1914 United States Military Academy West Point.pdf

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WEST POINT, NEW YORK
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DEC 21 1932
UNIVERSITY
hVUNOlS
United States military Academy
situated
at West Point, New York, on the west bank of
the Hudson River, is a school maintained at the
expense of the United States Government for the practical
and theoretical training of young men to fit them as
officers of the United States Army.
The necessity for a military academy for the technical
training of officers was manifest from the very first days
of the Revolution. A plan for such a school was proposed
by General Henry Knox in 1776, and elaborated by
Alexander Hamilton. Its establishment was frequently
recommended by Washington.
The very last letter
written by him declares it to be “an object of primary
importance to this country.” The United States Military
Academy was organized by Act of Congress in 1802. Its
first Superintendent was Colonel Jonathan Williams, a
grand-nephew of Benjamin Franklin. Colonel Sylvanus
Thayer, whose statue at West Point bears the legend
“The Father of the Military Academy,” was Superin¬
tendent during the years 1817-33. The curriculum,
military and academic, was adopted under his leadership,
and the traditions of Thayer were carried on and improved
under the supervision of General James G. Totten, In¬
spector U. S. M. A., 1838-1864, by a succession of able
Superintendents. For 47 years one policy prevailed and
the type of West Point education was fixed. The expe-
rience of the wars of 1846, 1861 and 1898 introduced
modifications of detail, leaving the early traditions sub¬
stantially unchanged.
The first object of the school is to form character.
Habits of faithfulness, obedience, attention to duty first,
last and all the time, are inculcated throughout the entire
course of four years. At the end of this period the cadet
receives a commission as lieutenant in the army. The
discipline is strict. A system of daily “marks” enables
each cadet to judge his own performance and to bring
himself up to the required standard. Habit becomes a
second nature and the officer carries into the service
qualities that have been continuously inculcated. There
are something like 18,000 opportunities for a cadet to be
“late” at some duty or drill during his course. Each
delinquency is noted and punished, and the habit of
punctuality is thus established. So with other habits.
The large number of instructors (officers of the army)
enables the proficiency of every cadet in every subject
to be tested every day and competence is insisted upon
as well as satisfactory conduct. A high standard of per¬
sonal honor and truthfulness is maintained at West Point.
The record of the disbursing officers of our army for
scrupulous honesty has never been equalled by any or¬
ganization in this or any country.
The results of a West Point training are appreciated by
the Country at large. The services of the army at the
San Francisco earthquake and fire will not soon be for¬
gotten. Every citizen is satisfied that the Panama canal
will be built honestly and well. The administration of
Cuba and the Philippines has been admirable and it has
been honest.
A training that produces such results
deserves the study of educators.
The curriculum is fixed and comprises courses in
Mathematics, English, French, Spanish, Physics, Chem¬
istry, Mineralogy, Geology, Hygiene, History, Law,
Civil and Military Engineering, Tactics, Topography,
Ordnance, Fortifications, the Art of War and Military
History. The academic ideal is to give power by means
of useful knowledge to each and every cadet rather than
to develop special aptitudes.
It is worthy of note that the graduates are successful in
civil as well as military pursuits. They have given to the
Country 1 President, 4 Cabinet Officers, 1 Ambassador,
14 Ministers to foreign courts, 26 U. S. Senators or
Representatives, 16 Governors of States or Territories,
46 Presidents of Colleges, 136 Professors and Teachers,
87 Presidents of Railroad or other corporations, 63 Chief
Engineers of Railroads, 228 Civil Engineers, 179 Authors,
etc., etc. Ex-President Roosevelt has said (June, 1902) “No
other educational institution in the land has contributed
so many names as West Point to the honor roll of the
Nation’s greatest citizens”—and this is true whether in
civil or military careers.
GENERAL VIEW OF BARRACKS, ACADEMIC BUILDING, AND EAST SHORE OF HUDSON RIVER

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