MILITARY ACADEMY 



3798 



MILITARY ACADEMY 



not exceed 180 at any one time. The appoint- 

 ment from each Congressional district is made 

 upon the recommendation of the United States 

 Representative from that district, and the two 

 from the state at large are named by the Sen- 

 ators from that state. The eighty appoint- 

 ments from the United States at large are con- 

 trolled by the President personally. The cadets 

 from the District of Columbia are nominated 

 by the commissioners of the District and the 

 two from Porto Rico by the governor of that 

 territory. The Philippine Islands send four 

 cadets, appointed by the governor-general. 

 Appointments are made one year in advance of 

 vacancies, and each appointment is made from 

 the district in which the vacancy occurs. 



The appointments at the command of the 

 President of the United States are usually dis- 

 tributed among the sons of officers of the 

 United States army, who, from the nature of 

 their fathers' services and changing residences, 

 are unable to obtain nominations from mem- 

 bers of Congress. Nominees must be between 

 the ages of seventeen and twenty-two, fit 

 physically for military service, and be able to 

 pass careful examinations in English grammar,, 

 composition, literature, algebra, geometry, 

 geography (especially the United States), 

 United States history and general history. 



Course of Instruction. The course of instruc- 

 tion extends over a period of four years and 

 is principally mathematical and professional 

 and very thorough, necessitating the acquire- 

 ment of a broad and comprehensive education. 

 Mathematics, English, French, Spanish, draw- 

 ing, drill regulations of all arms of the service, 

 natural and experimental philosophy, chem- 

 istry, mineralogy, engineering, art and science 

 of war, ordnance and gunnery are the chief 

 subjects taught. That the examinations are 

 severe is proved by the fact that only one-half 

 of those admitted as cadets succeed in passing 

 the final examinations. 



Rules and Regulations. The discipline of the 

 Academy is strict, even more severe than that 

 of the army, and punishments, by loss of marks, 

 are inflicted for breach of regulations. This 

 course is inflexibly adhered to in order to im- 

 press upon the cadets the value of implicit 

 obedience and punctuality. During his course 

 of four years a cadet has to be present at about 

 18,000 roll calls, about fifteen each day, for 

 classroom work, drills, etc. If late, a mark 

 against him is the result, and if a cadet receives 

 215 demerit marks in any twelve months for 

 all offenses combined, he is discharged. A high 



standard of honor and truthfulness is inculcated 

 and maintained among the cadets, and the 

 services rendered to the country by graduates 

 of West Point are a striking tribute to the 

 rules and regulations. During his entire course 

 a cadet is allowed only one leave of absence, at 

 the completion of two years at the Academy. 



Examinations are held in December and June, 

 and according to the results of these, cadets 

 are promoted in their classes or discharged. 

 On completion of the course and passing a final 

 examination cadets are commissioned in the 

 regular army with rank of second lieutenant. 

 The superintendent is an army officer who has 

 associated with him about eighty instructors, 

 also army officers. The instructors in military 

 science and tactics are changed every four years, 

 being detailed by the Secretary of War. 



From 1802 to 1913, inclusive, the Academy 

 graduated into the United States army 5,205 

 cadets, and owing to the excellence of the 

 training received, the United States has army 

 officers equal in military, mental and social 

 accomplishments to those of any country in the 

 world. Cadets of the United States Military 

 Academy wear a uniform of gray, the service 

 coat being a sack coat without buttons, trimmed 

 with black braid, the dress coat being a swal- 

 low-tailed coat with brass buttons. Rank or 

 standing of cadets is indicated by chevrons or 

 bars on the sleeve. 



The Academy is beautifully situated, over- 

 looking the Hudson River a few miles north of 

 New York. In 1903 Congress appropriated 

 $5,500,000 for new buildings and for remodeling 

 the old structures, thus giving the institution 

 an equipment among the finest in the world. 



Service to the Nation. Nearly every military 

 commander the country has produced since the 

 organization of the Academy was educated 

 there. There are a few notable exceptions, such 

 as William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, 

 Andrew Jackson and Winfield Scott. The great 

 leaders of the North and South, both on the 

 side of the Federal government and of the 

 Confederate States, were graduates of West 

 Point. Notable among these are Grant, Lee, 

 "Stonewall" Jackson, Early, McClellan, Beaure- 

 gard and Sherman. 



Of the soldiers whose reputations have been 

 made since the War of Secession, there are few 

 who did not receive their education at West 

 Point. Possibly the most notable exceptions 

 are General Chaffee, who rose from the rank 

 of private to become lieutenant-general of the 

 army; Nelson A. Miles, who rose to the same 



