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.
Henry Ossian Flipper, The Colored Cadet at West Point, 1878