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While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
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James Webster Smith, a native of South
Carolina, was appointed to a cadetship at the United States
Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1870, by the
Hon. S. L. Hoge. He reported, as instructed, at the Military
Academy in the early summer of 1870, and succeeded in
passing the physical and intellectual examination
prescribed, and was received as a "conditional cadet." At
the same time one Howard reported, but unfortunately did not
succeed in "getting in."
In complexion Smith was rather light, possibly an octoroon.
Howard, on the contrary, was black. Howard had been a
student at Howard University, as also had been Smith. Smith,
before entering the Academy, had graduated at the Hartford
High School, and was well prepared to enter upon the new
course of studies at West Point.
In studies he went through the first year s course without
any difficulty, but unfortunately an affaire d'honneur a
"dipper fight" caused him to be put back one year in his
studies. In going over this course again he stood very high
in his class, but when it was finished he began going down
gradually until he became a member of the last section of
his class, an "immortal," as we say, and in constant danger
of being "found."
He continued his course in this part of his class till the
end of his second class year, when he was declared deficient
in natural and experimental philosophy, and dismissed. At
this time he had been in the Academy four years, but had
been over only a three-years course, and would not have
graduated until the end of the next year, June, 1875.
As to his trials and experiences while a cadet, I shall
permit him to speak. The following articles embrace a series
of letters written by him, after his dismissal, to the New
National Era and Citizen, the political organ of the colored
people, published at Washington, D. C.:
"Columbia, S.C., July 27,1874.
To the Editor of the National Republican:
"Sir: I saw an article yesterday in one of our local papers,
copied from the Brooklyn Argus, concerning my dismissal from
the Military Academy. The article referred to closes as
follows: Though he has written letters to his friends, and
is quite sanguine about returning and finally graduating,
the professors and cadets say there is not the slightest
chance. Said a professor to a friend, the other day: "It
will be a long time before any one belonging to the colored
race can graduate at West Point."
"Now, Sir, I would like to ask a few questions through the
columns of your paper concerning these statements, and would
be glad to have them answered by some of the knowing ones.
"In the first place, what do the professors and cadets know
of my chances for getting back, and if they know any thing,
how did they find it out? At an interview which I had with
the Secretary of War, on the 17th instant, he stated that he
went to West Point this year for a purpose, and that he was
there both before and after my examination, and conversed
with some of the professors concerning me. Now, did that
visit and those conversations have any thing to do with the
finding of the Academic Board? Did they have any thing to do
with that wonderful wisdom and foresight displayed by the
professors and cadets in commenting upon my chances for
getting back? Why should the Secretary of War go to West
Point this year for a purpose, and converse with the
professors about me both before and after the examination?
Besides, he spoke of an interview he had had with Colonel
Ruger, Superintendent of the Academy, in New York, on
Sunday, the 12th instant, in reference to me; during which
Colonel Ruger had said that the Academic Board would not
recommend me to return. Is it very wonderful that the
Academic Board should refuse such recommendation after those
very interesting conversations which were held both before
and after the recommendation? Why was the secretary away
from West Point at the time of the examination.
"In the next place, by what divine power does that learned
oracle, a professor, prophesy that it will be a long time
before any one belonging to the colored race can graduate at
West Point? It seems that he must have a wonderful knowledge
of the Negro that he can tell the abilities of all the
colored boys in America. But it is possible that he is one
of the younger professors, perhaps the professor of
philosophy, and therefore expects to live and preside over
that department for a long time, though to the
unsophisticated mind it looks very much as though he would
examine a colored cadet on the color of his face.
"I think he could express himself better and come much
nearer the truth by substituting shall for can in that
sentence. Of course, while affairs remain at West Point as
they have always been, and are now, no colored boy will
graduate there; but there are some of us who are sanguine
about seeing a change, even if we can t get back.
"Columbia, S.C., July 30, 1874.
To the Editor of the New National Era:
As I told you in my last communication, I
shall now proceed to give you an account of
my four years stay at West Point.
"I reported there on the 31st of May, 1870,
and had not been there an hour before I had
been reminded by several thoughtful cadets
that I was nothing but a d d nigger. Another
colored boy, Howard, of Mississippi,
reported on the same day, and we were put in
the same room, where we stayed until the
preliminary examination was over, and Howard
was sent away, as he failed to pass.
"While we were there we could not meet a
cadet anywhere without having the most
opprobrious epithets applied to us; but
after complaining two or three times, we
concluded to pay no attention to such
things, for, as we did not know these
cadets, we could get no satisfaction.
"One night about twelve o clock some one
came into our room, and threw the contents
of his slop pail over us while we were
asleep. We got to our door just in time to
hear the gentleman go into his room on the
floor above us. This affair reported itself
the next morning at Police Inspection, and
the inspector ordered us to search among the
tobacco quids, and other rubbish on the
floor, for something by which we might
identify the perpetrator of the affair. The
search resulted in the finding of an old
envelope, addressed to one McCord, of
Kentucky. That young gentleman was
questioned in reference, but succeeded in
convincing the authorities that he had
nothing to do with the affair and knew
nothing of it.
"A few days after that, Howard was struck in
the face by that young gentleman, because,
as he says, the d d nigger didn t get out of
the way when I was going into the boot black
s shop. For that offence Mr. McCord was
confined to his room, but was never
punished, as in a few days thereafter he
failed at the preliminary examination, and
was sent away with all the other
unfortunates, including Howard.
"On the 28th of June, 1870, those of us who
had succeeded in passing the preliminary
examination were taken in plebe camp, and
there I got my taste of military discipline,
as the petty persecutions of about two
hundred cadets were called. Left alone as I
was, by Howard s failure, I had to take
every insult that was offered, without
saying any thing, for I had complained
several times to the Commandant of Cadets,
and, after investigating the matter, he
invariably came to the conclusion, from the
evidence deduced, that I was in the wrong,
and I was cautioned that I had better be
very particular about any statements that I
might make, as the regulations were very
strict on the subject of veracity.
"Whenever the plebes (new cadets) were
turned out to police camp, as they were each
day at 5 A.M. and 4 P.M., certain cadets
would come into the company street and spit
out quids of tobacco which they would call
for me to pick up. I would get a broom and
shovel for the purpose, but they would
immediately begin swearing at and abusing me
for not using my fingers, and then the
corporal of police would order me to put
down that broom and shovel, and not to try
to play the gentleman here, for my fingers
were made for that purpose. Finding there
was no redress to be had there, I wrote my
friend Mr. David Clark, of Hartford, Ct., to
do something for me. He had my letter
published, and that drew the attention of
Congress to the matter, and a board was sent
to West Point to inquire into the matter and
report thereon. That board found out that
several cadets were guilty of conduct
unbecoming a cadet and a gentleman and
recommended that they be court-martialled,
but the Secretary of War thought a reprimand
would be sufficient. Among those reprimanded
were Q. O M. Gillmore, son of General
Gillmore; Alex. B. Dyer, son of General
Dyer; and James H. Reid, nephew of the
Secretary of War (it is said). I was also
reprimanded for writing letters for
publication.
"Instead of doing good, these reprimands
seemed only to increase the enmity of the
cadets, and they redoubled their energies to
get me into difficulty, and they went on
from bad to worse, until from words they
came to blows, and then occurred that little
unpleasantness known as the dipper fight. On
the 13th of August, 1870, I, being on guard,
was sent to the tank for a pail of water. I
had to go a distance of about one hundred
and fifty yards, fill the pail by drawing
water from the faucet in a dipper (the
faucet was too low to permit the pail to
stand under it), and return to the guard
tent in ten minutes. When I reached the
tank, one of my classmates, J. W. Wilson,
was standing in front of the faucet drinking
water from a dipper. He didn't seem inclined
to move, so I asked him to stand aside as I
wanted to get water for the guard. He said:
I d like to see any d d nigger get water
before I get through. I said: I'm on duty,
and I've got no time to fool with you, and I
pushed the pail toward the faucet. He kicked
the pail over, and I set it up and stooped
down to draw the water, and then he struck
at me with his dipper, but hit the brass
plate on the front of my hat and broke his
dipper. I was stooping down at the time, but
I stood up and struck him in the face with
my left fist; but in getting up I did not
think of a tent fly that was spread over the
tank, and that pulled my hat down over my
eyes. He then struck me in the face with the
handle of his dipper (he broke his dipper at
the first blow), and then I struck him two
or three times with my dipper, battering it,
and cutting him very severely on the left
side of his head near the temple. He bled
very profusely, and fell on the ground near
the tank.
"The alarm soon spread through the camp, and
all the cadets came running to the tank and
swearing vengeance on the d d nigger.
"An officer who was in his tent near by came
out and ordered me to be put under guard in
one of the guard tents, where I was kept
until next morning, when I was put in
arrest. Wilson was taken to the hospital,
where he stayed two or three weeks, and as
soon as he returned to duty he was also
placed in arrest. This was made the subject
for a court-martial, and that court-martial
will form the subject of my next
communication.
Yours respectfully,
"J. W. Smith,
"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."
"Columbia, S.C., August 7, 1874.
To the Editor of the New National Era:
"Sir: In my last communication I related the
circumstances of the dipper fight, and now
we come to the court-martial which resulted
there from.
"But there was another charge upon which I
was tried at the same time, the
circumstances of which I will detail.
"On the 15th of August, 1870, just two days
after the dipper fight, Cadet Corporal
Beacom made a report against me for replying
in a disrespectful manner to a file closer
when spoken to at drill, P.M. For this
alleged offence I wrote an explanation
denying the charge; but Cadet Beacom found
three cadets who swore that they heard me
make a disrespectful reply in ranks when
Cadet Beacom, as a file closer on duty,
spoke to me, and the Commandant of Cadets,
Lieutenant Colonel Upton, preferred charges
against me for making false statements.
"The court to try me sat in September, with
General O. O. Howard as President. I plead
not guilty to the charge of assault on Cadet
Wilson, and also to the charge of making
false statements.
"The court found both Cadet Wilson and
myself guilty of assault, and sentenced us
to be confined for two or three weeks, with
some other light punishment in the form of
extra duty.
The finding of the court was approved by
President Grant in the case of Cadet Wilson,
but disapproved in my case, on the ground
that the punishment was not severe enough.
Therefore, Cadet W. served his punishment
and I did not serve mine, as there was no
authority vested in the President to
increase it.
"On the second charge I was acquitted, for I
proved, by means of the order book of the
Academy that there was no company drill on
that day the 15th of August that there was
skirmish drill, and by the guard reports of
the same date, that Cadet Beacom and two of
his three witnesses were on guard that day,
and could not have been at drill, even if
there had been one. To some it might appear
that the slight inconsistencies existing
between the sworn testimony of those cadets
and the official record of the Academy,
savored somewhat of perjury, but they
succeeded in explaining the matter by saying
that Cadet Beacom only made a mistake in
date. Of course he did; how could it be
otherwise? It was necessary to explain it in
some way so that I might be proved a liar to
the corps of cadets, even if they failed to
accomplish that object to the satisfaction
of the court.
"I was released in November, after the
proceedings and findings of the court had
been returned from Washington, where they
had been sent for the approval of the
President, having been in arrest for three
months. But I was not destined to enjoy my
liberty for any length of time, for on the
13th of December, same year, I was in the
ranks of the guard, and was stepped on two
or three times by Cadet Anderson, one of my
classmates, who was marching beside me.
"As I had had some trouble with the same
cadet some time before, on account of the
same thing I believed that he was doing it
intentionally, and as it was very annoying,
I spoke to him about it, saying: "I wish you
would not tread on my toes. He answered:
Keep your d d toes out of the way. Cadet
Birney, who was standing near by, then made
some invidious remarks about me, to which I
did not condescend to reply. One of the
Cadet Corporals, Bailey, reported me for
inattention in ranks, and in my written
explanation of the offence, I detailed the
circumstances, but both Birney and Anderson
denied them, and the Commandant of Cadets
took their statement in preference to mine,
and preferred charges against me for
falsehood.
"I was court martialled in January, 1871,
Captain Piper, Third Artillery, being
President of the court. By this court I was
found I guilty, as I had no witnesses, and
had nothing to expect from the testimony of
the witnesses for the prosecution. Cadet
Corporal Bailey, who made the report, Cadets
Birney and Anderson were the witnesses who
convicted me; in fact they were the only
witnesses summoned to testify in the case.
The sentence of the court was that I should
be dismissed, but it was changed to one year
s suspension, or, since the year was almost
gone before the finding of the court was
returned from Washington, where it was sent
for the approval of President Grant, I was
put back one year.
"I had no counsel at this trial, as I knew
it would be useless, considering the one
sided condition of affairs. I was allowed to
make the following written statement of the
affair to be placed among the records of the
proceedings of the court:
" May it please the court: I stand here
today charged with a most disgraceful act
one which not only affects my character, but
will, if I am found guilty, affect it during
my whole life and I shall attempt, in as few
words as possible, to show that I am as
innocent as any person in this room. I was
reported on the 18th of December, 1870, for
a very trivial offence. For this offence I
submitted an explanation to the Commandant
of Cadets. In explanation I stated the real
cause of committing the offence for which I
was reported. But this cause, as stated,
involved another cadet, who, finding himself
charged with an act for which he was liable
to punishment, denies all knowledge of it.
He tries to establish his denial by giving
evidence which I shall attempt to prove
absurd. On the morning of the 13th of
December, 1870, at guard mounting, after the
new guard had marched past the old guard,
and the command of "Twos left, halt!" had
been given, the new guard was about two or
three yards to the front and right of the
old guard. Then the command of "Left
backward, dress," was given to the new
guard, "Order arms, in place rest." I then
turned around to Cadet Anderson, and said to
him, "I wish you would not tread on my
toes." This was said in a moderate tone,
quite loud enough for him to hear. He
replied, as I understood, " Keep your d-d
toes out of the way." I said nothing more,
and he said nothing more. I then heard Cadet
Birney say to another cadet I don t know who
it was standing by his side, "It (or the
thing) is speaking to Mr. Anderson. If he
were to speak to me I would knock him down."
I heard him distinctly, but as I knew that
he was interfering in an affair that did not
concern him, I took no further notice of
him, but turned around to my original
position in the ranks. What was said
subsequently I do not know, for I paid no
further attention to either party. I heard
nothing said at any time about taking my
eyes away, or of Cadet Anderson compromising
his dignity. Having thus reviewed the
circumstances which gave rise to the charge,
may it please the court, I wish to say a
word as to the witnesses. Each of these
cadets testifies to the fact that they have
discussed the case in every particular, both
with each other and with other cadets. That
is, they have found out each other s views
and feelings in respect to it, compared the
evidence which each should give, the
probable result of the trial; and one has
even testified that he has expressed a
desire as to the result. Think you that
Cadet Birney, with such a desire in his
breast, influencing his every thought and
word, with such an end in view, could give
evidence unbiassed, unprejudiced, and free
from that desire that "Cadet Smith might be
sent away and proved a liar?" Think you that
he could give evidence which should be "the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so help me God?" It seems impossible
for me to have justice done me by the
evidence of such witnesses, but I will leave
that for the court to decide. There is
another question here which must be answered
by the finding of the court. It is this:
"Shall Cadet Smith be allowed to complain to
the Commandant of Cadets when he considers
himself unjustly dealt with?" When the court
takes notice of the fact that this charge
and these specifications are the result of a
complaint made by me, it will agree with me
as to the importance its findings will have
in answering that question. As to what the
finding will be, I can say nothing; but if
the court is convinced that I have lied,
then I shall expect a finding and sentence
in accordance with such conviction. A lie is
as disgraceful to one man as another, be he
white or black, and I say here, as I said to
the Commandant of Cadets, "If I were guilty
of falsehood, I should merit and expect the
same punishment as any other cadet;" but, as
I said before, I am as innocent of this
charge as any person in this room. The
verdict of an infallible judge conscience
is, "Not guilty," and that is the finding I
ask of this court.
"Respectfully submitted.
(Signed) " J. W. Smith,
" Cadet U.S.M.A.
Thus ended my second and last court martial.
Yours respectfully,
J. W. Smith,
"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."
"Sir: In relating the events of my
first year at West Point, I omitted
one little affair which took place,
and I will now relate the
circumstances. One Sunday, at
dinner, I helped myself to some
soup, and one cadet, Clark, of
Kentucky, who sat opposite me at
table, asked me what I meant by
taking soup before he had done so. I
told him that I took it because I
wished it, and that there was a
plenty left. He seemed to be
insulted at that, and asked: Do you
think I would eat after a d d
Nigger? I replied: I have not
thought at all on the subject, and,
moreover, I don t quite understand
you, as I can t find that last word
in the dictionary. He then took up a
glass and said he would knock my
head off. I told him to throw as
soon as he pleased, and as soon as
he got through I would throw mine.
The commandant of the table here
interfered and ordered us to stop
creating a disturbance at the table,
and gave me to understand that
thereafter I should not touch any
thing on that table until the white
cadets were served.
"When we came back from dinner, as I
was going into my room, Cadet Clark
struck at me from behind. He hit me
on the back of my neck, causing me
to get into my room with a little
more haste than I anticipated, but
he did not knock me down. He came
into my room, following up his
advantage, and attempted to take me
by the throat, but he only succeeded
in scratching me a little with his
nails, as I defended myself as well
as possible until I succeeded in
getting near my bayonet, which I
snatched from the scabbard and then
tried to put it through him. But
being much larger and stronger than
I, he kept me off until he got to
the door, but then he couldn't get
out, for some one was holding the
door on the outside, for the
purpose, I suppose, of preventing my
escape, as no doubt they thought I
would try to get out. There were a
great many cadets outside on the
stoop, looking through the window,
and cheering their champion, with
cries of That s right, Clark; kill
the d d nigger, Choke him, Put a
head on him, etc., but when they saw
him giving way before the bayonet,
they cried, Open the door, boys, and
the door was opened, and Mr. Clark
went forth to rejoice in the bosom
of his friends as the hero of the
day. The cadet officer of the day
happened around just after Clark had
left, and wanted to know what did I
mean by making all that noise in and
around my quarters. I told him what
the trouble was about, and soon
after I was sent for by the officer
in charge, and questioned in
reference to the affair. Charges
were preferred against Clark for
entering my room and assaulting me,
but before they were brought to
trial he sent two of his friends
tome asking if I would withdraw the
charges providing he made a written
apology. I told these cadets that I
would think of the matter and give
them a definite answer the next
evening.
"I was perfectly well satisfied that
he would be convicted by any court
that tried him; but the cadets could
easily prove (according to their way
of giving evidence) that I provoked
the assault, and I, besides, was
utterly disgusted with so much
wrangling, so when the cadets called
that evening I told them that if his
written apology was satisfactory I
would sign it, submit it to the
approval of the Commandant of
Cadets, and have the charges
withdrawn.
"They then showed me the written
apology offered by Clark, in which
he stated that his offence was
caused by passion, because he
thought that when I passed him on
the steps in going to my room I
tried to brush against him. He also
expressed his regret for what he had
done, and asked forgiveness. I was
satisfied with his apology, and
signed it, asking that the charges
be withdrawn, which was done, of
course, and Clark was released from
arrest. I will, in justice to Cadet
Clark, state that I never had any
further trouble with him, for, while
he kept aloof from me, as the other
cadets did, he always thereafter
acted perfectly fair by me whenever
I had any official relations with
him.
"A few days after the settlement of
our dispute I found, on my return
from fencing one day, that some one
had entered my room and had thrown
all my clothes and other property
around the floor, and had thrown the
water out of my water pail upon my
bed. I immediately went to the guard
house and reported the affair to the
officer of the day, who, with the
officer in charge, came to my room
to see what had been done. The
officer of the day said that he had
inspected my quarters soon after I
went to the Fencing Academy and
found everything in order, and that
it must have been done within a half
hour. The Commandant of the Cadets
made an investigation of the matter,
but could not find out what young
gentleman did it, for every cadet
stated that he knew nothing of it,
although the corps of cadets has the
reputation of being a truthful set
of young men.
" Upon my honor as a cadet and a
gentleman, " is a favorite
expression with the West Point
cadet; but what kind of honor is
that by which a young man can quiet
his conscience while telling a base
falsehood for the purpose of
shielding a fellow student from
punishment for a disgraceful act?
They boast of the esprit de corps
existing among the cadets; but it is
merely a cloak for the purpose of
covering up their iniquities and
silencing those (for there are some)
who would, if allowed to act
according to the dictates of their
own consciences, be above such
disgraceful acts. Some persons might
attribute to me the same motives
that actuated the fox in crying sour
grapes, and to such I will say that
I never asked for social equality at
West Point. I never visited the
quarters of any professor, official,
or cadet except on duty, for I did
not wish any one to think that I was
in any way desirous of social
recognition by those who felt
themselves superior to me on account
of color. As I was never recognized
as a cadet and a gentleman, I could
not enjoy that blessed privilege of
swearing upon my honor, boasting of
my share in the esprit de corps, nor
of concealing my sins by taking
advantage of them. Still, I hope
that what I lost (?) by being
deprived of these little benefits
will be compensated for the still
small voice, which tells me that I
have done my best.
"Yours respectfully,
"J. W. Smith,
"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."
Henry Ossian Flipper, The Colored Cadet
at West Point, 1878
