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ation　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　r？le；　and　assume　a　more　dignified　one；　one　more　in　conformity　with　their　age　and　position。　They　leave　all　cadet　r？les；　etc。；　to　the　younger　classes；　and　put　on　the　proper　dignity　of　men。

There　are　for　them　more　privileges。　They　are　more　independentmore　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　drillsall　of　them　occurring　daily；　Sunday　of　course　excepted；　and　for　part　of　them　Saturday　alsocomplete　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　stylefor　the　coming　heroe