficulties. I want you to consider me +your friend, and call upon me for aid when you need it.' + +"With that he shook the lad's hand and bade him good-by. + +"Bishop Quintard, of Tennessee, and Senator Maxey, of +Texas, also complimented the pioneer graduate of the +colored race upon his conduct throughout the four years +of his training, and proffered their sympathy and +assistance. With these encouragements from prominent +men of both political parties the young man seemed +deeply touched, and thanking them suitably he returned +with a light heart to his quarters." + +It was so very kind of the distinguished senators and +bishop. I valued these congratulations almost as much +as my diploma. They were worth working and enduring +for. + +The New York Herald again speaks, and that about not +hearing my voice, etc., made me "larf." Here is the +article: + + "THE COLORED CADET'S EXPERIENCE AND PROSPECTS. + +"Flipper, the colored cadet, who graduates pretty +well up in his class, said to me to-day that he is +determined to get into either the Ninth or Tenth +colored cavalry regiment if possible. He seems to +be very happy in view of the honorable close of his +academic career, and entertains little doubt that he +can procure the appointment he wishes. When asked +whether he was not aware that there was a law providing +that even colored troops must be officered by white +men, he replied that he had heard something of that +years ago, but did not think it was true. 'If there is +such a law,' he said emphatically, but with good humor, +'it is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced.' He +added that several weeks ago he wrote to a prominent +gentleman in Alabama to inquire what the existing law +on the subject was, and had not yet received an answer. +I questioned him about his experience in the Academy, +And he said that he had suffered but little on account +of his race. The first year was very hard, as the class +all made their dislike manifest in a variety of ways. +'That,' he said, 'was in a great measure caused by the +bad conduct of Smith, the colored cadet who preceded me. +When the class found out that I was not like him, they +treated me well. The professors act toward me in every +respect as toward the others, and the cadets, I think, +do not dislike me. But they don't associate with me. I +don't care for that. If they don't want to speak to me +I don't want them to, I'm sure.' Save in the recitation- +room Flipper never heard the sound of his own voice for +months and months at a time; but he was kept so hard at +work all the time that he did not mind it. If he should +join a regiment, however, he would be more alone even +than he has been here, for the association with other +officers in the line of duty would not be so close as +it has been with the cadets. He would be isolated-- +ostracized--and he would feel it more keenly, because he +would have more leisure for social intercourse, and his +mind would not be so occupied as it has been here with +studies. + +"Senator Blaine, in the course of a conversation last +night, thought the career of Flipper would be to go +South and become a leader of his race. He could in +that way become famous, and could accomplish much good +for the country." . . . . + +When I entered the Academy I saw in a paper something +about colored officers being put in white regiments, +etc. It purported to be a conversation with the then +Secretary of War, who said there was such a law, and +that it would be enforced. The then Secretary of War +has since told me he was sure there was such a law, +until to satisfy himself he searched the Revised +Statutes, when he found he was mistaken. + +I have mentioned elsewhere the untruthfulness of the +statement that I never heard my own voice except in +The recitation-room. Every one must know that could +not be true. The statement is hardly worth a passing +remark. + +"If he should join a regiment, however," etc. Ah! +well, I have joined my regiment long ago. Let me +say, before I go further, I am putting this manuscript +in shape for the press, and doing it in my quarters at +Fort Sill, I. T. These remarks are inserted apropos +of this article. From the moment I reached Sill I +haven't experienced any thing but happiness. I am not +isolated. I am not ostracized by a single officer. I do +not "feel it more keenly," because what the Herald said +is not true. The Herald, like other papers, forgets +that the army is officered by men who are presumably +officers and gentlemen. Those who are will treat me as +become gentlemen, as they do, and those who are not I +will thank if they will "ostracize" me, for if they +don't I will certainly "ostracize" them. + +"But to get into a cavalry regiment is the highest +ambition of most cadets, and failing in that it is +almost a toss-up between the infantry and the +artillery. Flipper, the South Carolina colored cadet, + wants to get into the cavalry, and as there is a +black regiment of that character he will, it is thought, +be assigned to that. There is in existence a law +specifying that even black regiments shall be officered +by white men, and it is thought there will be some +trouble in assigning Flipper. As any such law is in +opposition to the constitutional amendments, of course +it will be easily rescinded. From the disposition shown +by most of the enlisted men with whom I have conversed +at odd times upon this subject, I fancy that if Flipper +were appointed to the command of white soldiers they +would be restive, and would, if out upon a scout, take +the first opportunity to shoot him; and this feeling +exists even among men here who have learned to respect +him for what he is." + +Now that is laughable, isn't it? What he says about +the soldiers at West Point is all "bosh." Nobody will +believe it. I don't. I wish the Herald reporter who +wrote the above would visit Fort Sill and ask some of +the white soldiers there what they think of me. I am +afraid the Herald didn't get its "gift of prophecy" I +from the right place. Such blunders are wholly +inexcusable. The Herald reporter deserves an "extra" +(vide Cant Terms, etc.) for that. I wish he could get +one at any rate. Perhaps, however, the following will +excuse him. It is true. + +"He is spoken of by all the officers as a hard student +and a gentleman. To a very great extent he has conquered +the prejudices of his fellows, and although they still +decline to associate with him it is evident that they +respect him. Said one of his class this morning: +'Flipper has certainly shown pluck and gentlemanly +qualities, and I shall certainly shake his "flipper" +when we say "Good-by." We have no feeling against him +at all, but we could not associate with him. You see we +are so crowded together here that we are just like one +family, possessing every thing in common and borrowing +every thing, even to a pair of white trousers, and we +could not hold such intimate fellowship with him. It may +be prejudice, but we could not do it; so we simply let +him alone, and he has lived to himself, except when we +drill with him. Feel bad about it? Well, I suppose he +did at first, but he has got used to it now. The boys +were rather afraid that when he should come to hold the +position as officer of the guard that he would swagger +over them, but he showed good sense and taste, merely +assuming the rank formally and leaving his junior to +carry out the duty.'" + +That glorious day of graduation marked a new epoch in +my military life. Then my fellow-cadets and myself +forgot the past. Then they atoned for past conduct and +welcomed me as one of them as well as one among them. + +I must revert to that Herald's article just to show +how absurd it is to say I never heard the sound of +my own voice except in the section-room. I heard it +at reveille, at breakfast, dinner, and supper roll- +calls, at the table, at taps, and at every parade I +attended during the day--in all no less than ten or +twelve times every single day during the four years. +Of course I heard it in other places, as I have +explained elsewhere. I always had somebody to talk +to every single day I was at the Academy. Why, I was +the happiest man in the institution, except when I'd +get brooding over my loneliness, etc. Such moments +would come, when it would seem nothing would interest +me. When they were gone I was again as cheerful and as +happy as ever. I learned to hate holidays. At those +times the other cadets would go off skating, rowing, +or visiting. I had no where to go except to walk around +the grounds, which I sometimes did. I more often +remained in my quarters. At these times barracks +would be deserted and I would get so lonely and +melancholy I wouldn't know what to do. It was on +an occasion like this-- Thanksgiving Day--I wrote +the words given in another place, beginning, + + "Oh! 'tis hard this lonely living, to be + In the midst of life so solitary," etc. + +Here is something from Harper's Weekly. The northern +press generally speak in the same tenor of my +graduation. + +"Inman Edward Page, a colored student at Brown +University, has succeeded in every respect better +than his brother Flipper at West Point. While a +rigid non-intercourse law was for four years +maintained between Flipper and the nascent warriors +at the Military Academy, Page has lived in the +largest-leaved clover at Brown, and in the Senior +year just closed was chosen Class-day Orator--a +position so much coveted among students ambitious +for class honors that it is ranked by many even +higher than the Salutatory or the Valedictory. Page +has throughout been treated by his classmates as +one of themselves. He is a good writer and speaker, +though not noticeably better than some of his +classmates. His conduct has been uniformly modest +but self-respectful, and he had won the esteem of +professors as well as students. The deportment of +his class toward him is in high and honorable contrast +with that pursued by the less manly students supported +by the government at West Point, who may have already +learned that the 'plain people' of the country are +with Flipper." + +Here is something of a slightly different kind from a +Georgia paper--Augusta Chronicle and Constitutionalist. +Its tone betrays the locality of its birth. + +"Benjamin F. Butler, Jr., who graduated at West Point +last summer in the same class with the colored cadet +from Georgia, Flipper, has been assigned for duty to +the Ninth Cavalry, the same regiment to which Flipper +is attached. The enlisted men in this regiment are all +negroes. Ben, senior, doubtless engineered the assignment +in order to make himself solid with the colored voters +of the South. Ben, like old Joe Bagstock, is devilish +sly." + +It is in error as to my assignment. Lieutenant Butler +(whose name, by the way, is not Benjamin F., Jr.) was +assigned to the Ninth Cavalry. Here is the truth about +my assignment, given in the Sing Sing (N. Y.) Republican: + +"Cadet Flipper has been appointed to the Tenth U. S. +Cavalry (colored), now in Texas. Secretary of State +Bigelow's son has also been assigned to the same +regiment. We wonder if the non-intercourse between +the two at West Point will be continued in the army. +Both have the same rank and are entitled to the same +privileges. Possibly a campaign among the Indians, or +a brush with the 'Greasers' on the Rio Grande, will +equalize the complexion of the two." + +The National Monitor, of Brooklyn (N. Y.), has this +much to say. It may be worth some study by the cadets +now at the Academy. + +"Lieutenant Flipper, colored, a recent graduate from +West Point, is a modest gentleman, and no grumbler. +He says that privately he was treated by fellow-cadets +with proper consideration, but reluctantly admits that +he was publicly slighted. He can afford to be untroubled +and magnanimous. How is it with his fellows? Will not +shame ere long mantle their cheeks at the recollection +of this lack of moral courage on their part? A quality +far more to be desired than any amount of physical +heroism they may ever exhibit." + +Here is something extra good from the Hudson River +Chronicle, of Sing Sing. To all who want to know +the truth about me physically, I refer them to this +article. I refer particularly to the editor of a +certain New Orleans paper, who described me as a +"little bow-legged grif of the most darkly coppery +hue." + +"For a few days past Lieutenant Henry O. Flipper, +the colored cadet who graduated from West Point +Academy last week, has been the guest of Professor +John W. Hoffman, of this place. Lieutenant Flipper +is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, whence General +Sherman commenced that glorious march to the sea +which proved what a hollow shell the Southern +Confederacy really was. The lieutenant evidently has +a large strain of white blood in his veins, and could +probably, if so disposed, trace descent from the F. +F's. He stands six feet, is well proportioned, has a +keen, quick eye, a gentlemanly address, and a soldierly +bearing. He goes from here to his home in Georgia, on a +leave of absence which extends to the first of November, +when he will join the Tenth Cavalry, to which he has +been assigned as Second Lieutenant. This assignment +shows that Lieutenant Flipper stood above the average +of the graduating class, as the cavalry is the next to +the highest grade in the service--only the Engineer +Corps taking precedence of the cavalry arm. + +"For four long years Cadet Flipper has led an isolated +life at the Point--without one social companion, being +absolutely ostracized by his white classmates. As much +as any mortal, he can say: + + "'In the crowd + They would not deem me one of such; I stood + Among them, but not of them; in a shroud + Of thoughts which were not their thoughts.' + +"There must have been much of inherent manhood in a boy +that could stand that long ordeal, and so bear himself +at the close that, when his name was pronounced among +the graduates, the fair women and brave men who had +gathered to witness the going out into the world of +the nation's wards, with one accord greeted the lone +student with a round of applause that welcomed none +others of the class, and that could call from Speaker +Blaine the strong assurance that if he ever needed a +friend he might trustingly call on him. + +"'The path of glory leads but to the grave,' but we +venture the prediction that Lieutenant Flipper will +tread that path as fearlessly and as promptly as any +of his comrades of the 'Class of '77.'" + +Here is an editorial article from the New York Tribune. +It needs no comment, nor do the two following, which +were clipped from the Christian Union. + + LIEUTENANT FLIPPER. + +"Among the West Point graduates this year is young +Flipper, a lad of color and of African descent. It +is stated that he acquitted himself very respectably +in his examination by the Board of Visitors, that he +will pass creditably, and that he will go into the +cavalry, which is rather an aristocratic branch, we +believe, of the service. Mr. Flipper must have had +rather a hard time of it during his undergraduate +career, if, as we find it stated, most if not all +his white fellow-students have declined to associate +with him. He has behaved so well under these anomalous +circumstances, that he has won the respect of those +who, so far as the discipline of the school would +permit, ignored his existence. 'We have no feeling +against him,' said one of the students, 'but still we +could not associate with him. It may be prejudice, but +still we couldn't do it.' Impossibilities should be +required of no one, and if the white West Pointers +could not treat Mr. Flipper as if he were one of +themselves, why of course that is an end of the matter. +So long as they kept within the rules of the service, +and were guilty of no conduct 'unbecoming an officer +and a gentleman,' it was not for their commanders to +interfere. But when they tell us that they couldn't +possibly associate with Mr. Flipper, who is allowed +to have 'shown pluck and gentlemanly qualities,' we +may at least inquire whether they have tried to do so. +Conquering prejudices implies a fight with prejudices +--have these young gentlemen had any such fight? Have +they too 'shown pluck and gentlemanly qualities?' + +"We are not disposed to speak harshly of these +fastidious young fellows, who will not be long +out of the school before they will be rather sorry +that they didn't treat Mr. Flipper a little more +cordially. But a much more important matter is that +he has, in spite of his color, made a good record +every way, has kept up with his class, has not been +dropped or dismissed, but emerges a full-blown Second +Lieutenant of Cavalry. He has thus achieved a victory +not only for himself but for his race. He has made +matters easier for future colored cadets; and twenty +years hence, if not sooner, the young white gentlemen +of West Point will read of the fastidiousness of their +predecessors with incredulous wonder. Time and patience +will settle every thing." + + CADET FLIPPER. + +"The most striking illustration of class prejudice +this year has been afforded, not by Mississippi or +Louisiana, but by West Point. In 1873 Cadet Flipper +entered the Military Academy. God had given him a +black skin, a warm heart, an active brain, and a +patriotic ambition. He was guilty of no other crime +than that of being a negro, and bent on obtaining a +good education. He represented a race which had done +as good fighting for the flag as any done by the fair- +skinned Anglo-Saxon or Celt. Congress had recognized +his right and the right of his race to education. + +"But his classmates decided that it should be denied +him. If they had possessed the brutal courage of the +murderers of Chisholm they would have shot him, or +whipped him, or hung him; but they were not brave +enough for that, and they invented instead a punishment +worse than the State has inflicted upon its most brutal +criminals. They condemned him to four years of solitude +and silence. For four years not a classmate spoke to +Cadet Flipper; for three years he did not hear his own +voice, except in the recitation-room, on leave of +absence, or in chance conversation with a stray visitor. +Then another negro entered West Point, and he had one +companion. The prison walls of a Sing Sing cell are more +sympathetic than human prejudice. And in all that class +of '77 there were not to be found a dozen men brave enough +to break through this wall of silence and give the +imprisoned victim his liberty. At least two thirds of the +class are Republican appointees; and not one champion of +equal rights. In all that class but one hero--and he a +negro. Seventy-five braves against one! And the one was +victorious. He fought out the four years' campaign, +conquered and graduated. Honor to the African; shame to +the Anglo-Saxon." + + CADET FLIPPER AGAIN. + +"We have received several letters on the subject of +Cadet Flipper, to whose treatment at West Point we +recently called the attention of our readers. One of +them is from a former instructor, who bears a high +testimony to Lieutenant Flipper's character. He writes: + +"'I want to thank you for your editorial in the +Christian Union about Cadet Flipper. He was one +of our boys; was with us in school from the beginning +of his education till Freshman year in college, when +he received his appointment to West Point. He was always +obedient, faithful, modest, and in every way manly. We +were sorry to have him leave us; but now rejoice in +his victory, and take pride in him. + +"'During all these years, in his correspondence with +his friends, he has not, so far as I can learn, uttered +a single complaint about his treatment.' + +"A second is from a Canadian reader, who objects to +our condemnation of the Anglo-Saxon race, and insists +that we should have reserved it for the Yankees. In +Canada, he assures us, the color line is unknown, and +that negroes and Anglo-Saxons mingle in the same school +and in the same sports without prejudice. Strange to +say the white men are not colored by the intercourse. + +"The third letter comes indirectly from Lieutenant +Flipper himself. In it the writer gives us the benefit +of information derived from the lieutenant. We quote +(the italics are ours): + +"'Mr. Flipper is highly respected here, and has been +received by his former teachers and friends with +pleasure and pride. His deportment and character have +won respect and confidence for himself and his race. +As to his treatment at West Point, he assures me that +the "papers" are far astray. There was no ostracism on +the part of his fellow-cadets, except in the matter of +personal public association. He was invariably spoken +to and treated courteously and respectfully both as a +cadet and officer.' + +"We are glad to be assured that it was not as bad as +we had been informed by what we considered as good +authority; and we are still more glad to know that +Lieutenant Flipper, instead of making much of his +social martyrdom, has the good sense to make as light +of it as he conscientiously can. But if it is true +that there were cadets who did not sympathize with +the action of the class, and were brave enough to +speak to their colored comrade in private, it was a +pity that they were not able to screw their courage +up to a little higher point, and put the mark of a +public condemnation on so petty and cruel a +persecution." + +The people at large seem to be laboring under a +delusion about West Point, at least the West Point +that I knew. I know nothing of what West Point was, +or of what was done there before I entered the +Academy. I have heard a great deal and read a +great deal, and I am compelled to admit I have +doubts about much of it. At the hands of the officers +of the institution my treatment didn't differ from +that of the other cadets at all, and at the hands of +the cadets themselves it differed solely "in the matter +of personal public association." I was never persecuted, +or abused, or called by approbrious epithets in my +hearing after my first year. I am told it has been done, +but in my presence there has never been any thing but +proper respect shown me. I have mentioned a number of +things done to me by cadets, and I have known the same +things to be done to white cadets. For instance, I was +reported for speaking to a sergeant about the discharge +of his duty. (See Chapter X., latter part, on that +subject.) The same thing occurred to several members of +the class of '74. They were ordered into the rear rank +by a sergeant of the second class, when they were first- +classmen. They were white. The result was they were all, +three in number, I think, put in arrest. + +Some New England paper contributes the following +articles to this discussion, parts of which I quote: + + THE BIGOT AND THE SNOB + +"The Hilton-Seligman controversy is one of those +incidents which illustrate some of the features +of our social life. The facts can briefly be stated. +A Jewish gentleman, of wealth and position, applies +for rooms at the Grand Union Hotel, Saratoga, and is +flatly refused admission because he is a Jew. The +public indignation is so great that the manager of +the hotel is obliged to defend the act, and puts in +the plea that a man has the right to manage his +property as he pleases. + +"But before our anger cools, let us remember the case +of the colored cadet at West Point. During his course +he met with constant rebuffs. He was systematically +cut by his fellow-schoolmates. Instead of extending +to him a generous sympathy in his noble ambition, they +met him with sneers. All the feelings which should +guide a chivalric soldier and lead him to honor real +heroism, were quenched by the intense prejudice against +color. Mean and despicable as is the spirit which +prompted the-manager of the Grand Union Hotel to refuse +to entertain the rich Jewish banker, that which influenced +the young men at West Point is still more deserving scorn +and contempt. It was meaner and more contemptible than +cowardice." + + PREJUDICE AGAINST COLOR. + +Within the last thirty years there has been a great +change in public sentiment relating to colored persons. +That it has become wholly just and kind cannot be shown; +but it is far less unjust and cruel than it used to be. +In most of the old free States, at least, tidy, +intelligent, and courteous American citizens of African +descent are treated with increasing respect for their +rights and feelings. In public conveyances we find them +enjoying all the consideration and comforts of other +passengers. At our public schools they have cordial +welcome and fair play. We often see them walking along +the street with white schoolmates who have evidently +lost sight of the difference in complexions. Colored +boys march in the ranks of our school battalions without +receiving the slightest insult. Colored men have been +United States senators and representatives. Frederick +Douglass is Marshal of the District of Columbia. + +"There is one conspicuous place, however, where +caste-feeling seems to have survived the institution +of slavery, and that is West Point. There the old +prejudice is as strong, active, and mean as ever. +Of this there has been a recent and striking instance +In the case of young Flipper who has just graduated. +It appears that during his whole course this worthy +young man was subjected to the most relentless +'snubbing.' All his fellow-students avoided him +habitually. In the recitation-room and upon the parade +ground, by day and by night, he was made to feel that +he belonged to an inferior and despised race, and that +no excellence of deportment, diligence in study, or +rank in his class could entitle him to the recognition +accorded to every white dunce and rowdy. Yet with rare +strength of character he persevered, and when, having +maintained the standing of No. fifty in a class of +seventy-six, he received his well-earned diploma, there +was a round of tardy applause. + +"If West Point is to continue to be a school +characterized by aristocracy based upon creed, +race, or color, so undemocratic and unrepublican +as to be out of harmony with our laws and +institutions, it will do more harm than good, +and, like other nuisances, it should be abated. +If our rulers are sincere in their professions, +and faithful to their duties, a better state of +things may be brought about. Military arts must +be acquired somewhere; but if the present Academy +cannot be freed from plantation manners, it may +be well to establish a new one without pro-slavery +traditions, or, as has been suggested by the +Providence Journal, to endow military departments +in the good colleges where character and not color +is the test of worth and manhood." + + (From the New York Sun.) + + COLORED CADET FLIPPER. + +TWO HUNDRED OF HIS NEW YORK ADMIRERS HONORING HIM WITH + A RECEPTION. + +"A reception was given last evening by Mr. James W. +Moore, in the rooms of the Lincoln Literary Musical +Association, 132 West Twenty-seventh Street, to +Lieutenant H. O. Flipper, of Georgia, the colored +cadet who has just graduated at West Point. Mr. Moore +has had charge of the sick room of Commodore Garrison +since his illness. The chandeliers were decorated with +small flags. On a table on the platform rested a large +basket of flowers, bearing the card of Barrett H. Van +Auken, a grandson of Commodore Garrison. Among the +pictures on the wall were many relating to Lincoln and +the emancipation proclamation. Cheerful music was +furnished from a harp and violin. + +"The guests began to arrive about nine o'clock, the +ladies in large numbers, and the room was soon abreeze +with a buzz of conversation and the rustle of gayly- +colored dresses and bright ribbons. + +"The grand entree was at a quarter before ten. Lieutenant +Flipper entered the room in full uniform. A heavy yellow +horse-hair plume fell down over his cavalry helmet. His +coat was new and bright, and glittered with its gold +buttons and tasselled aigulets. By his side hung a long +cavalry sabre in a gilt scabbard. His appearance was the +signal for a buzz of admiration. He is very tall and well +made. Beside him was Mr. James W. Moore. Behind him, as +he walked through the thronged rooms, were the Rev. Dr. +Henry Highland Garnett, and Mrs. Garnett; the Rev. E. W. +S. Peck of the Thirty-fifth Street Methodist Church; Mr. +Charles Remond Douglass, son of Fred Douglass, and United +States Consul in San Domingo; the Rev. J. S. Atwell, of +St. Philip's Episcopal Church; the Rev. John Peterson; +Professor Charles L. Reason, of the Forty-first Street +Grammar School; John J. Zuilille; Richard Robinson, and +others. + +"The Lieutenant was led upon the stage by Mr. Garnett +and seated at the extreme left, while Dr. Garnett took +a seat at the extreme right. Next to the Lieutenant sat +Miss Martha J. Moore and Miss Fanny McDonough, Mr. P. S. +Porter, Dr. Ray, Mr. Atwell, and Professor Reason +completed the semicircle, of which Lieutenant Flipper +and Dr. Garnett formed the extremities. The Rev. Mr. +Atwell sat in the middle. + +"After all were seated, Dr. Garnett called Mr. Douglass +forward to a vacant seat on the platform. In introducing +Lieutenant Flipper, Dr. Garnett said he had honored +himself and his race by his good scholarship and pluck. +Nowhere else was there, he thought, such iron-bound and +copper-covered aristocracy as in West Point. Who could +have thought that any one wearing the 'shadowed livery +of the burnished sun' would ever dare to be an applicant? +Young Smith's high personal courage had led him to +resent a blow with a blow, and his career in the Academy +was cut short. Lieutenant Flipper had encountered the +same cold glances, but he had triumphed, and appeared +before his friends in the beautiful uniform of the +national army. (Applause.) The Doctor believed he would +never disgrace it. (Applause, and waving of handkerchiefs +by the ladies.) + +"At the close of his address, Dr. Garnett said: 'Ladies +and gentlemen, I take great pleasure in introducing to +you Lieutenant H. O. Flipper.' The Lieutenant rose and +bowed low, his hands resting on the hilt of his sabre. +He said nothing. Mr. Douglass was introduced, but excused +himself from speaking. + +"Then Mr. James Crosby was called on. He said when the +regiment in which he was orderly sergeant had marched +to Port Hudson, General-- met it, and said to Colonel +Nelson: 'Colonel, what do you call these?' 'I call them +soldiers,' answered Colonel Nelson. 'Well, if these are +soldiers, and if I've got to command niggers, the +government is welcome to my commission. Take them down +to the right to General Payne. He likes niggers.' 'Soon +afterward,' added Mr. Crosby, 'occurred that terrible +slaughter of the colored troops which you all remember +so well. This year Lieutenant Flipper and a nephew of +General--graduated in the same class, and the colored +man rated the highest.' + +"After the addresses Lieutenant Flipper descended to +the floor, and without formal introductions shook hands +with all. He had taken off his cavalry helmet while +sitting on the stage. Lemonade and ice-cream were served +to the guests. About two hundred persons, all colored, +were present. The Lieutenant will start for his home in +Georgia on Monday. He will join his regiment, the Tenth +Cavalry, on the Rio Grande in November." + + (From the Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution.) + + FLIPPER AGAIN. + +"Flipper has flopped up again, and seems to be +decidedly in luck. He has been transferred to the +Tenth Cavalry, which is alluded to by a New Orleans +paper as the 'Tenth Nubian Light Foot.' This, it +seems to us, is a dark hint as to the color of this +gallant corps, but as the State of Texas lies +somewhere between New Orleans and the Rio Grande, +we suppose the matter will be allowed to pass. But +as to Flipper, Flipper has got his regiment and he +has had a reception at the hands of his colored +friends and acquaintances in New York. Common people +are generally embarrassed at receptions given to +themselves, but not so with Flipper. The reception +was exceedingly high-toned, as well as highly colored, +and took place in the rooms of the 'Lincoln Literary +Musical Association.' Flipper, rigged out in full +uniform, with a yellow horse-hair plume flowing +felicitously over his cavalry helmet, sailed in, +according to accounts, just as chipper and as pert +as you please. There was no lager beer handed around, +but the familiar sound of the band, which was composed +of a harp and a violin, made its absence painfully +apparent. There were few speeches, but the affair was +decidedly formal. When every thing was ready for +business, a party of the name of Garnett rose and +introduced Flipper, and in the course of his remarks +took occasion to attack the newly-made lieutenant by +accusing him of wearing 'the shadowed livery of the +burnished sun.' Whereupon Flipper got up, placed his +hands on the hilt of his bloody sabre, and bowed. The +crowd then shook hands all around, the music played, +and lemonade and ice-cream were brought out from their +hiding-places, and all went merry as the milkman's bell. +As we said before, Flipper is in luck. He is a +distinguished. young man. He will reach home during the +present week, and it is to be hoped that his friends here +are ready to give him an ice-cream lunch, or something of +that kind." + + (From the Christian Recorder.) + + LIEUTENANT FLIPPER IN NEW YORK--HIS RECEPTION-- + CALLS ON BELKNAP. + +"Lieutenant Flipper has, by his manly conduct and +noble bearing, his superior intellectual powers shown +his fellow-cadets and tutors that all the colored +student wants is a 'chance.' His term of four years, +his graduation, his appointment, will all mark a new +era in American history. That the 'feat' he has +accomplished is appreciated has been shown in too +many ways to mention. His advent into New York City +was marked by many courtesies. His friends, not +unmindful of his new field and position, tendered +him a grand reception at Lincoln Literary Hall on +the 30th of June. It was the writer's good fortune +to arrive at New York just in time to be present +and pay him similar honors with others. The hall +was tastefully and beautifully decorated with flowers +and flags, representing the different States in the +Union. At the appointed hour the distinguished guests +were seen gathering, filling the hall to its utmost +capacity. Among the number we noticed especially Dr. +H. H. Garnett and Processor Reason. A few and +appropriate remarks were made by Dr. Garnett as an +introduction, after him others followed. After these +formal exercises were over, Mr. Flipper came down +from the rostrum and welcomed his friends by a +hearty shake of the hand, then all supplied the +wants of the inner man by partaking of cream, cake, +and lemonade, which were so bountifully supplied. The +evening was certainly a pleasant one, as delightful +as one could wish, and I presume there was no one +present who did not enjoy himself. In addition to +what has already been mentioned the occasion was +still more enlivened by the strains of sweet music. +The exercises of the evening being concluded, the +distinguished guests departed each one for his home. +Lieutenant Flipper spent some days in New York, and +during this visit, as he tells me, ex-Secretary Belknap +sent him a written invitation to call on him. This he +did, and was received very cordially and congratulated +on the victory achieved. He spoke of the pros and cons, +and seemed anxious that success might attend his +footsteps in all the avenues of army life. That Belknap +is interested in the young soldier and desires his +success I do not deny; but whether the ex-Secretary +would have given him any assistance when in his power +is a question I shall not presume to answer." + + + (From the Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution.) + + FLYING AROUND FLIPPER. + + HIS RECEPTION UPON HIS RETURN HOME--EAGERNESS TO SHAKE + THE HAND OF THE "BAD MAN WID DE GUB'MENT STROPS + ON!"--A SOCIAL RECEPTION ON MONDAY NIGHT. + +"'Flip's done come home!' was the familiar, and yet +admiring manner in which the young negroes about town +yesterday spread the information that Second Lieutenant +Henry O. Flipper, of the Tenth Cavalry, and the first +colored graduate of the United States Military Academy +at West Point, had arrived. His coming has created +quite a sensation in colored circles, and when he +appeared upon the streets, last evening, taking a +drive with his delighted father, he was the cynosure +of all the colored people and the object of curious +glances from the whites. The young man had 'been there +before,' however, and took all the ogling with patience +and seeming indifference. Once in awhile he would +recognize an old acquaintance and greet him with a +smile and a bow. + +"The last number of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper +contains an excellent likeness of Flipper, dressed in +his cadet uniform. His features betray his intelligence, +and indicate the culture which he has acquired by hard +study. His arrival here was the occasion of a buzz about +the Union depot. His parents and a number of intimate +friends were present to receive him, and the scene was +an interesting one to all concerned. + +"'Dat's him!' said a dozen of the curious darkeys +who stood off and hadn't the honor of the youth's +acquaintance. They seemed to feel lonesome. + +"'He's one ob de United States Gazettes!' shouted +a young darkey, in reply to a query from a strange +negro who has moved here since Flipper went away. + +"But the young officer was speedily spirited out +of the crowd and taken home to his little bed for +a rest. + +"On the streets he was greeted by many of our citizens +who knew him, and who have watched his career with +interest. His success was complimented, and he was +urged to pursue his course in the same spirit hereafter. +Among his colored friends he was a lion, and they could +not speak their praises in language strong enough. + +"A darkey would approach the young man, cautiously, +feel of his buttons and clothes, and enthusiastically +remark: "'Bad man wid de gub'ment strops on!' + +"These were the expressions of admiration that best +suited the ideas of his delighted acquaintances. They +will give him a reception on Monday night next, at +which all his friends will be present, and some of our +leading white citizens will be invited to be present. + +"We will try and give the young man's views and +experiences in tomorrow's issue." + +This paper is noted for its constant prevarication. +Whatever it says about negroes is scarcely worth +noticing, for be it in their favor or not it is +almost certainly untrue. My "delighted father" was +not within three hundred miles of Atlanta when I +reached that place. I did not appear on the streets +in uniform for several days after my arrival, and then +only at the request of many friends and an officer of +the Second Infantry then at McPherson Barracks. + + (From the Atlanta (Ga.) Republican) + +"Lieutenant Flipper arrived in our city last week on a +visit to his friends. His father lives in Thomasville, +but he was educated in this city. His intelligence and +manly course has won for him the praise of even the +Bourbons." + + (From the, Atlanta (Ga.) Republican.) + +"We acknowledge the courtesy of an invitation to a +reception given to Lieutenant H. O. Flipper of the +Tenth Cavalry, by his colored friends in Atlanta. +Circumstances beyond our control prevented our +attending. + +"We are informed it was a pleasant affair, and that +Lieutenant Flipper embraced the opportunity to give +something of his four years' experience at West Point, +and to correct some of the misstatements of the Atlanta +Constitution concerning the treatment he received while +a cadet at the Military Academy. An article alluding to +this subject has been crowded out this week, but will +appear in our next issue. + +(From the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle and Constitutionalist.) + + A FALSEHOOD. + +"The Cincinnati Gazette says: 'Lieutenant Flipper, the +young colored man who is guilty of having been graduated +with credit from West Point, continues to be the butt +of Georgia Democratic journals.' We would like to know +where the Gazette gets its information. Flipper has been +treated with nothing but kindness in Georgia. Wherever +he has reviewed the colored military, accounts of the +reviews have been published, but we have yet to see a +single word in a Georgia paper in disparagement or +ridicule of the colored graduate." + +Witness the following from the Atlanta Constitution: + + FLIPPER AS A FRAUD. + +FREEMAN'S PROTEGE ON SOUTHERN CIVILIZATION--HE TALKS + AT THE RECEPTION AND MAKES OF HIMSELF AN ASS--THE +ANOMALOUS CREATURE ON EXHIBITION--HE SHOWS THE CLOVEN + FOOT. + +"Last night the colored people of the city gave a +'reception' to Flipper, of the United States Army. +They did this from a feeling of pride over the fact +that one of their color, a townsman, had succeeded in +attaining his rank. They doubtless, little suspected +that he would make such use of the occasion as he did. +More than one of them so expressed their feeling before +The evening ended. The relations between the races in +this city have for years been such as to make remarks +like those in which Flipper indulged not only uncalled +for, but really distasteful. They are not to be blamed +for his conduct. + +"The crowd that gathered in the hall on the corner of +Mitchell and Broad Streets was large. It was composed +almost entirely of well-dressed and orderly colored +people. There were present several of the white male +and female teachers of the negro schools; also, some of +our white citizens occupying back seats, who were drawn +thither by mere curiosity. + +"Flipper was dressed lavishly in regimentals and gold +cord, and sat upon the stage with his immense and +ponderous cavalry sabre tightly buckled around him. He +had the attitude of Wellington or Grant at a council of +war. He was introduced to the audience by J. O. Wimbish, +a high-toned negro politician (as was) of this city, who +bespattered the young warrior with an eulogy such as no +school-master would have written for less than $5 C.O.D. +It was real slushy in its copiousness and diffusiveness. + + FRIP FIRES OFF. + +He arose with martial mien, and his left hand resting on +his sabre hilt. He said: + +"'Some weeks ago he had been called upon at a reception +in New York to make a speech, but he had reminded the +gentleman who called upon him that he had been taught +to be a soldier and not an orator. While upon this +occasion he still maintained that lie was not an orator, +yet he would tell them something of his career at West +Point. He referred to his colored predecessors in the +Academy and their fates, particularly of Smith, whose +last year there was his (F.'s) first. During that year, +on Smith's account, he had received his worst treatment +at the Academy. Prejudice against us was strong there at +that time. During his first encampment he had a better +time than almost any man in his class. In 1874 Smith left, +and a rumor prevailed that he (F ) was afraid to stay and +was going to resign. Colonel Upton, the commandant, sent +for him to his house, told him not to do so, but to stick +it out. Of course he had no intention of resigning, and +he followed this superfluous advice. So far as the cadets +were concerned they always treated me fairly, would speak +to me, and some came to my room and talked with me, but +the only thing they did that was wrong, perhaps, was that +they would not associate with me openly. The officers +always treated me as well as they did any other cadet. +All these reports about my bad treatment there, especially +in Southern newspapers, are absolutely false. + +"'I will read and comment upon some of these articles. +In The Constitution of last Saturday it said I had the +hardest four years of any cadet who ever passed through +the Academy. That is in some respects true, but not +wholly so. Speaking of Ben Butler's son, I am proud to +say that among the three hundred cadets I hadn't a better +friend than the son of the Massachusetts statesman. +(Applause.) As to Mr Bigelow's son, mentioned here, I +know him well, and his whole family--his father, the +distinguished ex-Secretary of State, his mother and his +two sisters, and have met them at their home. Mrs. +Bigelow, recognizing my position, and thinking to assure +my feelings, sent me a nice box of fruit with her +compliments.' + +"He then commented on articles from Beecher's Christian +Union, the New York Tribune, Harper's Weekly, and the New +York Telegram, characterizing many of their statements +about himself as false. + + SOCIAL EQUALITY IN THE ARMY. + +"The article last named was about social equality in +the army. Flipper said that he was cordially met by the +army officers in Chattanooga. In return he paid his +respects to the commandant and was introduced and shown +through the barracks. He was treated with every courtesy. + +"'How it is here you have all seen as I walked about the +city. I have walked with the officers of the garrison +here several times today, even up and down Whitehall +Street, and one of them invited me into Schumann's drug +store, and had a glass of soda together. I know it is +not a usual thing to sell to colored people, but we got +it. (Laughter and applause.) And to-night as Mr. J. O. +Wimbish and myself were coming to the hall, we met with +one of the officers at the corner, and went into +Schumann's again. We called for soda-water, and got it +again! (Applause.) And I called at the barracks, through +military courtesy, and paid my respects to the commandant. +I understand that the officers there have had my case +under consideration, and have unanimously agreed that I +am a graduate of the national Academy, and hold a +commission similar to their own, and am entitled to the +same courtesy as any other officer. I have been invited +to visit them at their quarters to-morrow. These things +show you something of social equality in the army, and +when this happens with officers who have lived in the +South, and had opportunity to be tainted with Southern +feeling, I expect still less trouble from this source +when I reach my regiment and among officers who have +not lived in the South and had occasion to be tainted +in this way. The gentlemen of the army are generally +better educated than the people of the South.' + +"He spoke of his graduation and of the applause with +which he was greeted. He closed by thanking his +audience. + + FLOURISHING HIS FLIPPER. + +"Then Flipper was escorted upon the floor, and the +announcement was made that all who desired could now +be introduced to the youth. + +"The first man to receive this distinguished honor was +George Thomas, the Assistant United States Attorney. He +was followed closely by several Northern school-marms +and teachers, and a host of the colored people. "After +shaking, the crowd took ice-cream and cake and adjourned. +Sic transit!" + +I pass over the preceding article with the silent +contempt it deserves. Some of the papers commented +upon it. I give two such articles: + + (From the Atlanta (Ga.) Republican.) + +"The Atlanta Constitution, true to principle, comes +out in a slanderous attack upon Lieutenant Flipper. +In its issue of Tuesday, July 10th, it calls him a +fraud. Would to heaven we had ten thousand such frauds +in Georgia for the good of the State and progress in +general! + +"It takes exception, too, to the manner in which the +colored lieutenant appeared at the reception given by +the colored people in his honor. He was 'lavishly +dressed in full regimentals,' it says, 'with gold cord. +He sat upon the stage with his massive and ponderous +sword, looking like Wellington or Grant in war council. +He made remarks uncalled for and distasteful.' Oh dear! +Oh! + +"Now we (that is I, this individual, Mr. Editor, +for I would not assume your grand editorial pronoun) +should like to know how the Constitution would have +the young officer dress. Surely it was entirely proper +and becoming that he should appear in full regimental +cap, coat, boots, spurs, and all, full fledged, just +as he issued forth from West Point. + +"In the first place it was a novel sight for the +colored people. Surely the Constitution would not +rob us of the privilege and pleasure of seeing in +full military costume the first and only one of our +race who has been permitted to pass through West Point +with honor. + +"In regard to the ostentatious manner in which the +lieutenant conducted himself on that evening, nothing +could be further from the truth. In fact, the general +comment of the evening by both black and white was on +the modesty of his bearing. + +"It is not strange, however, that the Constitution, +whose judgment and sense of right and justice have +been perverted through years of persistent sinning, +should see things in a different light. + +"The 'uncalled for and distasteful' remarks were +doubtless those made in regard to the fact that +Northern people coming into contact with Southern +prejudice are tainted by it, and that West Pointers +are generally better educated than the Southern +people. Of course this would stir up the wrath of +the Constitution; for what could be more hateful in +its sight than truth? + +"JUSTITIA." + + (From the New York World.) + +Lieutenant Flipper would have shown better sense if +he had not made any speech at Atlanta. But if he was +to make any speech at all upon the subject of his +treatment at West Point, it could scarcely be expected +that he should make one more modest, manly and sensible +than that which is reported in our news columns." + +Here are two other articles of the abusive order from +the Southern press: + + (From the Griffin (Ga.) News.) + +"J. C. Freeman, the only white man in Georgia that +ever disgraced the military of the United States, was +in the city yesterday. It will be remembered that this +individual at one time misrepresented this district in +Congress, and during that time he appointed one negro +by color, and Flipper by name, to West Point. But then, +nevertheless, the negro is as good as he is, and better +too, and we have no doubt but what Freeman thinks he did +a big thing, but the good people of the State think +different. This notice is not paid for." + + (From the Warrenton (Ga.) Clipper.) + +"The following is the way the Southerners solidify +their section--that is, it is one way--the other, +being the masked Kuklux. What it says, however, about +the North, is just about so: + +"'Lieutenant Flipper, the colored cadet, is in Macon, +and the darkies there think him a bigger man that +General Grant. They'll want him to be President after +awhile, and the Northern people will then be the first +to say no.'" + +The article of social equality referred to was clipped +from the New York Evening Telegram. It is as follows: + + NEGRO EQUALITY IN THE ARMY. + +"There is no danger of negro equality, oh no! But it +will be so delightful for the white soldier to be +commanded to pace the greensward before the tent of +Lieutenant Flipper, the negro graduate of West Point, +and the white soldier will probably indulge in a +strange train of thought while doing it. And when +promotion comes, and the negro becomes Majah Flippah, +or Colonel Flippah, the prospects of the white captains +and lieutenants will be so cheerful, particularly if +they have families and are stationed at some post +in the far West, where any neglect in the social +courtesies toward their superior officer would probably +go hard with them and their families." + +To go back to the article "Flying Around Flipper," I +want to say the white people of Georgia can claim no +credit for any part of my education. The Storrs school +was not a public school at the time I went to school +there. It did not become such until I went to West +Point. The Atlanta University receives $8000 per annum +From the State of Georgia in lieu of the share of the +agricultural land scrip due to the colored people for +educational purposes. Efforts have been made to take +even this from the university, but all have been +failures. + + (From the Macon (Ga.) Telegram and Messenger.) + + BATTALION PARADE. + +"On Monday evening the colored companies of the city +had a battalion parade and review. + +"The three companies, viz., the Lincoln Guards, the +Bibb County Blues, and the Central City Light Infantry, +formed on Fourth Street, and to martial music marched +up Mulberry to First, down First to Walnut, up Walnut +to Spring Street, and there formed for dress parade and +inspection. + +"On the right of the line were the Light Infantry +under Captain W. H. DeLyons. The Blues bore the +colors, and were commanded by Spencer Moses, Captain, +and the Guards supported the extreme left. T. N. M. +Sellers, Captain of the Lincoln Guards, acted as +major. After some preliminary movements the troops +were inspected by Lieutenant Flipper, the colored +graduate of West Point. The troops then marched around +the inspecting officer. + +"The line was again formed, and the major addressed +Lieutenant Flipper in a short speech, in which was +expressed gratitude to the government and thanks to +the inspecting officer. + +"Lieutenant Flipper replied in a few very sensible +and appropriate remarks: That he wished all success, +honor, and thanks to the companies for their kindness +and courtesy. Hoped they would all make soldiers and +tight for their country. That he was a soldier rather +than a speaker. That he had tried to do his duty at +West Point, and that he expected to continue to try +to do his duty, and 'again thanking you for your +hospitality, kindness, and attention to myself, I +renew my wish for your future success.' + +"After the speaking there was a general hand-shaking. +The entire parade was very creditable indeed, showing +considerable proficiency in the tactics, and was +witnessed by a large crowd of about twelve hundred of +whites and blacks. + +"This is the first review ever held by the colored +troops in the city of Macon. About eighty men rank +and file were out. The colors used was the United +States flag. The uniforms were tasty and well gotten +up." + +There was a very scurrilous article in one of the +Charleston (S.C.) papers. I have not been able to +get it. I am informed that after commenting on my +graduation, assignment, etc., it indulged in much +speculation as to my future. It told how I would +live, be treated, etc., how I would marry, beget +"little Flippers," and rear them up to "don the +army blue," and even went far enough to predict +their career. It was a dirty piece of literature, +and I am not very sorry I couldn't obtain it. + + (From the Atlanta (Ga.) Republican.) + + SUCCESSFUL COLORED YOUNG MEN. + +"At length a colored youth has overcome the difficulties +that surrounded him as a student at the West Point +Military Academy, and has graduated, with the respect +of his white associates who were at first very much +opposed to him. Mr. Flipper, the successful young man +is a Georgia boy, and was appointed a cadet to West +Point from the Fifth Congressional District--the +Atlanta District--by Congressman Freeman, we believe. +He was raised by Rev. Frank Quarles, of this city, and +is regarded by him almost as a son. + +"John F. Quarles, Esq., the son of Rev. Frank Quarles, +is spending a few days with his father. Mr. J. F. +Quarles was educated in Pennsylvania since the war, +and returned to Georgia in 1870. He read law and was +admitted to the Augusta bar after a careful examination +before three of the ablest lawyers at that bar, which +is noted for its talent. He passed a very creditable +examination, and is, we believe, the only colored man +who has been admitted to the Georgia bar. He was soon +after appointed consul to Port Mahon, in the Mediterranean +Sea, and served with credit until he was legislated of +office by the Democratic Congress. President Hayes +recently appointed him consul to Malaga, Spain. + +"Rev. Mr. Quarles is justly proud of two such boys." + +Here, too, is a venerable colored man claiming the +honor of having raised me. Why, I never was away +from my mother and father ten consecutive hours in +my life until I went to West Point. It is possible, +nay, very probable, that he jumped me on his knee, +or boxed me soundly for some of my childish pranks, +but as to raising me, that honor is my mother's, +not his. + +Before leaving West Point the following communications +were sent me from the head-quarters of the Liberia +Exodus Association, 10 Mary Street, Charleston S.C. +I replied in very courteous terms that I was opposed +to the whole scheme, and declined to have any thing to +do with it. I was in Charleston later in the year, and +while there I was besieged by some of the officers of +the association, who had not yet despaired of making me +"Generalissimo of Liberia's Army," as one of them +expressed himself. Wearied of their importunities, and +having no sympathy with the movement, I published the +following in the Charleston News and Courier: + + FLIPPER ON LIBERIA. + +"Lieutenant Flipper, of the Tenth United States Cavalry, +the newly- fledged colored West Pointer, has something +to say on the question of the Liberian Exodus, which +will be interesting to the people of his race. The +lieutenant, by his creditable career as a cadet at the +Military Academy, has certainly earned the right to be +heard by the colored population with at least as much +respect and attention as has been given to the very best +of the self-constituted apostles of the Exodus. Here is +his letter: + +To the Editor of The News and Courier: + +"'SIR: A rumor has come to me from various sources, +to the effect-that I have promised to resign my +commission in the army after serving the two years +required by law, and to then accept another as General +Commander-in-Chief of the Liberian Army. + +"'It has also come to my notice that many, particularly +in the counties adjoining Georgia, are being persuaded, +and intend going to Liberia because I have made this +promise. + +"'I shall consider it no small favor if you will state +that there is no law requiring me to serve two years, +that I never authorized any such statement as here made, +that I have no sympathy whatever for the "Liberian +Exodus" movement, that I give it neither countenance nor +support, but will oppose it whenever I feel that the +occasion requires it. I am not at all disposed to flee +from one shadow to grasp at another--from the supposed +error of Hayes's Southern policy to the prospective +glory of commanding Liberia's army. + +"'Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +"'HENRY O. FLIPPER, +"'Second Lieutenant Tenth U. S. Cavalry. +"'CHARLESTON, S.C., October 19, 1877.'" + + THE LETTERS FROM CHARLESTON. + + ROOMS OF THE LIBERIAN AFRICAN ASSOCIATION, + 10 MARY STREET, CHARLESTON, S.C., + June 22, 1877. + +To HENRY O. FLIPPER, Esq., +U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.: + +DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER: Your future, as foreshadowed +by the press of this country, looks dismal enough. We +have conned its remarks with mingled feelings of +sympathy and exultation. Exultation! because we believe +fate has something higher and better in store for you +than they or you ever dreamed. Inclosed please find +copy of a letter to the Honorable the Secretary of +State. We have not yet received a reply. Also, inclosed, +a number of the Missionary Record containing the call +referred to. We have mentioned you in our note to His +Excellency Anthony Gardner, President of Liberia. +Please communicate with us and say if this letter and +inclosures do not open up a bright vista in the future +to your imagination and reasonable aspirations? We +picture to ourselves our efforts to obtain a line of +steamers crowned with success; and behold you as +commander-in-chief organizing and marshalling Liberia's +military forces in the interests of humanity at large, +and the especial development of a grand African +nationality that shall command the respect of the +nations: + + So Afric shall resume her seat in the + Hall of Nations vast; + And strike upon her restrung lyre + The requiem of the past: + And sing a song of thanks to God, + For his great mercy shown, + In leading, with an outstretched arm, + The benighted wanderer home. Selah! + +Provide yourself at once with maps, etc., master the +chorography of Africa in general, and the topography +of Liberia in particular, that is to say, the whole +range of the Kong mountains, including its eastern +slope on to the Niger, our natural boundary! for the +next thirty years! after that, onward! Cultivate +especially the artillery branch of the service; this +is the arm with which we can most surely overawe all +thought of opposition among the native tribes; whilst +military engineering will dot out settlements with +forts, against which, they will see, 'twould be +madness to hurl themselves. We desire to absorb and +cultivate them. The great obstacle to this is their +refusal to have their girls educated. This results +from their institution of polygamy. Slavery is the +same the world over--it demands the utter ignorance +of its victims. We must compel their enlightenment. +Have we not said enough? Does not your intelligence +grasp, and your ambition spring to the great work? +Let us hear from you. You can be a great power in +assisting to carry out our Exodus. If you desire we +will elect you a member of our council and keep you +advised of our proceedings. We forward you by this +mail some of our numbers and the Charleston News of +the 20th. See the article on yourself, and let it +nerve you to thoughts and deeds of greatness. Let +us know something about Baker and McClennan. Are +they at Annapolis? Cadets? (We will require a navy +as well as an army.) Also something about yourself. +What part of the State are you from? Hon. R. H. Cain +is not here, or probably he could inform us. + +Affectionately yours. By our President, + +B. F. PORTER, +Pastor of Morris Brown Chapel. + +GEO. CURTIS, Corresponding Secretary. + +P. S.--We have received a reply from the Secretary +of State--very courteous in its tone--but "regrets" +to say that he has "no special means of forming an +opinion upon the subject. The measure referred to +would require an Act of Congress, in respect to +whose future proceedings it would not be prudent +to venture a prediction." + +The answer is all we expected. We have made ourselves +known to, and are recognized by, the Executive; our +next step is to address Senators Morton and Blaine-- +Hon. R. H. Cain will see to it, that the question is +pushed in the House. G.C. + + COPY. + + +Rooms OF THE LIBERIA EXODUS ASSOCIATION, +10 MARY STREET, CHARLESTON, S.C. +June 14, 1877. + +HON. WM. J. EVARTS, +Secretary of State, Washington, D.C.: + +Sir: Inclosed please find a call on our people to +prepare to organize for an exodus to Liberia. + +We think it explains itself, but any further +explanation called for we will gladly supply. + +In the event of a sufficient response to our call, +please inform us if there is any probability of our +government placing one or more steamers on the route +between here, or Port Royal, and Liberia for our +transportation; and if so, then the charge for +passage; and if, to those unable to pay ready money, +time will be given, and the payment received in produce? + +Tens of thousands are now eager to go from this State +alone, but we want a complete exodus, if possible, +from the whole United States; thus leaving you a +homogeneous people, opening up an immense market +for your products, giving a much required impetus +to your trade, commerce, and manufactures; and for +ourselves attaining a position where, removed from +under the shade of a "superior race," we will have +full opportunity for developing whatever capacity +of soul growth our Creator has endowed us with. + +That Africa will be developed, and chiefly through the +instrumentality of its five millions of descendants in +America, is certain. Now the question is, who shall have +the chief handling and consequent benefit of this grand +instrument, next to itself, of course, for we are treating +of a sentient instrumentality. We beseech you that you do +not send us, Columbus-like, from court to court offering +the development of a new world to incredulous ears. We +are asking the President of Liberia, the American +Colonization Society, and all friends of the measure, +for their aid, advice, and co-operation. + +We desire to carry our first shipment of emigrants not +later than September or October proximo. + +We have the honor to be, Sir, in all respect and loyalty, +yours to command. + +The Council of the L. E. A. By our President, + +B. F. PORTER, +Pastor Morris Brown A.M.E. Church. + +GEO. CURTIS, +Corresponding Secretary. + +Here is an article from some paper in New Orleans. +Contempt is all it deserves. I am sure all my readers +will treat it as I do. Frogs will croak, won't they? + + LIEUTENANT FLIPPER. + +"With the successful examination of the colored cadet +Flipper, at West Point, and his appearance in the +gazette as a full-fledged lieutenant of cavalry, the +long vexed question has been settled just as it ceased +to be a question of any practical import. Out of three +or four experiments Flipper is the one success. As the +whole South has now passed into Democratic control, and +the prospect for Southern Republican congressmen is +small, the experiments will hardly be repeated, and +he must stand for those that might have been. + +"It would be interesting to know how Flipper is to +occupy his time. The usual employments of young +lieutenants are of a social nature, such as leading +the German at Narraganset Pier and officiating in +select private theatricals in the great haunts of +Fashion. Flipper is described as a little bow-legged +grif of the most darkly coppery hue, and of a general +pattern that even the most enthusiastic would find it +hard to adopt. Flipper is not destined to uphold the +virtues and graces of his color in the salons of +Boston and New York, then, nor can he hope to escape +the disagreeably conspicuous solitude he now inhabits +among his fellow-officers through any of those agencies +of usage and familiarity which would result if other +Flippers were to follow him into the army and help to +dull the edge of the innovation. Just what Flipper is +to do with himself does not seem altogether clear. +Even the excitement of leading his men among the +redskins will be denied him, now that Spotted Tail has +pacified the malcontents and Sitting Bull has retired +to the Canadas. It is to be presumed that those persons +who patronized Flipper and had him sent to West Point +are gratified at the conclusion, and there is a sort of +reason for believing that Flipper himself is contented +with the lot he has accepted; but whether the experiment +is worth all the annoyance it occasions is a problem not +so easily disposed of. + +"His prospects don't appear to be very brilliant as +regards social delights or domestic enjoyments, but +of course that is Flipper's business-- not ours. It +merely struck us that things had happened a little +unfortunately for him, to become the lonesome +representative of his race in the midst of associations +that object to him and at a time when the supply of +colored officers is permanently cut off. Personally we +are not interested in Flipper." + +I am indebted to a Houston Texas, paper for the +following: + + THE COLORED WEST POINTER. + +"We had a call yesterday from Lieutenant H. O. +Flipper, of the United States Army. Mr. Flipper, +it will be remembered, is the colored cadet who +graduated at the Military Academy at West Point +last session, occupying in his class a position +that secured his appointment to the cavalry service, +a mark of distinction. He was gazetted as second +lieutenant in the Tenth Cavalry, and he enjoys the +honor of being the first colored man who has passed +by all the regular channels into an official station +in the army. + +"This young officer is a bright mulatto, tall and +soldierly, with a quiet unobtrusive manner, and the +bearing of a gentleman. As the forerunner of his race +in the position he occupies, he is placed in a delicate +and trying situation, a fact which he realizes. He +remarked that he knew it was one of the requirements of +an officer of the army to be a gentleman, a man of honor +and integrity under all circumstances, and he hoped to +be equal to his duties in this regard. He goes on to +Fort Concho to join his regiment, which is likely to +have work to do soon, if there is anything in the signs +of the times. + +"We bespeak for this young officer the just consideration +to which the difficulties of his position entitle him." + +I was originally ordered to Fort Concho, but at Houston, +Texas I met my lieutenant-colonel, who informed me that +My company was en route to Fort Sill. My orders were then +changed, and I proceeded to Sill. + +Here is another article from a paper in the same place: + + THE DIFFERENCE. + +"The Age yesterday had a call from Henry O. Flipper +second lieutenant Tenth United States Cavalry, who +is on his way under orders to join his regiment at +Fort Concho. So far there is nothing very unusual +in this item, but interest will be given to it when +we add that Lieutenant Flipper is the first colored +graduate of West Point. He went to the institution +from Georgia, and graduated last June, fifty-fifth +in a class of seventy-six. There is a preponderance +of white blood in his veins, and in general appearance, +except for color, he is a perfect image of Senator +Plumb of Kansas. He reports that since he has struck +the South he has been treated like a gentleman, which +is something different from his experience in the North. +He made the acquaintance of Senator Maxey at West Point-- +the Senator himself being a graduate of the Academy--and +regards him as a very pleasant gentleman. During the ten +minutes he spent in the Age editorial rooms several +prominent democrats of the city called to see and shake +hands with him, partly out of curiosity to see the colored +cadet who was so bitterly persecuted by Northern students +at West Point, and partly to bid him a welcome to the +South such as none of his political party friends would +have thought of giving him in the North. Before many +years he will be, as all intelligent colored men will +be, a democrat." + +Wherever I have travelled in the South it has been +thrown into my face that the Southern people had, +would, and did treat me better than the Northern +people. This is wholly untrue. It is true that the +men generally speak kindly and treat me with due +courtesy, but never in a single instance has a +Southern man introduced me to his wife or even +invited me to his house. It was done North in every +place I stopped. In many cases, when invited to visit +gentlemen's residences, they have told me they wanted +their wives to meet me. A distinguished New York lady, +whose name has occurred in print several times with +mine, gave me with her own hands a handsome floral +tribute, just after receiving my diploma. During five +months' stay in the South, after my graduation, not a +single Southern white woman spoke to me. I mistake. I +did buy some articles from one who kept a book-store +in a country town in Georgia. This is the only exception. +This is the way Southern people treated me better than +Northern people. The white people (men) of Houston, +Texas, showed me every possible courtesy while I was +there. My treatment there was in high and honorable +contrast to that I received in Atlanta. + +Here are two articles that have a few words to say +about me. I adopt and quote them at length: + + (From the New York Tribune.) + + WEST POINT. + +"The examinations of the boys in the national school +have become an object of national interest this year +more than any other, simply because there is a +stagnation of other news. While the public is waiting +for an outbreak from Kars or the new party, it has +leisure to look into the condition of these incipient +officers. Hence reporters have crowded to West Point, +the Board of Visitors and cadets have both been +quickened to unwonted zeal by the consciousness of +the blaze of notoriety upon them, and the country has +read with satisfaction each morning of searching +examinations and sweeping cavalry charges, giving a +shrug however, at the enthusiastic recommendation of +certain members of the board that the number of yearly +appointments should be doubled or quadrupled. In this +cold ague of economy with which the nation is attacked +just now, and which leaves old army officers unpaid +for a disagreeably long time, the chances of any +addition to the flock in the nest are exceedingly +small. In fact, while the average American in war time +recognized the utility of a trained band of tacticians, +he is apt to grumble at their drain upon his pocket in +piping times of peace. Only last year he relieved himself +in Congress and elsewhere by a good deal of portentous +talking as to the expediency of doing away with the naval +and military free schools altogether. He has, in short, +pretty much the opinion of the army officer that Hodge +has of his parish priest, 'useful enough for Sundays and +funerals, but too consumedly expensive a luxury for week +days.' + +"This opinion, no doubt, appears simply ludicrous +and vulgar to the gallant young fellows who are +being trained for their country's service up the +Hudson, and who already look upon themselves as its +supports and bulwarks, but there is a substratum of +common-sense in it which we commend to their +consideration, because, if for no other reason, that +the average American is the man who pays their bills +and to whom they owe their education and future +livelihood. If they do not accept his idea of the +conduct and motives of action by which they may +properly repay him the debt they owe, it certainly +is fitting that their own idea should be indisputably +a higher one. We begin to doubt whether it is not much +lower. The country, in establishing this school, simply +proposed to train a band of men skilled to serve it +when needed as tacticians, engineers, or disciplinarians; +the more these men founded their conduct on the bases of +good sense, honor, and republican principles, the better +and higher would be their service. The idea of the boys +themselves, however, within later years, seems to be +that they constitute an aristocratic class (moved by +any thing but republican principles) entitled to lay +down their own laws of good-breeding and honor. Accounts +which reach us of their hazing, etc., and notably their +treatment of the colored cadets, show that these notions +are quite different from those accepted elsewhere. Now +such ideas would be natural in pupils of the great French +or Austrian military schools, where admission testifies +to high rank by birth or to long, patient achievement on +the part of the student. But really our boys at West +Point must remember that they belong to a nation made +up of working and trades men; that they are the sons of +just such people; that the colored laborer helps to pay +for their support as well as that of the representative +of his race who sits beside them. Furthermore, they have +done nothing as yet to entitle them to assume authority +in such matters. They have recited certain lessons, +learned to drill and ride, and to wear their clothes +with precision; but something more is needed. The knight +of old was skilled in gentleness and fine courtesy to the +weak and unfortunate as well as in horsemanship. It was +his manners, not his trousers, which were beyond reproach. + +"It is not as trifling a matter as it seems that these +young fellows should thus imbibe mistaken ideas of their +own position or the requirements of real manliness and +good-breeding. The greatest mistakes in the war were in +consequence of just such defects in some of our leading +officers, and the slaughter of the Indians in the South- +West upon two occasions proceeded from their inability +to recognize the rights of men of a different color from +themselves. Even in trifles, however, such matters follow +the rule of inexorable justice--as, for instance, in this +case of Cadet Flipper, who under ordinary circumstances +might have passed without notice, but is now known from +one end of the country to the other as a credit to his +profession in scholarship, pluck, and real dignity; while +his classmates are scarcely mentioned, though higher +in rank, except in relation to their cruel and foolish +conduct toward him." + + (From the New York World.) + +"WEST POINT, August 29.--In my earnest desire to do +justice to the grand ball last night I neglected to +mention the arrival of the new colored candidate for +admission into the United States, Military Academy, +although I saw him get off at the steamboat lauding +and was a witness to the supreme indifference with +which he was treated, save by a few personal friends. +Minnie passed the physical examination easily, for he +is a healthy mulatto. Whether this stern Alma Mater +will matriculate him is still a question. It is +really astonishing, and perhaps alarming, in view of +the enthusiastic endeavors of the Republican party +to confer upon the colored race all the rights and +privileges of citizens of the United States, to see +with what lofty contempt every candidate for academic +honors who is in the slightest degree 'off color,' is +received. As you are aware, there is at present a +colored, or partly colored, cadet in the Freshman +Class--Whittaker by name. This poor young mulatto is +completely ostracized not only by West Point society, +but most thoroughly by the corps of cadets itself. +Flipper got through all right, and, strange to say, +the cadets seem to have a certain kind of respect for +him, although he was the darkest 'African' that has +yet been seen among the West Point cadets. Flipper +had remarkable pluck and nerve, and was accorded his +parchment--well up on the list, too--at last graduation +day. He is made of sterner staff than poor Whittaker. + +"A most surprising fact is that not one of the cadets +--and I think I might safely include the professors-- +tries to dissemble his animosity for the black, mulatto, +or octoroon candidate. When I asked a cadet to-day some +questions concerning the treatment of Cadet Whittaker +by the corps, he said : 'Oh, we get along very well, +sir. The cadets simply ignore him, and he understands +very well that we do not intend to associate with him.' +This cadet and several others were asked whether Minnie, +if admitted, would also be ostracized socially. Their +only answer was: 'Certainly; that is well understood by +all. We don't associate with these men, but they have +all the rights that we have nevertheless.' I asked if +he knew whether Whittaker attended the ball last night. +The cadet said he didn't see him at the ball, but that +he might have been looking on from the front stoop! 'How +does this young man Whittaker usually amuse himself when +the rest of the boys are at play?' I asked. 'Well, we +don't get much play, and I think that Whittaker has as +much as he can do to attend to his studies. He managed +to pull through at last examination, but I doubt if he +ever graduates,' was the reply. Meeting another cadet +to whom I had been introduced I asked what he had heard +of the prospects of the new colored candidate, Minnie. +'I haven't heard any thing, but I hope he won't get +through,' said the cadet. Another cadet who stood near +said that the case of Flipper, who graduated so +successfully, was an exceptional one. Flipper didn't care +for any thing except to graduate, but he was confident +that these other colored cadets would fail. So far as I +have been able to ascertain, the Faculty have never +attempted to prevent the colored cadets from having an +equal chance with their white fellows. In fact under the +present management it would be next to impossible for +them to do so." + +I can't let this article pass without quoting a few +words from a letter I have from Whittaker, now at West +Point. He says: + +"I have been treated bully since I came in from camp +(of summer of '77). Got only one 'skin' last month +(Deccember, '77). I am still under '--' (tactical +officer), and he treats me bully; he wanted to have +a man court-martialled, when we were in camp, for +refusing to close up on me. One day a corporal put +me in the rear rank when there were plebes in the +front rank, and--told him if any such act ever +occurred again he would have him and the file confined +to the guard-house. He has never 'skinned' me since +you left. He is O.K. towards me, and the others are +afraid of him . . . . As I am sitting in my room on +third floor, sixth 'div,' a kind of sadness creeps over +me, for I am all alone. Minnie went home on last Friday. +He was weighed in the 'math' scale and found wanting. +The poor fellow did not study his 'math' and could not +help being 'found.' He was treated fairly and squarely, +but he did not study. I did all I could to help and +encourage him, but it was all in vain. He did not +like--(an instructor) very much, and a carelessness +seized him, which resulted in his dismissal. I was +sorry to see him go away, and he himself regretted it +very much. He saw his great error only when it was +too late. On the day he left he told me that he did +not really study a 'math' lesson since he entered; and +was then willing to give any thing to remain and redeem +himself. He had a very simple subject on examination, +and when he came back he told me that he had not seen +the subject for some two or three weeks before, and he, +consequently, did not know what to put on the board. All +he had on it was wrong, and he could not make his +demonstration." + +The World reporter seems to be as ignorant as some +of the others. I was by no means the "darkest 'African' +that has yet been seen among the West Point cadets." +Howard, who reported in 1870 with Smith, was unadulterated, +as also were Werle and White, who reported in 1874. There +were others who were also darker than I am: Gibbs and +Napier, as I am informed. I never saw the last two. + +The Brooklyn Eagle is more generous in its views. It +proposes to utilize me. See what it says: + +"Probably Lieutenant Flipper could be made much more +useful than as a target for Indian bullets, if our +government would withdraw him from the army and place +him in some colored college, where he could teach the +pupils engineering, so that when they reach Africa they +could build bridges, railroads, etc." + +This article was signed by "H. W. B." It is not +difficult to guess who that is. + +I have had considerable correspondence with an army +officer, a stranger to me, on this subject of being +detailed at some college. He is of opinion it would +be best for me. I could not agree with him. After I +joined my company an effort (unknown to me) was made +by the Texas Mechanical and Agricultural College to +have me detailed there. It was published in the papers +that I had been so detailed. I made some inquiries, +learned of the above statements, and that the effort +had completely failed. Personally I'd rather remain +with my company. I have no taste and no tact for +teaching. I would decline any such appointment. + + (From the Thomasville (Ga.) Times.) + +"Wm. Flipper, the colored cadet, has graduated at West +Point and been commissioned as a second lieutenant of +cavalry in the United States Army. He is the first +colored individual who ever held a commission in the +army, and it remains to be seen how the thing will work. +Flipper's father resides here, and is a first-class boot +and shoe maker. A short time back he stated that he had +no idea his son would be allowed to graduate, but he +will be glad to know that he was mistaken." + +Of course everybody knows my name is not William. + + (From the, Thomasville (Ga.) Enterprise.) + +"Lieutenant Henry O. Flipper of the United States Army +is spending a few days here with his father's family, +he has been on the streets very little, spending most +of his time at home. He wears an undress uniform and +deports himself, so far as we have heard, with perfect +propriety. This we believe he has done since his +graduation, with the exception of his unnecessary and +uncalled-for criticisms on the Southern people in his +Atlanta speech. He made a mistake there; one which his +sense and education ought to teach him not to repeat. +Not that it would affect our people, or that they care +about it, but for his own good."* + +*In all the places I visited after graduation I was +treated with the utmost respect and courtesy except +in Atlanta. The white people, with one exception, +didn't notice me at all. All foreigners treated me +with all due consideration. One young man, whom I +knew many years, who has sold me many an article, +and awaited my convenience for his pay, and who met +me in New York, and walked and talked with me, hung +his head and turned away from me, just as I was about +to address him on a street in Atlanta. Again and again +have I passed and repassed acquaintances on the streets +without any sign of recognition, even when I have +addressed them. Whenever I have entered any of their +stores for any purpose, they have almost invariably +"gotten off" some stuff about attempts on the part of +the authorities at West Point to "freeze me out," or +about better treatment from Southern boys than from +those of the North. That is how they treated me in +Atlanta, although I had lived there over fourteen years, +and was known by nearly every one in the city. In +Thomasville, Southwest, Ga., where I was born, and which +I had not seen for eighteen years, I was received and +treated by the whites almost as one of themselves. + +That "undress uniform" was a "cit" suit of blue +Cheviot. The people there, like those in Atlanta, +don't seem to know a black button from a brass one, +or a civilian suit from a military uniform. + + (From the Charleston (S.C.) News and Courier.) + + THE COLORED WESTPOINTER. + +Lieutenant H. O. Flipper, the colored graduate of +West Point, was entertained in style at Tully's, +King Street, Tuesday night. The hosts were a +colored organization called tile Amateur Literary +and Fraternal Association, which determined that +the lieutenant who will leave this city to-day to +join his regiment, the Tenth Cavalry, now in Texas, +should not do so without some evidence of their +appreciation of him personally, and of the fact that +he had reflected credit on their race by passing +through the National Academy. Over forty persons +were at the entertainment, to whom the lieutenant +was presented by A. J. Ransier, the colored ex-member +of Congress. The lieutenant responded briefly, as he +has invariably done, and expressed his warm thanks +for the courtesy shown by the association. A number +of sentiments were offered and speeches made, and the +evening passed off very agreeably to all, especially +so to the recipient of the hospitality. + +"Lieutenant Flipper expects to start to-day for Texas. +While he has been in this city he has made friends with +whites and blacks by he sensible course he has pursued." + + (From the Charleston (S.C.) Commercial.) + + LIEUTENANT FLIPPER'S ENTERTAINMENT. + +"The Amateur Literary and Fraternal Association, of +which A. J. Ransier is the President, learning that +Lieutenant Flipper, of the United States Cavalry, was +preparing to depart to the position assigned him on +duty on the plains in Texas, at once determined to +give him a reception, and for this purpose the +following committee was appointed to arrange the +details and programme for an entertainment: J. N. +Gregg, W. H. Birny, A. J. Ransier, C. C. Leslie, +and George A. Gibson. + +"The arrangements were made, and the members of the +association and invited guests to the number of some +forty, of the most respectable colored people of +Charleston, met last night at Tully's Hall, King +Street, where a bounteous feast was prepared for the +occasion. The guest, Lieutenant Flipper, soon arrived, +and was introduced to the party, and, in the course of +time, all sat down at the table, upon which was spread +the most palatable dishes which the king caterer of +Charleston could prepare. This was vigorously attacked +by all. + +"Wines were then brought on, and speech-making +introduced as a set off. A. J. Ransier, in one of +his usual pleasant speeches, introduced Lieutenant +Flipper, paying him a deserved tribute for his +success in the attainment of the first commission +issued to a colored graduate of West Point. + +"Lieutenant Flipper, in a brief and courteous speech, +acknowledged the compliment, and thanked the association +for the kind attention paid him, promising them that in +his future career in the army of his country he would +ever strive to maintain a position which would do credit +to his race. + +"W. H. Birney next responded in eloquent terms to +the toast, 'The State of South Carolina.' J. N. Gregg +was called upon, and responded in a wise and discreet +manner to the toast of 'The Future of the Colored Man +in this Country.' 'The Press' and 'Woman' were next +respectively toasted, and responded to by Ransier and +F. A. Carmand. Other speeches were made by C. C. Leslie, +J. J. Connor, and others, and at a late hour the party +retired, after a most pleasant evening's enjoyment. +Lieutenant Flipper leaves for Texas to-morrow." + +Before closing my narrative I desire to perform a very +pleasant duty. I sincerely believe that all my success +at West Point is due not so much to my perseverance and +general conduct there as to the early moral and mental +training I received at the hands of those philanthropic +men and women who left their pleasant homes in the North +to educate and elevate the black portion of America's +citizens, and that, too, to their own discomfort and +disadvantage. How they have borne the sneers of the +Southern press, the ostracism from society in the South, +the dangers of Kuklux in remote counties, to raise up a +downtrodden race, not for personal aggrandizement, but +for the building up and glory of His kingdom who is no +respecter of persons, is surely worthy our deepest +gratitude, our heartfelt thanks, and our prayers and +blessing. Under the training of a good Christian old +lady, too old for the work, but determined to give her +mite of instruction, I learned to read and to cipher-- +this in 1866. From her I was placed under control of a +younger person, a man. From him I passed to the control +of another lady at the famous "Storr's School." I +remained under her for two years more or less, when I +passed to the control of another lady in what was called +a Normal School. From here I went to the Atlanta +University, and prepared for the college course, which +in due time I took up. This course of training was the +foundation of all my after-success. The discipline, +which I learned to heed, because it was good, has been +of incalculable benefit to me. It has restrained and +shaped my temper on many an occasion when to have +yielded to it would have been ruin. It has regulated +my acts when to have committed them as I contemplated +would have been base unmanliness. And it has made my +conduct in all cases towards others generous, courteous, +and Christian, when it might otherwise have been mean, +base, and degrading. It taught me to be meek, considerate, +and kind, and I have verily been benefited by it. + +The mind-training has been no less useful. Its +thoroughness, its completeness, and its variety +made me more than prepared to enter on the curriculum +of studies prescribed at West Point. A less thorough, +complete, or varied training would never have led to +the success I achieved. I was not prepared expressly +for West Point. This very thoroughness made me +competent to enter any college in the land. + +How my heart looks back and swells with gratitude to +these trainers of my youth! My gratitude is deeply +felt, but my ability to express it is poor. May Heaven +reward them with long years of happiness and usefulness +here, and when this life is over, and its battles won, +may they enter the bright portals of heaven, and at His +feet and from His own hands receive crowns of immortal +glory. + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + +JAMES WEBSTER SMITH, a native of South Carolina, was +appointed to a cadetship at the United States Military +Academy at West Point, New York, in 1870, by the Hon. +S. L. Hoge. He reported, as instructed, at the Military +Academy in the early summer of 1870, and succeeded in +passing the physical and intellectual examination +prescribed, and was received as a "conditional cadet." +At the same time one Howard reported, but unfortunately +did not succeed in "getting in." + +In complexion Smith was rather light, possibly an +octoroon. Howard, on the contrary, was black. Howard +had been a student at Howard University, as also had +been Smith. Smith, before entering the Academy, had +graduated at the Hartford High School, and was well +prepared to enter upon the new course of studies at +West Point. + +In studies he went through the first year's course +without any difficulty, but unfortunately an affaire +d'honneur--a "dipper fight"--caused him to be put back +one year in his studies. In going over this course +again he stood very high in his class, but when it +was finished he began going down gradually until he +became a member of the last section of his class, an +"immortal," as we say, and in constant danger of being +"found." + +He continued his course in this part of his class +till the end of his second class year, when he was +declared deficient in natural and experimental +philosophy, and dismissed. At this time he had been +in the Academy four years, but had been over only a +three-years' course, and would not have graduated +until the end of the next year, June, 1875. + +As to his trials and experiences while a cadet, I +shall permit him to speak. The following articles +embrace a series of letters written by him, after his +dismissal, to the New National Era and Citizen, the +political organ of the colored people, published at +Washington, D. C.: + + THE COLORED CADET AGAIN. + + PERTINENT OR IMPERTINENT CARD FROM CADET SMITH. + +"COLUMBIA, S.C., July 27,1874. + +To the Editor of the National Republican: + +"SIR: I saw an article yesterday in one of our local +papers, copied from the Brooklyn Argus, concerning +my dismissal from the Military Academy. The article +referred to closes as follows: 'Though he has written +letters to his friends, and is quite sanguine about +returning and finally graduating, the professors and +cadets say there is not the slightest chance. Said a +professor to a friend, the other day: "It will be a +long time before any one belonging to the colored race +can graduate at West Point."' + +"Now, Sir, I would like to ask a few questions +through the columns of your paper concerning these +statements, and would be glad to have them answered +by some of the knowing ones. + +"In the first place, what do the professors and +cadets know of my chances for getting back, and +if they know any thing, how did they find it out? +At an interview which I had with the Secretary of +War, on the 17th instant, he stated that he went +to West Point this year for a purpose, and that he +was there both before and after my examination, and +conversed with some of the professors concerning me. +Now, did that visit and those conversations have any +thing to do with the finding of the Academic Board? +Did they have any thing to do with that wonderful +wisdom and foresight displayed by the professors and +cadets in commenting upon my chances for getting back? +Why should the Secretary of War go to West Point this +year 'for a purpose,' and converse with the professors +about me both before and after the examination? Besides, +he spoke of an interview he had had with Colonel Ruger, +Superintendent of the Academy, in New York, on Sunday, +the 12th instant, in reference to me; during which +Colonel Ruger had said that the Academic Board would +not recommend me to return. Is it very wonderful that +the Academic Board should refuse such recommendation +after those very interesting conversations which were +held 'both before and after the recommendation?' Why +was the secretary away from West Point at the time of +the examination. + +"In the next place, by what divine power does that +learned oracle, a professor, prophesy that it will +be a long time before any one belonging to the +colored race can graduate at West Point? It seems +that he must have a wonderful knowledge of the negro +that he can tell the abilities of all the colored +boys in America. But it is possible that he is one +of the younger professors, perhaps the professor of +philosophy, and therefore expects to live and preside +over that department for a long time, though to the +unsophisticated mind it looks very much as though he +would examine a colored cadet on the color of his face. + +"I think he could express himself better and come much +nearer the truth by substituting shall for can in that +sentence. Of course, while affairs remain at West Point +as they have always been, and are now, no colored boy +will graduate there; but there are some of us who are +sanguine about seeing a change, even if we can't get +back. + +"J. W. SMITH, +"Late Cadet U.S.M.A." + + THE DIPPER DIFFICULTY. + +"COLUMBIA, S.C., July 30, 1874. + +To the Editor of the New National Era: + +As I told you in my last communication, I shall now +proceed to give you an account of my four years' stay +at West Point. + +"I reported there on the 31st of May, 1870, and had +not been there an hour before I had been reminded by +several thoughtful cadets that I was 'nothing but a +d--d nigger.' Another colored boy, Howard, of +Mississippi, reported on the same day, and we were +put in the same room, where we stayed until the +preliminary examination was over, and Howard was sent +away, as he failed to pass. + +"While we were there we could not meet a cadet +anywhere without having the most opprobrious +epithets applied to us; but after complaining two +or three times, we concluded to pay no attention +to such things, for, as we did not know these +cadets, we could get no satisfaction. + +"One night about twelve o'clock some one came into +our room, and threw the contents of his slop-pail +over us while we were asleep. We got to our door +just in time to hear the 'gentleman' go into his +room on the floor above us. This affair reported +itself the next morning at 'Police Inspection,' and +the inspector ordered us to search among the tobacco +quids, and other rubbish on the floor, for something +by which we might identify the perpetrator of the +affair. The search resulted in the finding of an old +envelope, addressed to one McCord, of Kentucky. That +young 'gentleman' was questioned in reference, but +succeeded in convincing the authorities that he had +nothing to do with the affair and knew nothing of it. + +"A few days after that, Howard was struck in the +face by that young 'gentleman,' 'because,' as he +says, 'the d--d nigger didn't get out of the way +when I was going into the boot-black's shop.' For +that offence Mr. McCord was confined to his room, +but was never punished, as in a few days thereafter +he failed at the preliminary examination, and was +sent away with all the other unfortunates, including +Howard. + +"On the 28th of June, 1870, those of us who had +succeeded in passing the preliminary examination +were taken in 'plebe camp,' and there I got my taste +of 'military discipline,' as the petty persecutions +of about two hundred cadets were called. Left alone +as I was, by Howard's failure, I had to take every +insult that was offered, without saying any thing, +for I had complained several times to the Commandant +of Cadets, and, after 'investigating the matter,' he +invariably came to the conclusion, 'from the evidence +deduced,' that I was in the wrong, and I was cautioned +that I had better be very particular about any statements +that I might make, as the regulations were very strict +on the subject of veracity. + +"Whenever the 'plebes' (new cadets) were turned out to +'police' camp, as they were each day at 5 A.M. and 4 +P.M., certain cadets would come into the company street +and spit out quids of tobacco which they would call for +me to pick up. I would get a broom and shovel for the +purpose, but they would immediately begin swearing at +and abusing me for not using my fingers, and then the +corporal of police would order me to put down that broom +and shovel, 'and not to try to play the gentleman here,' +for my fingers were 'made for that purpose.' Finding +there was no redress to be had there, I wrote my friend +Mr. David Clark, of Hartford, Ct., to do something for +me. He had my letter published, and that drew the +attention of Congress to the matter, and a board was +sent to West Point to inquire into the matter and +report thereon. That board found out that several +cadets were guilty of conduct unbecoming a cadet and +a gentleman and recommended that they be court- +martialled, but the Secretary of War thought a +reprimand would be sufficient. Among those reprimanded +were Q. O'M. Gillmore, son of General Gillmore; Alex. B. +Dyer, son of General Dyer; and James H. Reid, nephew of +the Secretary of War (it is said). I was also reprimanded +for writing letters for publication. + +"Instead of doing good, these reprimands seemed +only to increase the enmity of the cadets, and they +redoubled their energies to get me into difficulty, +and they went on from bad to worse, until from words +they came to blows, and then occurred that 'little +onpleasantness' known as the 'dipper fight.' On the +13th of August, 1870, I, being on guard, was sent to +the tank for a pail of water. I had to go a distance +of about one hundred and fifty yards, fill the pail by +drawing water from the faucet in a dipper (the faucet +was too low to permit the pail to stand under it), and +return to the guard tent in ten minutes. When I reached +the tank, one of my classmates, J. W. Wilson, was standing +in front of the faucet drinking water from a dipper. He +didn't seem inclined to move, so I asked him to stand +aside as I wanted to get water for the guard. He said: +'I'd like to see any d--d nigger get water before I get +through.' I said: 'I'm on duty, and I've got no time to +fool with you,' and I pushed the pail toward the faucet. +He kicked the pail over, and I set it up and stooped +down to draw the water, and then he struck at me with +his dipper, but hit the brass plate on the front of my +hat and broke his dipper. I was stooping down at the +time, but I stood up and struck him in the face with +my left fist; but in getting up I did not think of a +tent fly that was spread over the tank, and that pulled +my hat down over my eyes. He then struck me in the face +with the handle of his dipper (he broke his dipper at +the first blow), and then I struck him two or three +times with my dipper, battering it, and cutting him +very severely on the left side of 'his head near the +temple. He bled very profusely, and fell on the ground +near the tank. + +"The alarm soon spread through the camp, and all the +cadets came running to the tank and swearing vengeance +on the 'd--d nigger.' + +"An officer who was in his tent near by came out and +ordered me to be put under guard in one of the guard +tents, where I was kept until next morning, when I +was put 'in arrest.' Wilson was taken to the hospital, +where he stayed two or three weeks, and as soon as he +returned to duty he was also placed in arrest. This +was made the subject for a court-martial, and that +court-martial will form the subject of my next +communication. + +Yours respectfully, + +"J. W. SMITH, +"Late Cadet U.S.M.A." + + THE INJUSTICE AT WEST POINT. + +"COLUMBIA, S.C., August 7, 1874. + +To the Editor of the New National Era: + +"SIR: In my last communication I related the +circumstances of the 'dipper fight,' and now we +come to the court-martial which resulted therefrom. + +"But there was another charge upon which I was tried +at the same time, the circumstances of which I will +detail. + +"On the 15th of August, 1870, just two days after the +'dipper fight,' Cadet Corporal Beacom made a report +against me for 'replying in a disrespectful manner to +a file-closer when spoken to at drill, P.M. For this +alleged offence I wrote an explanation denying the +charge; but Cadet Beacom found three cadets who swore +that they heard me make a disrespectful reply in ranks +when Cadet Beacom, as a file-closer on duty, spoke to +me, and the Commandant of Cadets, Lieutenant Colonel +Upton, preferred charges against me for making false +statements. + +"The court to try me sat in September, with General O. +O. Howard as President. I plead 'not guilty' to the +charge of assault on Cadet Wilson, and also to the +charge of making false statements. + +"The court found both Cadet Wilson and myself 'guilty' +of assault, and sentenced us to be confined for two or +three weeks, with some other light punishment in the +form of 'extra duty.' + +The finding of the court was approved by President +Grant in the case of Cadet Wilson, but disapproved +in my case, on the ground that the punishment was +not severe enough. Therefore, Cadet W. served his +punishment and I did not serve mine, as there was +no authority vested in the President to increase it. + +"On the second charge I was acquitted, for I proved, +by means of the order book of the Academy that there +was no company drill on that day--the 15th of August +--that there was skirmish drill, and by the guard +reports of the same date, that Cadet Beacom and two +of his three witnesses were on guard that day, and +could not have been at drill, even if there had been +one. To some it might appear that the slight +inconsistencies existing between the sworn testimony +of those cadets and the official record of the Academy, +savored somewhat of perjury, but they succeeded in +explaining the matter by saying that 'Cadet Beacom +only made a mistake in date.' Of course he did; how +could it be otherwise? It was necessary to explain it +in some way so that I might be proved a liar to the +corps of cadets, even if they failed to accomplish +that object to the satisfaction of the court. + +"I was released in November, after the proceedings +and findings of the court had been returned from +Washington, where they had been sent for the approval +of the President, having been in arrest for three +months. But I was not destined to enjoy my liberty +for any length of time, for on the 13th of December, +same year, I was in the ranks of the guard, and was +stepped on two or three times by Cadet Anderson, one +of my classmates, who was marching beside me. + +"As I had had some trouble with the same cadet some +time before, on account of the same thing I believed +that he was doing it intentionally, and as it was very +annoying, I spoke to him about it, saying: "I wish you +would not tread on my toes.' He answered: 'Keep your +d--d toes out of the way.' Cadet Birney, who was +standing near by, then made some invidious remarks +about me, to which I did not condescend to reply. One +of the Cadet Corporals, Bailey, reported me for +'inattention in ranks,' and in my written explanation +of the offence, I detailed the circumstances, but both +Birney and Anderson denied them, and the Commandant of +Cadets took their statement in preference to mine, and +preferred charges against me for falsehood. + +"I was court martialled in January, 1871, Captain +Piper, Third Artillery, being President of the court. +By this court I was found I 'guilty,' as I had no +witnesses, and had nothing to expect from the +testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution. Cadet +Corporal Bailey, who made the report, Cadets Birney +and Anderson were the witnesses who convicted me; in +fact they were the only witnesses summoned to testify +in the case. The sentence of the court was that I +should be dismissed, but it was changed to one year's +suspension, or, since the year was almost gone before +the finding of the court was returned from Washington, +where it was sent for the approval of President Grant, +I was put back one year. + +"I had no counsel at this trial, as I knew it would be +useless, considering the one-sided condition of affairs. +I was allowed to make the following written statement +of the affair to be placed among the records of the +proceedings of the court: + +"'May it please the court: I stand here to-day +charged with a most disgraceful act--one which +not only affects my character, but will, if I am +found guilty, affect it during my whole life--and +I shall attempt, in as few words as possible, to +show that I am as innocent as any person in this +room. I was reported on the 18th of December, 1870, +for a very trivial offence. For this offence I +submitted an explanation to the Commandant of +Cadets. In explanation I stated the real cause of +committing the offence for which I was reported. +But this cause, as stated, involved another cadet, +who, finding himself charged with an act for which +he was liable to punishment, denies all knowledge +of it. He tries to establish his denial by giving +evidence which I shall attempt to prove absurd. On +the morning of the 13th of December, 1870, at guard- +mounting, after the new guard had marched past the +old guard, and the command of "Twos left, halt!" had +been given, the new guard was about two or three yards +to the front and right of the old guard. Then the +command of "Left backward, dress," was given to the +new guard, "Order arms, in place rest." I then turned +around to Cadet Anderson, and said to him, "I wish you +would not tread on my toes." This was said in a moderate +tone, quite loud enough for him to hear. He replied, as +I understood, " Keep your d-d toes out of the way." I +said nothing more, and he said nothing more. I then +heard Cadet Birney say to another cadet--I don't know +who it was--standing by his side, "It (or the thing) is +speaking to Mr. Anderson. If he were to speak to me I +would knock him down." I heard him distinctly, but as +I knew that he was interfering in an affair that did +not concern him, I took no further notice of him, but +turned around to my original position in the ranks. +What was said subsequently I do not know, for I paid +no further attention to either party. I heard nothing +said at any time about taking my eyes away, or of Cadet +Anderson compromising his dignity. Having thus reviewed +the circumstances which gave rise to the charge, may +it please the court, I wish to say a word as to the +witnesses. Each of these cadets testifies to the fact +that they have discussed the case in every particular, +both with each other and with other cadets. That is, +they have found out each other's views and feelings in +respect to it, compared the evidence which each should +give, the probable result of the trial; and one has +even testified that he has expressed a desire as to +the result. Think you that Cadet Birney, with such a +desire in his breast, influencing his every thought +and word, with such an end in view, could give evidence +unbiassed, unprejudiced, and free from that desire that +"Cadet Smith might be sent away and proved a liar?" +Think you that he could give evidence which should be +"the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, +so help me God?" It seems impossible for me to have +justice done me by the evidence of such witnesses, but +I will leave that for the court to decide. There is +another question here which must be answered by the +finding of the court. It is this: "Shall Cadet Smith +be allowed to complain to the Commandant of Cadets when +he considers himself unjustly dealt with?" When the +court takes notice of the fact that this charge and +these specifications are the result of a complaint made +by me, it will agree with me as to the importance its +findings will have in answering that question. As to +what the finding will be, I can say nothing; but if the +court is convinced that I have lied, then I shall expect +a finding and sentence in accordance with such +conviction. A lie is as disgraceful to one man as another, +be he white or black, and I say here, as I said to the +Commandant of Cadets, "If I were guilty of falsehood, I +should merit and expect the same punishment as any other +cadet;" but, as I said before, I am as innocent of this +charge as any person in this room. The verdict of an +infallible judge--conscience-- is, "Not guilty," and that +is the finding I ask of this court. + +"Respectfully submitted. + +(Signed) "'J. W. SMITH, +"'Cadet U.S.M.A.' + +"'Thus ended my second and last court-martial. + +"Yours respectfully, + +"J. W. SMITH, +"Late Cadet U.S.M.A." + + THE HONOR OF A CADET AND GENTLEMAN. + +To the Editor of the New National Era: + +"SIR: In relating the events of my first year at West +Point, I omitted one little affair which took place, +and I will now relate the circumstances. One Sunday, +at dinner, I helped myself to some soup, and one cadet, +Clark, of Kentucky, who sat opposite me at table, asked +me what I meant by taking soup before he had done so. I +told him that I took it because I wished it, and that +there was a plenty left. He seemed to be insulted at +that, and asked: 'Do you think I would eat after a d--d +Nigger?' I replied: 'I have not thought at all on the +subject, and, moreover, I don't quite understand you, +as I can't find that last word in the dictionary.' He +then took up a glass and said he would knock my head +off. I told him to throw as soon as he pleased, and as +soon as he got through I would throw mine. The commandant +of the table here interfered and ordered us to stop +creating a disturbance at the table, and gave me to +understand that thereafter I should not touch any thing +on that table until the white cadets were served. + +"When we came back from dinner, as I was going into +my room, Cadet Clark struck at me from behind. He hit +me on the back of my neck, causing me to get into my +room with a little more haste than I anticipated, but +he did not knock me down. He came into my room, +following up his advantage, and attempted to take me +by the throat, but he only succeeded in scratching me +a little with his nails, as I defended myself as well +as possible until I succeeded in getting near my bayonet, +which I snatched from the scabbard and then tried to put +it through him. But being much larger and stronger than +I, he kept me off until he got to the door, but then he +couldn't get out, for some one was holding the door on +the outside, for the purpose, I suppose, of preventing +my escape, as no doubt they thought I would try to get +out. There were a great many cadets outside on the +stoop, looking through the window, and cheering their +champion, with cries of 'That's right, Clark; kill the +d--d nigger,' 'Choke him,' 'Put a head on him,' etc., +but when they saw him giving way before the bayonet, +they cried, 'Open the door, boys,' and the door was +opened, and Mr. Clark went forth to rejoice in the +bosom of his friends as the hero of the day. The +cadet officer of the day 'happened around' just after +Clark had left, and wanted to know what did I mean by +making all that noise in and around my quarters. I +told him what the trouble was about, and soon after +I was sent for by the 'officer in charge,' and +questioned in reference to the affair. Charges were +preferred against Clark for entering my room and +assaulting me, but before they were brought to trial +he sent two of his friends tome asking if I would +withdraw the charges providing he made a written +apology. I told these cadets that I would think of +the matter and give them a definite answer the next +evening. + +"I was perfectly well satisfied that he would be +convicted by any court that tried him; but the cadets +could easily prove (according to their way of giving +evidence) that I provoked the assault, and I, besides, +was utterly disgusted with so much wrangling, so when +the cadets called that evening I told them that if his +written apology was satisfactory I would sign it, submit +it to the approval of the Commandant of Cadets, and +have the charges withdrawn. + +"They then showed me the written apology offered by +Clark, in which he stated that his offence was caused +by passion, because he thought that when I passed him +on the steps in going to my room I tried to brush +against him. He also expressed his regret for what he +had done, and asked forgiveness. I was satisfied with +his apology, and signed it, asking that the charges be +withdrawn, which was done, of course, and Clark was +released from arrest. I will, in justice to Cadet +Clark, state that I never had any further trouble with +him, for, while he kept aloof from me, as the other +cadets did, he alway thereafter acted perfectly fair +by me whenever I had any official relations with him. + +"A few days after the settlement of our dispute I found, +on my return from fencing one day, that some one had +entered my room and had thrown all my clothes and other +property around the floor, and had thrown the water out +of my water-pail upon my bed. I immediately went to the +guard-house and reported the affair to the officer of +the day, who, with the 'officer in charge,' came to my +room to see what had been done. The officer of the day +said that he had inspected my quarters soon after I went +to the Fencing Academy and found everything in order, +and that it must have been done within a half hour. The +Commandant of the Cadets made an investigation of the +matter, but could not find out what young 'gentleman' +did it, for every cadet stated that he knew nothing of +it, although the corps of cadets has the reputation of +being a truthful set of young men. + +"'Upon my honor as a cadet and a gentleman,'" is a +favorite expression with the West Point cadet; but +what kind of honor is that by which a young man can +quiet his conscience while telling a base falsehood +for the purpose of shielding a fellow-student from +punishmen for a disgraceful act? They boast of the +esprit de corps existing among the cadets; but it is +merely a cloak for the purpose of covering up their +iniquities and silencing those (for there are some) +who would, if allowed to act according to the dictates +of their own consciences, be above such disgraceful +acts. Some persons might attribute to me the same +motives that actuated the fox in crying 'sour grapes,' +and to such I will say that I never asked for social +equality at West Point. I never visited the quarters +of any professor, official, or cadet except on duty, +for I did not wish any one to think that I was in any +way desirous of social recognition by those who felt +themselves superior to me on account of color. As I +was never recognized as 'a cadet and a gentleman,' I +could not enjoy that blessed privilege of swearing +'upon my honor,' boasting of my share in the esprit de +corps, nor of concealing my sins by taking advantage of +them. Still, I hope that what I lost (?) by being +deprived of these little benefits will be compensated +for the 'still small voice,' which tells me that I have +done my best. + +"Yours respectfully, + +"J. W. SMITH, +"Late Cadet U.S.M.A." + + +COLUMBIA, S.C., August 19, 1874. + +To the Editor of the New National Era: + +"SIR: My communications, thus far, have brought me +to the end of my first year at the Academy, and now +we come to the events of the second. In June of 1871, +the proverbial silver lining, which the darkest cloud +is said to have, began to shine very faintly in the +West Point firmament, and I thought that at last the +darkness of my cadet life was to be dispelled by the +appearance above the horizon of another colored cadet. +And, indeed, I was not disappointed, for, one day, I +was greeted by the familiar face and voice of Mr. H. A. +Napier, a former fellow-student at Howard University. +Soon after his arrival, and admittance, the corps of +'cadets, accompanied by the 'plebes,' took up quarters +in camp-- 'plebe camp' to the latter, and 'yearling +camp' to us who had entered the previous year. + +"During the cadet encampment there are certain dances +given three times each week, known as 'Cadet Hops.' +These 'hops' are attended by the members of the first +and third classes, and their lady friends, and no +'plebe' ever has the assurance of dreaming of +attending the 'hops' until he shall have risen to +the dignity of a 'yearling'--third-classman. So long +as I was a 'plebe,' no one anticipated any such dire +calamity as that I would attend the 'hops,' but as +soon as I became a 'yearling,' and had a perfect right +to go, if I wished, there was a great hue and cry +raised that the sanctity of the 'hop' room was to be +violated by the colored cadet. + +"Meetings were held by the different classes, and +resolutions passed to the effect that as soon as +the colored cadet entered the 'hop' room, the 'hop' +managers were to declare the 'hop' ended, and dismiss +the musicians. But the 'hops' went on undisturbed +by the presence of the colored cadet for two or three +weeks, and all began to get quiet again, when one day +my brother and sister, with a couple of lady friends +whom they had come to visit, came to camp to see me. + +"This started afresh the old report about the 'hops,' +and every one was on the qui vive to get a glimpse of +'nigger Jim and the nigger wenches who are going to +the hops,' as was remarked by a cadet who went up from +the guard tent to spread the alarm through camp. + +"In a few minutes thereafter the 'gentlemen' had all +taken position at the end of the 'company street,' and, +with their opera-glasses, were taking observations upon +those who, as they thought, had come to desecrate the +'hop' room. I was on guard that day, but not being on +post at that time, I was sitting in rear of the guard +tents with my friends--that place being provided with +camp-stools for the accommodation of visitors-- when a +cadet corporal, Tyler, of Kentucky, came and ordered me +to go and fasten down the corner of the first guard tent, +which stood a few paces from where we were sitting. + +"I went to do so, when he came there also, and +immediately began to rail at me for being so slow, +saying he wished me to know that when he ordered +me to do anything, I must 'step out' about it, and +not try to shirk it. I said nothing, but fastened +down the corner of the tent, and went back to where +my friends were. + +"In a few minutes afterwards he came back, and wanted to +know why I hadn't fastened down that tent wall. I told +him that I had. + +"He said it was not fastened then, and that he did not +wish any prevarication on my part. + +"I then told him that he had no authority to charge +me with prevarication, and that if he believed that +I had not fastened down the tent wall, the only thing +he could do was to report me. I went back to the tent +and found that either Cadet Tyler or some other cadet +had unfastened the tent wall, so I fastened it down +again. Nothing now was said to me by Cadet Tyler, and +I went back to where my friends were: but we had been +sitting there only about a half hour, when a private +soldier came to us and said, 'It is near time for +parade, and you will have to go away from here.' I +never was more surprised in my life, and I asked the +soldier what he meant, for I surely thought be was +either drunk or crazy, but he said that the +superintendent had given him orders to allow no +colored persons near the visitors' seats during parade. + +"I asked him if he recognized me as a cadet. He said +he did. I then told him that those were my friends; +that I had invited them there to see the parade, and +that they were going to stay. He said he had nothing +to do with me, of course, but that he had to obey the +orders of the superintendent. I then went to the officer +of the guard, who was standing near by, and stated the +circumstances to him, requesting him to protect us from +such insults. He spoke to the soldier, saying that he +had best not try to enforce that order, as the order was +intended to apply to servants, and then the soldier went +off and left us. + +"Soon after that the drum sounded for parade, and +I was compelled to leave my friends for the purpose +of falling in ranks, but promising to return as soon +as the parade was over, little thinking that I should +not be able to redeem that promise; but such was the +case, as I shall now proceed to show. + +"Just as the companies were marching off the parade +ground, and before the guard was dismissed, the +'officer in charge,' Lieutenant Charles King, Fifth +Cavalry, came to the guard tent and ordered me to +step out of ranks three paces to the front, which I +did. + +"He then ordered me to take off my accoutrements and +place them with my musket on the gun rack. That being +done, he ordered me to take my place in the centre of +the guard as a prisoner, and there I stood until the +ranks were broken, when I was put in the guard tent. +Of course my friends felt very bad about it, as they +thought that they were the cause of it, while I could +Not speak a word to them, as they went away; and even +if I could have spoken to them, I could not have +explained the matter, for I did not know myself why I +had been put there--at least I did not know what charge +had been trumped up against me, though I knew well +enough that I had been put there for the purpose of +keeping me from the 'hop,' as they expected I would go. +The next morning I was put 'in arrest' for 'disobedience +of orders in not fastening down tent wall when ordered,' +and 'replying in a disrespectful manner to a cadet +corporal,' etc.; and thus the simplest thing was +magnified into a very serious offence, for the purpose +of satisfying the desires of a few narrow-minded cadets. +That an officer of the United States Army would allow +his prejudices to carry him so far as to act in that +way to a subordinate, without giving him a chance to +speak a word in his defence--nay, without allowing him +to know what charge had been made against him, and that +he should be upheld in such action by the 'powers that +be,' are sufficient proof to my mind of the feelings +which the officers themselves maintained towards us. +While I was in ranks, during parade, and my friends +were quietly sitting down looking at the parade, another +model 'officer and gentleman,' Captain Alexander Piper, +Third Artillery--he was president of my second court- +martial--came up, in company with a lady, and ordered +my brother and sister to get up and let him have their +camp-stools, and he actually took away the camp-stools +and left them standing, while a different kind of a +gentleman--an 'obscure citizen,' with no aristocratic +West Point dignity to boast of--kindly tendered his +camp-stool to my sister. + +"I only wish I knew the name of that gentleman; but I +could not see him then, or I should certainly have +found it out, though in answer to my brother's question +as to his name, he simply replied, 'I am an obscure +citizen.' What a commentary on our 'obscure citizens,' +who know what it is to be gentlemen in something else +besides the name--gentlemen in practice, not only in +theory--and who can say with Burns that 'a mans a man +for a' that,' whether his face be as black as midnight +or as white as the driven snow. + +"There is something in such a man which elevates him +above many others who, having nothing else to boast of, +can only say, 'I am a white man, and am therefore your +superior,' or 'I am a West Point graduate, and therefore +an officer and a gentleman.' + +"After the usual 'investigation' by the Commandant of +Cadets, I was sentenced to be confined to the 'company +street' until the 15th of August, about five weeks, so +that I could not get out to see my brother and sister +after that, except when I was at drill, and then I could +not speak to them. I tried to get permission to see them +in the 'Visitors' Tent' the day before they left the +'Point' on their return home, but my permit was not +granted, and they left without having the privilege of +saying 'Good-by.' + +"I must say a word in reference to the commandant's +method of making 'investigations.' After sending for +Cadet Corporal Tyler and other white cadets, and +hearing their side of the story in reference to the +tent wall and the disrespectful reply, he sent for +me to hear what I had to say, and after I had given +my version of the affair, he told me that I must +surely be mistaken, as my statement did not coincide +with those of the other cadets, who were unanimous +in saying that I used not only disrespectful, but +also profane language while addressing the cadet +corporal. I told him that new Cadet Napier and my +brother were both there and heard the conversation, +and they would substantiate my statement if allowed +to testify. He said he was convinced that I was in +the wrong, and he did not send for either of them. +What sort of justice is that which can be meted out +to one without allowing him to defend himself, and +even denying him the privilege of calling his evidence? +What a model Chief Justice the Commandant of Cadets +would make, since he can decide upon the merits of the +case as soon as he has heard one side. Surely he has +missed his calling by entering the army, or else the +American people cannot appreciate true ability, +for that 'officer and gentleman' ought now to be +wearing the judicial robe so lately laid down by the +lamented Chase. + +"In reply to my complaint about the actions of the +soldier in ordering my friends away from the visitors' +seats, he said that the soldier had misunderstood his +orders, as the superintendent had told him to keep the +colored servants on the 'Point' from coming in front +of the battalion at parade, and that it was not meant +to apply to my friends, who could come there whenever +they wished. + +"It seems, though, very strange to me that the soldier +could misunderstand his orders, when he saw me sitting +there in company with them, for it is one of the +regulations of the Academy which forbids any cadet to +associate with a servant, and if I had been seen doing +such a thing I would have been court-martialled for +'conduct unbecoming a cadet and a gentleman." + +"The cadets were, of course, very much rejoiced +at my being 'in arrest,' and after my sentence +had been published at parade, they had quite a +jubilee over it, and boasted of 'the skill and +tact which Cadet Tyler had shown in putting the +nigger out of the temptation of taking those black +wenches to the hops.' They thought, no doubt, that +their getting me into trouble frightened me out of +any thoughts I might have had of attending the 'hops;' +but if I had any idea of going to the 'hops,' I should +have been only more determined to go, and should have +done so as soon as my term of confinement was ended. +I have never thought of going to the 'hops,' for it +would be very little pleasure to go by myself, and I +should most assuredly not have asked a lady to subject +herself to the insults consequent upon going there. +Besides, as I said before, I did not go to West Point +for the purpose of advocating social equality, for +there are many cadets in the corps with whom I think +it no honor for any one to associate, although they are +among the high-toned aristocrats, and will, no doubt, +soon be numbered among the 'officers and gentlemen' of +the United States Army. + +"Yours respectfully, + +"J. W. SMITH, +"Late Cadet U.S.M.A." + + REPLY TO THE "WASHINGTON CHRONICLE." + +"COLUMBIA, S.C., August 25, 1874. + +To the Editor of the New National Era: + +"SIR: The following article appeared in the Washington +Chronicle of the 14th inst., and as I feel somewhat +interested in the statements therein contained, I +desire to say a few words in reference to them. The +article referred to reads as follows: + +"'The recent attack of the colored, ex-Cadet Smith +upon the Board of Visitors at West Point has attracted +the attention of the officers of the War Department. +They say that the Secretary of War was extremely liberal +in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of +Cadet Smith, and that he did for him what had never been +done for a white boy in like circumstances. The officers +also say that Smith was manifestly incompetent, that he +had a fair examination, and that the Congressional Board +of Visitors unanimously testified to his incompetency.' + +"Now, sir, I am at a loss to know what are 'the recent +attacks of the colored ex-Cadet Smith upon the Board of +Visitors,' for I am not aware that I have said any thing, +either directly or indirectly, concerning the Board of +Visitors. My remarks thus far have been confined to the +Academic Board and Secretary of War. + +"As the members of the Board of Visitors were simply +spectators, and as they were not present when I was +examined, I had no reason to make any 'attack' upon +them, and, therefore, as I said before, confined my +remarks (or 'attacks,' if that word is more acceptable +to the Chronicle) to those who acted so unjustly toward +me. + +"As to the extreme liberality of the Secretary of War, +in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of +Cadet Smith, and that he did for him what he had never +'done for a white boy in like circumstances,' I hardly +know what to say; for such absurd cant seems intended +to excite the laughter of all who know the circumstances +of the case. What devoted servants those officers of the +War Department must be, that they can see in their chief +so much liberality! + +"But in what respect was the Secretary of War so +'liberal in his interpretation of the regulations?' + +"Was it in dismissing me, and turning back to a lower +class two white cadets who had been unable to complete +successfully the first year of the course with everything +in their favor, while I had completed three years of the +same course in spite of all the opposition which the whole +corps of cadets, backed by the 'powers that be,' could +throw in my way? Or was it his decision that 'I can give +Mr. Smith a re-examination, but I won't?' The Chronicle +is perfectly correct in saying 'that he did for him what +had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances,' +for, in the first place, I don't think there ever was 'a +white boy in like circumstances,' certainly not while I +was at the Academy, and if there ever were a white boy so +placed, we are pretty safe in concluding, from the general +treatment of white boys, that the secretary was not so +frank in his remarks nor so decided in his action. + +"'I want another cadet to represent your district at +West Point, and I have already sent to Mr. Elliott to +appoint one,' means something more than fair dealing +(or, as the Chronicle would imply, partiality) toward +the colored cadet. It means that the gentleman was +pleasing himself in the choice of a cadet from the +Third Congressional District of South Carolina, and +that he did not recognize the rights of the people of +that district to choose for themselves. 'You are out +of the service and will stay out,' for 'the Academic +Board will not recommend you to come back under any +circumstances,' shows that it is the Academic Board +That must choose our representative, and not we +ourselves, and that our wishes are only secondary in +comparison with those of the service and the Academic +Board. We are no longer free citizens of a sovereign +State, and of the United States, with the right to +choose for ourselves those who shall represent us; but +we must be subordinate to the Secretary of War and the +Academic Board, and must make our wishes subservient to +those of the above-named powers, and unless we do that +we are pronounced to be 'naturally bad'--as remarked +the Adjutant of the Academy, Captain R. H. Hall, to a +Sun reporter--and must have done for us 'what had never +been done for a white boy in like circumstances.' Now, +sir, let us see what has 'been done for a white boy in +like circumstances.' In July, 1870, the President was +in Hartford, Ct., and in a conversation with my friend +the Hon. David Clark, in reference to my treatment at +West Point, he said: 'Don't take him away now; the battle +might just as well be fought now as at any other time,' +and gave him to understand that he would see me protected +in my rights; while his son Fred, who was then a cadet, +said to the same gentleman, and in the presence of his +father, that 'the time had not come to send colored boys +to West Point.' Mr. Clark said if the time had come for +them to be in the United States Senate, it had surely +come for them to be at West Point, and that he would do +all in his power to have me protected. Fred Grant then +said: 'Well, no d--d nigger will ever graduate from West +Point.' This same young gentleman, with other members of +his class, entered the rooms of three cadets, members of +the fourth class, on the night of January 3, 1871, took +those cadets out, and drove them away from the 'Point,' +with nothing on but the light summer suits that they wore +when they reported there the previous summer. Here was a +most outrageous example of Lynch law, disgraceful alike +to the first class, who were the executors of it, the +corps of cadets, who were the abettors of it, and the +authorities of the Academy, who were afraid to punish the +perpetrators because the President's son was implicated, +or, at least, one of the prime movers of the affair. +Congress took the matter in hand, and instructed the +Secretary of War to dismiss all the members of the class +who were implicated, but the latter gentleman 'was +extremely liberal in his interpretation of the +regulations,' and declined to be influenced by the action +of Congress, and let the matter drop. + +"Again, when a Court of Inquiry, appointed by Congress to +investigate complaints that I had made of my treatment, +reported in favor of a trial by court-martial of General +Gillmore's son, General Dyer's son, the nephew of the +Secretary of War, and some other lesser lights of America's +aristocracy, the secretary decided that a reprimand was +sufficient for the offence; yet 'he did for me what had +never been done for a white boy in like circumstances.' +Now, sir, by consulting my Register of the Academy, issued +in 1871, I find that three cadets of the fourth class were +declared 'deficient ' in mathematics--Reid, Boyle, and +Walker--and that the first named was turned back to join +the next class, while the other two were dismissed. Now +Reid is the Secretary's nephew, so that is the reason for +his doing 'for him what had never been done for a white +boy in like circumstances.' + +"Mr. Editor, I have no objection whatever to any +favoritism that may be shown 'any member of the Royal. +Family, so long as it does not infringe upon any right +of my race or myself; but when any paper tries to show +that I have received such impartial treatment at the +hands of 'the powers that be,' and even go so far, in +their zealous endeavors to shield any one from charges +founded upon facts, as to try to make it appear that I +was a favorite, a pet lamb, or any other kind of a pet, +at West Point, I think it my duty to point out any errors +that may accidentally (?) creep into such statements. + +"'The officers also say that Smith was manifestly +incompetent, that he had a fair examination,' etc. What +officers said that? Those of the War Department, whose +attention was attracted by the 'recent attacks on the +Board of Visitors,' or those who decided the case at +West Point? In either case, it is not surprising that +they should say so, for one party might feel jealous +because 'the Secretary of War was extremely liberal +in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of +Cadet Smith, and that he did for him what had never +been done for a white boy in like circumstances,' while +the other party might have been actuated by the desire +to prove that 'no colored boy can ever graduate at West +Point,' or, as the young gentleman previously referred +to said, 'No d--d nigger shall ever graduate at West +Point.' As for the unanimous testimony of the Board of +Visitors, I can only say that I know not on what ground +such testimony is based, for, as I said before, the +members of that board were not in the library when I +was examined in philosophy; but perhaps, this is only +one of the 'they says' of the officers. There are some +things in this case which are not so manifest as my +alleged incompetency, and I would like to bring them to +the attention of the Chronicle, and of any others who +may feel interested in the matter. There has always been +a system of re-examinations at the Military Academy for +the purpose of giving a second chance to those cadets +who failed at the regular examination. This year the re- +examinations were abolished; but for what reason? It is +true that I had never been re-examined, but does it not +appear that the officers had concluded 'that Smith was +manifestly incompetent,' and that this means was taken +to deprive me of the benefit of a re-examination when +they decided that I was 'deficient?' Or was it done so +that the officers might have grounds for saying that 'he +did for him what had never been done for a white boy in +like circumstances?' Again, the examinations used to be +public; but this year two sentinels were posted at the +door of the library, where the examinations were held, +and when a visitor came he sent in his card by one +of the sentinels, while the other remained at the door, +and was admitted or not at the discretion of the +superintendent. It is said that this precaution was +taken because the visitors disturbed the members of the +Academic Board by walking across the floor. Very good +excuse, for the floor was covered with a very thick +carpet. We must surely give the Academic Board credit +for so much good judgment and foresight, for it would +have been a very sad affair, indeed, for those gentlemen +to have been made so nervous (especially the Professor +of Philosophy) as to be unable to see how 'manifestly +incompetent' Cadet Smith was, and it would have deprived +the Secretary of War of the blissful consciousness that +'he did for him what had never been done for a white boy +in like circumstances,' besides losing the privilege of +handing down to future generations the record of his +extreme liberality 'in his interpretation of the +regulations on behalf of Cadet Smith.' + +"Oh, that this mighty deed might be inscribed on a +lasting leather medal and adorn the walls of the War +Department, that it might act as an incentive to some +future occupant of that lofty station! I advise the +use of leather, because if we used any metal it might +convey to our minds the idea of 'a sounding brass or a +tinkling cymbal.' + +"Respectfully yours, + +"J. W. SMITH, +"Late Cadet U.S.M.A." + + THE NEGRO CADETS. + +"We publish this morning an account of Cadet Smith's +standing at West Point, which should be taken with a +few grains of allowance. The embryo colored soldier +and all his friends--black, white and tan--believe +that the administrationists have used him shamefully, +especially in view of their professions and of the +chief source of their political strength. Grant went +into the White House by means of colored votes, and +his shabby treatment of the first member of the dusky +army who reached the point of graduation in the country's +military school, is a sore disappointment to them. + +"Cadet Smith has been a thorn in the side of the +Administration from the start. He could not be bullied +out or persecuted out of the institution by the insults +or menaces of those who, for consistency's sake, should +have folded him to their bosoms. He stood his ground +bravely, and much against the will of its rulers. West +Point was forced to endure his unwelcome presence up to +the time of graduation. At that point a crisis was +reached. If the odious cadet were allowed to graduate, +his commission would entitle him to assignment in our +much-officered army, which contains Colonel Fred Grant +and a host of other favorites whose only service has +been of the Captain Jinks order. The army revolted at +the idea. Theoretically they were and are sound on the +nigger, but they respectfully and firmly objected to a +practical illustration. The Radical General Belknap was +easily convinced that the assignment of the unoffending +Smith to duty would cause a lack of discipline in any +regiment that would be fearful to contemplate. + +"Something must be done, and that something was quickly +accomplished. They saved the army and the dignity of the +horse marines by sacrificing the cadet. To do so, some +tangible cause must be alleged, and a deficiency in +'philosophy' was hit upon. + +"In vain did Smith appeal to the Secretary of War for +an opportunity to be re-examined; in vain did he ask +permission to go back and join the class below--all +appeals were in vain. 'Gentlemen,' says the secretary, +'I don't wish to be misquoted as saying that I can't +give Mr. Smith a re-examination, for I say I won't do +it.' The victim of the army has since published a three- +column card in Fred Douglass's paper, in which he says +he was dropped for politico-military reasons, and in +the course of which he makes an almost unanswerable case +for himself, but the Radicals have dropped him in his +hour of necessity, and he must submit." + + (From the New York Sun.) + + CADET SMITH'S EXPULSION. + +"James W. Smith, the first colored cadet appointed to +the Military Academy of West Point, was dismissed +after the June examination, having failed to pass an +examination in some other studies. Recently the Sun +received letters from South Carolina charging that the +prejudices of the officers of the Academy led to the +dismissal; and to ascertain the truth a Sun reporter +went to West Point to investigate the matter. He accosted +a soldier thus: + +"'Were you here before Smith was dismissed?' + +"'Yes, sir; I've been here many years.' + +"'Can you tell me why he was dismissed?' + +"'Well, I believe he didn't pass in philosophy and some +other studies.' + +"'What kind of a fellow was he?' + +"'The soldiers thought well of him, but the cadets +didn't. They used to laugh and poke fun at him in +Riding Hall, and in the artillery drill all of them +refused to join hands with him when the cannoneers +were ordered to mount. This is dangerous once in a +while, for sometimes they mount when the horses are +on a fast trot. But he used to run on as plucky as +you please, and always got into his seat without help. +Some of the officers used to try to make them carry out +the drill, but it was no use. I never saw one of the +young fellows give him a hand to make a mount. He was +a proud negro, and had good pluck. I never heard him +complain, but his black eyes used to flash when he was +insulted, and you could see easy enough that he was in +a killin' humor. But after the first year he kept his +temper pretty well, though he fought hard to do it.' + +"Captain Robert H. Hall, the post adjutant, said: +'Young Smith was a bad boy.' + + NATURALLY BAD + +His temper was hot, and his disposition not honorable. I +can assure you that the officers at this post did every +thing in their power to help him along in his studies, +as well as to improve his standing with his comrades. +But his temper interfered with their efforts in the +latter direction, while his dulness precluded his +passing through the course of studies prescribed. + +"REPORTER--'He was always spoken of as a very bright +lad.' + +"CAPTAIN HALL--'He was not bright or ready. He lacked +comprehension. In his first year he was very troublesome. +First came his assault upon, or affray with, another +young gentleman (Cadet Wilson), but the Court of Inquiry +deemed it inadvisable to court-martial either of them. +Then he was insolent to his superior on drill, and being +called upon for an explanation he wrote a deliberate +falsehood. For this he was court-martialled and sentenced +to dismissal, but subsequently the findings of the +committee were reversed, and Cadet Smith was put back one +year. This fact accounts for his good standing on the +examination next before the last. You see he went over the +same studies twice.' + +"REPORTER--'What was Cadet Smith found deficient in?' + +"CAPTAIN HALL--'HIS worst failure was in natural and +experimental philosophy, which embraces the higher +mathematics, dynamics, optics, mechanics, and other +studies. He missed a very simple question in optics, +and the examiners, who were extremely lenient with him, +chiefly, I believe, because he was colored and not white, +tried him with another, which was also missed.' + +"REPORTER--'Is optical science deemed an absolutely +essential branch of learning for an officer in the +army?' + + DEFICIENT IN HIS STUDIES. + +"CAPTAIN HALL--'It is useful to engineers, for instance. +But that is not the question. In most educational +institutions of the grade of West Point, the standing +of a student in his studies is decided by a general +average of all studies in which he is examined. Here +each branch is considered separately, and if the cadet +fails in any one he cannot pass. I will assure you once +more that in my opinion Cadet Smith received as fair an +examination as was ever given to any student. If anything, +he was a little more favored.' + +"REPORTER--'What was his conduct in the last year of his +stay at the Academy?' + +"CAPTAIN HALL--'Good. He ranked twenty in a class of +forty in discipline. Discipline is decided by the number +of marks a cadet receives in the term. If he goes beyond +a certain number he is expelled.' + +"REPORTER--'This record seems hardly consistent with +his previous turbulent career.' + +"CAPTAIN HALL--'Oh! in the last years of his service +he learned to control his temper, but he never seemed +happy unless in some trouble.' + +"REPORTER--'Have you any more colored cadets?' + +"CAPTAIN HALL--'Only one--Henry O. Flipper, of Georgia. +He is a well-built lad, a mulatto, and is bright, +intelligent, and studious.' + +"REPORTER--'Do the cadets dislike him as much as they +did Smith?' + +"CAPTAIN HALL--'No, Sir, I am told that he is more +popular. I have heard of no doubt he will get through +all right. And here I will say, that had Mr. Smith been +white he would not have gone so far as he did.' + +"Other officers of the post concur with Captain Hall, +but the enlisted men seem to sympathize with Smith. One +of them said, 'I don't believe the officers will ever +let a negro get through. They don't want them in the +army.' + +"Cadet Smith's career for the three years of his +service was indeed a most unhappy one, but whether +that unhappiness arose from + + THE INFIRMITIES OF TEMPER + +or from the persistent persecutions of his comrades +cannot be authoritatively said. One officer attributed +much of the pugnacity which Smith exhibited early in +his course to the injudicious letters sent him by his +friends. In some of these he was advised to 'fight for +the honor of his race,' and others urged him to brook +no insult at the hands of the white cadets. The menial +duties which the 'plebes' are called upon to do in +their first summer encampment were looked upon by Smith +as personal insults thrust upon him, althought his +comrades made no complaint. Then the social ostracism +to a lad of his sensitive nature was almost unbearable, +and an occasional outbreak is not to be wondered at. + +"Before he had been in the Academy a week he wrote to a +friend complaining of the treatment he received from his +fellows, and this letter being published intensified the +hostility of the other cadets. Soon after this he had a +fight with Cadet Wilson and cut his face with a dipper. +Then followed the breach of discipline on drill, the +court-martial and sentence, and finally the Congressional +investigation, which did not effect any good. Smith says +that frequently on squad drill he was detached from the +squad by the cadet corporal, and told that he was not to +stand side by side with white men. + +"WEST POINT, June 19." + + THE COLORED CADET. + +HIS TRIALS AND PERSECUTIONS--THREE YEARS OF ABUSE-- + SETTLED AT LAST--"ELI PERKINS" TELLS THE STORY. + +To the Editor of the Daily Graphic: + +About the 20th of May, 1870, I saw the colored Cadet, +James W. Smith land at the West Point Dock. He was +appointed by a personal friend of mine, Judge Hoge, +Member of Congress from Columbia, South Carolina. +The mulatto boy was about five feet eight inches high, +with olive complexion and freckles. Being hungry he +tipped his hat to a cadet as he jumped from the ferry +-boat and asked him the way to the hotel. + +"'Over there, boy,' replied the cadet, pointing to +the Rose Hotel owned by the government. + +"On arriving there the colored boy laid down his carpet- +bag, registered his name, and asked for something to eat. + +"'What! A meal of victuals for a nigger?' asked the clerk. + +"'Yes, Sir, I'm hungry and I should like to buy something +to eat.' + +"'Well, you'll have to be hungry a good while if you +wait to get something to eat here,' and the clerk of +the government hotel pushed the colored boy's carpet +-bag off upon the floor. + +"Jimmy Smith's father, who fought with General Sherman, +and came back to become an alderman in Columbia, had +told the boy that when he got to West Point among soldiers +he would be treated justly, and you can imagine how the +hungry boy felt when he trudged back over the hot campus +to see Colonel Black and General Schriver, who was then +Superintendent of the Academy. + +"The black boy came and stood before the commandant and +handed him his appointment papers and asked him to read +them. Colonel Black, Colonel Boynton, and other officers +looked around inquiringly. Then they got up to take a +good look at, the first colored cadet. The colonel, red +in the face, waved the boy away with his hand, and, one +by one, the officers departed, speechless with amazement. + +"In a few moments the news spread through the Academy. +The white cadets seemed paralyzed. + +"Several cadets threatened to resign, some advocated +maiming him for life, and a Democratic 'pleb' from +Illinois exclaimed, 'I'd rather die than drill with +the black devil.' But wiser counsels prevailed, and +the cadets consented to tolerate Jimmy Smith and not +drown or kill him for four weeks, when it was thought +the examiners would 'bilge' him. + +"On the 16th of June, 1870, I saw Jimmy Smith again at +West Point and wrote out my experiences. He was the +victim of great annoyance. + +"At these insults the colored cadet showed a suppressed +emotion. He could not break the ranks to chastise his +assaulter. Then if he had fought with every cadet who +called him a '--black-hearted nigger,' he would have +fought with the whole Academy. Not the professors, +for they have been as truly gentlemen as they are good +officers. If they had feelings against the colored cadet +they suppressed them. I say now that the indignities +heaped upon Jimmy Smith would have been unbearable to +any white boy of spirit. Hundreds of times a day he was +publicly called names so mean that I dare not write them. + +"Once I met Jimmy Smith after drill. He bore the +insulting remarks like a Christian. + +"'I expected it,' he said; 'but it was not so at the +Hartford High School. There I had the second honors +of my class.' Then he showed me a catalogue of the +Hartford High School, and there was the name of James +W. Smith as he graduated with the next highest honor. + +"On that occasion I asked Jimmy who his father was. + +"'His name is Israel Smith. He used to belong to Sandres +Guignard, of Columbia.' + +"'Then he was a slave?' + +"'Yes, but when Sherman's army freed him he became a +Union soldier.' + +"'And your mother?' + +"'She is Catherine Smith, born free.' Here Jimmy showed +his mother's photograph. She looked like a mulatto +woman, with straight hair and regular features. She had +a serious, Miss-Siddons-looking face. + +"'How did you come to "the Point?"' I asked. + +"'Well, Mr. David Clark, of Hartford, promised to educate +me, and he got Congressman Hoge to appoint me.' + +"'How came Mr. Clark to become interested in you?' + +"'Well, a very kind white lady--Miss Loomis--came to +Columbia to teach the freedmen. I went to school to her +and studied so hard and learned so fast that she told +Mr. Clark about me. My father is able to support me, +but Mr. Clark is a great philanthropist and he has taken +a liking to me and he is going to stand by me.' + +"'What does Mr. Clark say when you write about how the +cadets treat you?' + +"The colored boy handed me this letter from his +benefactor: + +"'HARTFORD, June 7, 1870. + +"'DEAR JEMMY: Yours, 1st inst., is at hand and noted. I +herewith inclose stamps. + +"'Let them call "nigger" as much as they please; they +will laugh out of the other corner of their mouth before +the term is over. + +"'Your only way is to maintain your dignity. Go straight +ahead. If any personal insult is offered, resist it, and +then inform me; I will then see what I can do. But I think +you need have no fear on that score. Have been out to +Windham a few days. All well, and send kind regards. Mary +sails for Europe Saturday. President Grant is to be here +the 2d. He will be my guest or Governor Jewell's. + +"'Yours, etc., + +"'D. CLARK.' + +"'So Mr. Clark knows the President, does he?' + +"'Why, yes; he knows everybody--all the great men. He's +a great man himself;' and this poor colored boy stood up, +I thought, the proudest champion David Clark ever had. + +"'Yes, David Clark is a good man,' I mused, as I saw the +grateful tears standing in the colored cadet's eyes. + +"When I got back to the hotel I heard a wishy-washy girl, +who came up year after year with a party to flirt with +the cadets say: + +"'O dear! it is hawid to have this colod cadet--perfectly +dre'fful. I should die to see my George standing next to +him.' + +"But Miss Schenck, the daughter of General Schenck, our +Minister to the Court of St. James, told Jimmy Smith +that she hoped he would graduate at the head of his +class, and when the colored boy told me about it he said: + +"'Oh, sir, a splendid lady called to see me to-day. I +wish I knew her name. I want to tell David Clark.' + +"Every white boy at West Point now agreed to cut the +colored boy. No one was to say a single word to him, +or even answer yes or no. At the same time they would +abuse him and swear at him in their own conversation +loud enough for him to hear. It is a lamentable fact +that every white cadet at the Point swears and chews +tobacco like the army in Flanders. + +"Again I saw Jimmy Smith on the 9th of July. The officers +of the Academy had been changed. Old General Schriver had +given place to young General Upton. The young general is +a man of feeling and a lover of justice. He sent for the +colored boy, and taking his hand he said: + +"'My boy, you say you want to resign, that you can stand +this persecution no longer. You must not do it. You are +here an officer of the army. You have stood a severe +examination. You have passed honorably and you shall not +be persecuted into resigning. I am your friend. Come to +me and you shall have justice.' + +"Then General Upton addressed the cadets on dress parade. +He told them personal insults against their brother cadet, +whose only crime was color, must cease. + +"One day a cadet came to Jimmy and said he would befriend +him if he dared to, 'but you know I would be ostracized +if I should speak to you.' + +"'What was the cadet's name?' I asked. + +"'Oh, I dare not tell?' replied the colored boy. 'He would +be ruined, too.' + +"'Did your father write to you when you thought of +resigning?' + +"'Yes; here is his letter,' replied the colored boy: + +"'COLUMBIA, S.C., July 3, 1870. + +"'My DEAR SON: I take great pleasure in answering your +kind letter received last night. I pray God that my +letter may find you in a better state of consolation +than when you wrote to me. I told you that you would +have trials and difficulties to endure. Do not mind them, +for they will go like chaff before the wind, and your +enemies will soon be glad to gain your friendship. They +do the same to all newcomers in every college. You are +elevated to a high position, and you must stand it like +a man. Do not let them run you away, for then they will +say, the "nigger" won't do. Show your spunk, and let +them see that you will fight. That is what you are sent +to West Point for. When they find you are determined to +stay, they will let you alone. You must not resign on any +account, for it is just what the Democrats want. They are +betting largely here that you won't get in. The rebels +say if you are admitted, they will devil you so much that +you can't stay. Be a man; don't think of leaving, and let +me know all about your troubles. The papers say you have +not been received. Do write me positively whether you are +received or not. + +"'Times are lively here, for everybody is preparing for +the Fourth of July. There are five colored companies +here, all in uniform, and they are trying to see who shall +excel in drill. + +"'Stand your ground; don't resign, and write me soon. + +"'From your affectionate father, + +"'ISRAEL SMITH.'" + +"On the 11th of January I visited West Point again. I +found all the cadets still against the colored boy. A +system of terrorism reigned supreme. Every one who did +not take sides against the colored boy was ostracized. + +"At drill one morning Cadet Anderson trod on the colored +boy's toes. When Smith expostulated Anderson replied, +'Keep your-- toes away.' When Smith told about it Anderson +got two other white cadets to say he never said so. This +brought the colored boy in a fix. + +"Last July I saw the colored cadet again. He was still +ostracized. No cadet ever spoke to him. He lived a, hermit +life, isolated and alone. + +"When I asked him how he got on with his studies he said: +'As well as I am able, roaming all alone, with no one to +help me and no one to clear up the knotty points. If there +is an obscure point in my lesson I must go to the class +with it. I cannot go to a brother cadet.' + +"'If you should ask them to help you what would they say?' + +"'They would call me a -- nigger, and tell me to go back +to the plantation.' + +"Yesterday, after watching the colored cadet for three +years, I saw him again. He has grown tall and slender. +He talks slowly, as if he had lost the use of language. +Indeed many days and weeks he has gone without saying +twenty lines a day in a loud voice, and that in the +recitation-room. + +"When they were examining him the other day he spoke +slowly, but his answers were correct. His answers in +philosophy were correct. But they say he answered +slowly, and they will find him deficient for that. +Find him deficient for answering slowly when the boy +almost lost the use of language! When he knew four +hundred eyes were on him and two hundred malign arts +all praying for his failure! + +"The colored cadet is now in his third year. The +great question at West Point is, Will he pass his +examination? No one will know till the 30th of June. +It is my impression that the young officers have +marked him so low that he will be found deficient. +The young officers hate him almost as bad as the +cadets, and whenever they could make a bad mark +against him they have done it. + +"'Does anyone ever speak to you now?' I asked. + +"'No. I dare not address a cadet. I do not want +to provoke them. I simply want to graduate. I am +satisfied if they do not strike or harm me; though +if I had a kind word now and then I should be +happier, and I could study better,' Then the colored +boy drew a long sigh. + +"To-day I met General Howard, who was present at the +colored cadet's court-martial. I asked him to tell me +about it. + +"'Well, Mr. Perkins,' said the General, 'they tried to +make out that the colored boy lied.' + +"'Yes,' I interrupted, 'and they all say he did lie at +the Point now. How was it?' + +"'It was this way: They accused him of talking on parade, +and, while trying to convict him out of his own mouth, +they asked him "If on a certain day he did not speak to +a certain cadet while on drill?" "I did not speak to this +cadet while on drill the day you mention," answered Cadet +Smith, "for the cadet was not in the parade that day."' + +"This answer startled the prosecutors, and, looking over +the diary of parade days, they were astonished to find +Cadet Smith correct. + +"'What then?' I asked. + +"'Why they accuse him of telling a lie in spirit, though +not in form, for he had talked on a previous day. Just +as if he was obliged to say any thing to assist the +prosecutors except to answer their questions.' + +"General Howard believes Cadet Smith to be a good, +honest boy. I believe the same. + +"ELI PERKINS." + + (From the Savannah (Ga.) Morning-News.) + +"Lieutenant Flipper seems to have gone back on his +Atlanta friends. He came home from West Point with +a good Academy record, behaved himself with becoming +dignity. The officers at the barracks treated him-- +not socially, but as an officer of the army--with +due respect, as did the citizens of Atlanta, who felt +that he had won credit by his good conduct and success. +But in an evil hour the colored friends (?) of Flipper +gave him a reception, and in full uniform he made them +a speech. Now speech-making is a dangerous thing, and +this colored warrior seems to have been made a victim +of it. He distorted the official courtesies of the +officers at the barracks into social courtesies, and +abused the white people of the South because they did +not give him and his race social equality. Not only +were sensible colored people displeased with his +remarks, but many white citizens who went to the +meeting friendly to Flipper left disgusted with his +sentiments."* + +*If a man walks on the streets with me, invites me +to his quarters, introduces me to his comrades, +and other like acts of courtesy, ought I to consider +him treating me socially or officially? I went to +the garrison in Atlanta to pay my respects to the +commanding officer. I expected nothing. I met an +officer, who, with four others, had introduced +himself to me on the cars. My official call had been +made. He took me around, introduced me to the officers, +and showed me all possible attention. I met another +officer in the city several days after this. He offered +cigars. We walked up and down the streets together. +Many times did we hear and comment upon the remarks we +overheard: "Is he walking with that nigger?" and the +like. He invited me into a druggist's to take some soda- +water. I went in and got it, although it was never sold +there before to a person of color. We rode out to the +garrison together, and every attention was shown me by +all. Another officer told me that before I came the +officers of the garrison assembled to consider whether +or not they should recognize me. The unanimous vote was +"yes." Was all this official? No. It is the white people, +the disappointed tyrants of Georgia, who try to distort +social courtesies in official ones. The "many white" +people were some half-dozen newspaper reporters, whose +articles doubtless were partly written when they came. +"Old Si" in his spectacles was prominently conspicuous +among them. + + (From the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News.) + + A COLORED ARMY OFFICER. + +"Lieutenant Flipper is his name. He is a living +result of the policy of Radicalism which has +declared from the first its determination that, +under any circumstances, the American citizen of +African descent shall enjoy all the privileges of +his white brethren. Carrying out this determination, +and not dismayed at the fate of colored cadet Smith, +who figured so largely in West Point annals a few +years ago, cadet Flipper was sent to that institution +to try his hand. He has graduated, and now holds the +commission of Second Lieutenant of Cavalry in the +United States Army, the first of his race who has +ever attained such a position. + +"It will be curious to watch young Flipper's career +as an officer. Time was when army officers were a +very aristocratic and exclusive set of gentlemen, +whether they still hold to their old ideas, or not, +we do not know. There seems to be enough of the old +feeling left, however, to justify the belief that +until some other descendants of African parents +graduate at the institution, Flipper will have a +lonely time. During his cadetship, we learn from no +less an authority than the New York Tribune, 'the +paper founded by Horace Greeley,' that he was let +severely alone by his fellow-students. According to +that paper, one of the cadets said, 'We have no +feeling against him, but we could not associate with +him. It may have been prejudice but still we couldn't +do it.' This shows very clearly the animus which will +exist in the army against the colored officer. If at +West Point, where he had to drill, recite, eat, and +perhaps sleep with his white brothers, they couldn't +associate with him (notwithstanding the fact that the +majority of these whites were Northern men and ardent +advocates of Radicalism, with its civil rights and +social equality record), how can it be expected that +they will overcome their prejudices any more readily +after they become officers. The Tribune thinks they +will, and that in time the army will not hesitate to +receive young Flipper, and all of his race who may +hereafter graduate at West Point, with open arms; but +the chances are that the Tribune is wrong. Your model +Yankee is very willing to use the negro as a hobby- +horse upon which to ride into place and power, but +when it comes to inviting him to his house and +embracing him as a brother he is very apt to be found +wanting. The only society Lieutenant of Cavalry Flipper +can ever hope to enjoy is that which will exist when +there are enough of his race in the army to form a +corps d'Afrique, and by that time he will be too old +to delight in social pleasures. Meanwhile he will be +doomed to a life of solitude and self-communings, and +be subjected to many such snubs as the venerable +Frederick Douglass has but recently received at the +hands of that champion mourner for the poor African-- +Rutherford B, Hayes." + +The New York Tribune is right. The army is officered +by men, not by West Point cadets, who are only students +and boys. + + (From the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News.) + + CHEERS FOR FLIPPER. + +"The miscegenationists and social equality advocates +are making a great deal of noise over the facts, first, +that a negro has graduated at West Point, and holds +to-day a commission in the United States Army; and +second, that when he went up to receive his diploma, +he was, alone of all the members of his class, the +recipient of a round of applause. Great things are +augured from these two circumstances, especially the +latter. + +"It is reasoned that now, that a negro has at last been +able to secure a commission in the military service of +the country, the first step towards the recognition of +his race on the basis of social equality is accomplished, +by degrees prejudice will wear away, and, in course of +time, black and white citizens of this republic will +mingle freely and without reserve; and this, it is +claimed, is shown by the applause with which the +reception into the army of this African pioneer was +greeted. For our part we don't see that these negro +devotees and miscegenationists have any reason to +rejoice. It is just as impossible to establish perfect +social equality between the Anglo-Saxon and African +races as it is to make oil and water unite. It is +against nature, and nowhere in the world is the +antipathy to such a mingling shown more than in the +North, and by no people so strongly as by the very +men who whine so incessantly and so pretentiously +about 'men and brethren.' The negro in the South has +always found the white man of the South to be his best +and truest friend, and such will always be the case, +notwithstanding that the Southern white will never +consent to social equality with his fellow-citizen of +African descent. + +"As to the applause which greeted Flipper, that can +easily be accounted for. Nothing is more likely than +that at West Point there should have been gathered +together a lot of old-time South-haters, who were +ready to applaud, not so much to flatter Flipper as +to show that they were happy over what they felt to +be a still further humiliation of the South. That is +all there is in that. + +"We have no objections to such demonstrations of +delight. As far as we are concerned they may be +indulged in to the heart's content by those who so +desire. But one piece of information we can give to +the young colored Georgia lieutenant. If he thinks +those who applauded him are going to invite him to +their houses he will be greatly disappointed. And +if he does not die of overeating until those invite +him to dine with them, he will live to a good old +age. Let him take the fate of the recognized leader +of his race, Fred Douglass, as an example, and steer +clear of his too demonstrative friends. Experience +shows that so long as they can use him, they will be +very profuse in their professions of friendship; but +when that is done all is done, and he will find +himself completely cast aside. If Flipper sees these +words, let him mark our prediction." + +"And many false prophets shall arise, and deceive +many" (Matt. 24:11). Amen. That is all that article +is worth. + + (From the Monmouth Inquirer, Freehold, N.J.) + + LIEUTENANT FLIPPER. + +"When Congress founded West Point, to be a training +school for those who were to be paid as public servants +and to wear the public livery, we do not think that it +was intended that the institution should serve as a +hotbed for the fostering of aristocratic prejudices and +the assumption of aristocratic airs. Nor do we think +that when Lincoln declared the negro a freeman, and +entitled to a freeman's rights, either he or the nation +designed that the dusky skin of the enfranchised slave +should serve as an excuse for ignominy, torture, and +disgrace. Yet here, this year, in the graduating class +from West Point, steps a young man among his white- +skinned fellows, fiftieth in a class of seventy-six +members, whose four years of academic life have been +one long martyrdom; who has stood utterly alone, ignored +and forsaken among his fellows; who has had not one +helping hand from professors or students to aid him in +fighting his hard battle, and whom only his own talents +and sturdy pluck have saved from entire oblivion. Yet in +spite of all, he was graduated; he has left twenty-six +white students behind him; he is a second lieutenant in +the regular army, and the story of his struggles and his +hard-won victory is known from Oregon to Florida. All +honor to the first of his race who has stemmed the tide +and won the prize. + +"We do not think the faculty at West Point have done +their duty in this matter. One word, one example from +them, would have stopped the persecution, and it is to +their disgrace that no such word was spoken and no such +example set." + +I have not a world to say against any of the professors +or instructors who were at West Point during the period +of my cadetship. I have every thing to say in their praise, +and many things to be thankful for. I have felt perfectly +free to go to any officer for assistance, whenever I have +wanted it, because their conduct toward me made me feel +that I would not be sent away without having received +whatever help I may have wanted. All I could say of the +professors and officers at the Academy would be +unqualifiedly in their favor. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Colored Cadet at West Point* + |