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 cla.s.ses 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 cla.s.s rank, or, in other words, cla.s.s standing. Every cla.s.s has certain privileges and immunities, which the junior cla.s.ses do not enjoy; for example, first- cla.s.smen, and second-cla.s.smen too--by General Orders of September, 1876--are excused from guard duty in the capacity of privates, and are detailed-- first- cla.s.smen for officers of the day and officers of the guard, and second-cla.s.smen for non-commissioned officers of the guard. All members of the third and fourth cla.s.ses are privates, and from them the privates of the guard are detailed. All officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, are exempt from "Sat.u.r.day 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-cla.s.smen 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-cla.s.smen and second-cla.s.smen, and also, if necessary, a number of third-cla.s.smen.

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 a.s.signed under the supervision of the a.s.sistant- 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 cla.s.s, 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 cla.s.ses are arranged into a number of sections, according to their cla.s.s rank, as determined at the previous annual examination, or according to rank in some particular study--for instance, for instruction in engineering the first cla.s.s is arranged according to merit in philosophy, and not according to general merit or cla.s.s rank. The fourth, or "plebe" cla.s.s, however, is arranged alphabetically since they as yet have no cla.s.s rank.

The first cla.s.s 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 cla.s.s 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 cla.s.s is divided into two as nearly equal parts as practicable, which alternate in attendance at the Drawing Academy.

The third cla.s.s have pure mathematics, a.n.a.lytical 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 cla.s.s 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 s.p.a.cious riding- hall, with galleries that seat but too many mischievous young ladies, and whose interior is well supplied with tan bark, make up the princ.i.p.al 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 a la cavalier. These a 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 cla.s.smen 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, s.p.a.cious, rectangular structure, door on each side and at each end, floor well covered with tan bark, s.p.a.cious 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 circ.u.mstances is most embarra.s.sing.

Fair ones, why will you thus torture the "yearlings"

by your at other times so desirable presence?