FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
In this chapter I shall describe only those
phases of cadet life which are experienced by "yearlings" in
their "yearling camp."
Beginning July 5th, or as soon after as practicable, the
third class receive practical instruction in the
nomenclature and manual of the field piece. This drill
continues till August 1st, when they begin the "School of
the Battery."
The class attend dancing daily. Attendance at dancing is
optional with that part of the third class called
"yearlings," and compulsory for the "Seps," who of course do
not become yearlings till the following September. The third
class also receive instruction in the duties of a military
laboratory, and "target practice." These instructions are
not always given during camp. They may be given in the
autumn or spring.
Another delight of the yearling is to "bone colors."
Immediately in front of camp proper is a narrow path
extending entirely across the ground, and known as the
"color line." On the 1st of August sometimes before the
"color line" is established, this name being applied also to
the purpose of the color line. This ceremony consists in
stacking arms just in rear of the color line, and placing
the colors on the two stacks nearest the centre of the line.
>From the privates of the guard three are chosen to guard
the stacks and to require every one who crosses the color
line or passes within fifteen paces of the colors to salute
them. These three sentinels are known as the "colors," or
"color men," and are numbered "first," "second," and
"third."
Those are chosen who are neatest and most soldier like in
their appearance. Cadets prepare themselves specially for
this, and they toss up their guns to the adjutant at guard
mounting. This signifies that they intend competing for
"colors." The adjutant falls them out after the guard has
marched to its post, and inspects them. Absolute cleanliness
is necessary. Any spot of dirt, dust, or any thing unclean
will often defeat one. Yearlings "bone" their guns and
accoutrements for "colors," and sometimes get them every
time they toss up.
A "color man" must use only those equipments issued to him.
He cannot borrow those of a man who has "boned them up" and
expect to get colors. Sometimes but rarely plebes compete
and win.
The inducement for this extra labor is simply this: Instead
of being on duty twenty-four hours, color men are relieved
from 4 P. M. till 8 A. M. the next day, when they march off.
They of course enjoy all other privileges given the "Old
Guard."
"Sentinels for the Color Line. The sentinels for the color
line will be permitted to go to their tents from the time
the stacks are broken till 8 A.M. the following morning,
when they will rejoin the guard. They will be excused from
marching to meals, but will report to the officer of the
guard at the roll call for each meal, and also at tattoo and
reveille." (From Résumé of Existing Orders, U. S. C. C.)
It is the yearling who does most of the hazing. Just emerged
from his chrysalis state, having the year before received
similar treatment at the hands of other yearlings, he
retaliates, so to speak, upon the now plebe, and finds in
such retaliation his share of enjoyment.
The practice, however, is losing ground. The cadets are more
generous, and, with few exceptions, never interfere with a
plebe. This is certainly an advance in the right direction;
for although hazing does comprise some good, it is,
notwithstanding, a low practice, one which manliness alone
should condemn. None need information and assistance more
than plebes, and it is unkind to refuse it ; nay, it is even
not humane to refuse it and also to haze the asker. Such
conduct, more than any thing else, discourages and
disheartens him. It takes from him all desire to do and
earn, to study or strive for success. At best it can be
defended only as being effective where regulations are not,
viz., in the cases of rough specimens who now not
infrequently manage to win their appointments.
Formerly in yearling camp the corporals were all "acting
sergeants." They were so acting in the absence of the de
facto sergeants. These corporals got the idea into their
heads that to retain their appointments they had to do a
certain amount of "skinning," and often "skins" were more
fancied than real. This was a rather sad condition of
affairs. Plebes would find their demerits accumulating and
become disheartened. It was all due to this unnecessary
rigor, and "being military," which some of the yearling
corporals affected. No one bears, or rather did bear, such a
reputation as the yearling corporal. As such he was disliked
by everybody, and plebes have frequently fought them for
their unmanly treatment. This, however, was. It is no more.
We have no yearling corporals, and plebes fare better
generally than ever before. Not because all yearling
corporals thus subserved their ambition by reporting men for
little things that might as well have been overlooked, did
they get this bad reputation, but rather because with it
they coupled the severest hazing, and sometimes even
insults. That was unmanly as well as mean. Hazing could be
endured, but not always insults.
Whether for this reason or not I cannot say, the authorities
now appoint the corporals from the second class, men who are
more dignified and courteous in their conduct toward all,
and especially toward plebes. The advantages of this system
are evident.
One scarcely appreciates cadet life if such appreciation is
possible till he becomes a yearling. It is not till in
yearling camp that a cadet begins to "spoon." Not till then
is he permitted to attend the hops, and of course he has but
little opportunity to cultivate female society, nor is he
expected to do so till then, for to assume any familiarity
with the upper classes would be considered rather in advance
of his "plebeship's" rights. How then can he he is little
more than a stranger become acquainted with the fair ones
who either dwell at or are visiting West Point. Indeed,
knowing "femmes" are quite as prone to haze as the cadets,
and most unmercifully cut the unfortunate plebe. Some are
also so very haughty: they will admit only first-classmen to
their acquaintance and favor.
But Mr. Plebe, having become a yearling finds that the "Mr."
is dropped, and that he is allowed all necessary
familiarity. He then begins to enjoy his cadetship, a
position which for pleasure and happiness has untold
advantages, for what woman can resist those glorious
buttons? A yearling has another advantage. The furlough
class is absent, and the plebes well, they are "plebes."
Sufficient, isn't it? The spooneying must all be done, then,
by the first and third classes. Often a great number of the
first class are bachelors, or not inclined to be spooney;
and that duty then of course devolves on the more gallant
part of that class and the yearlings.
The hop managers of the third class have been mentioned
elsewhere. They enjoy peculiar facilities for pleasure, and,
where a good selection has been made, do much to dispel the
monotony of academic military life. Indeed, they do very
much toward inducing others to cultivate a high sense of
gallantry and respect for women. The refining influence of
female society has greater play, and its good results are
inevitable.
But what a wretched existence was mine when all this was
denied me! One would be unwilling to believe I had not, from
October, 1875, till May, 1876, spoken to a female of any
age, and yet it was so. There was no society for me to enjoy
no friends, male or female, for me to visit, or with whom I
could have any social intercourse, so absolute was my
isolation.* Indeed, I had friends who often visited me, but
they did so only when the weather was favorable. In the
winter season, when nature, usually so attractive, presented
nothing to amuse or dispel one s gloom, and when, therefore,
something or some one suited for that purpose was so
desirable, no one of course visited me. But I will not
murmur. I suppose this was but another constituent of that
mechanical mixture of ills and anxieties and suspense that
characterized my cadet life. At any rate I can console
myself in my victory over prejudice, whether that victory be
admitted or not. I know I have so lived that they could find
in me no fault different from those at least common to
themselves, and have thus forced upon their consciences a
just and merited recognition whether or not they are
disposed to follow conscience and openly accept my claim to
their brotherly love.
I could and did have a pleasant chat every day, more or
less, with "Bentz the bugler," the tailor, barber,
commissary clerk, the policeman who scrubbed out my room and
brought around the mail, the treasurer s clerk, cadets
occasionally, and others. The statement made in some of the
newspapers, that from one year s end to another I never
heard the sound of my own voice, except in the recitation
room, is thus seen to be untrue.
Henry Ossian Flipper, The Colored Cadet
at West Point, 1878
