Henry Ossian Flipper, Colored Cadet at West Point

Autobiography of Lieut. Henry Ossian Flipper, U.S.A., First Graduate of Color from the U.S. Military Academy

Henry Ossian Flipper, the eldest of five brothers, and the subject of this narrative, was born in Thomasville, Thomas County, Georgia, on the 21st day of March, 1856. He and his mother were the property (?) of Rev. Reuben H. Lucky, a Methodist minister of that place. His father, Festus Flipper, by trade a shoemaker and carriage trimmer, was owned by Ephraim G. Ponder, a successful and influential slave dealer. Read more...

• Preface

• Retrospect

• Communications, Etc

  • Leading physical disqualifications

  • Method of Examining Candidates for Admission into the Military Academy

  • Course of Study and Books used

  • Memorandum

• Reporting

  • Special Regulations For Barracks

  • Cadets

  • Accoutrements

  • Delinquencies, Tuesday, Oct. 12

  • Colored Cadets At West Point

• Cant Terms

  • Benny Havens O.

• Plebe Camp

• Studies, Etc.

  • Memoranda

  • Regulations For The Military Academy

• Yearling Camp

• First Class Camp

• Our Future Heroes

• Treatment

  • Treatment Received at the Hands of Others

  • A Case of Downright Malice

• Resume

  • Color Determines how the Negro is Treated

• Pleasures And Privileges

  • Address By Professor C. O. Thompson

  • Address By Major-General W. S. Hancock

  • Address By Hon. G. W. McCrary

  • Address By Major-General John M. Schofield

  • Graduating Class of 1877

• Furlough

• Incident, Humor, Etc.

  • Failed

  • While I was a Plebe

  • Secrecy of Hazing

  • Come Kiss Me, Love

• Graduation In The Army

  • Lieutenant Flipper, The Colored Graduate Of West Point

  • Mr. Blaine And The Colored Cadet

  • The Colored Cadets Experience and Prospects

  • Lieutenant Flipper

  • Cadet Flipper Again

  • The Bigot And The Snob

  • Prejudice Against Color

  • Colored Cadet Flipper

  • Frip Fires Off

  • Social Equality In The Army

  • Battalion Parade

  • Flipper On Liberia

  • To the Editor of The News and Courier

  • New Orleans Newspapers

  • The Colored West Pointer

  • The Difference

• Smith At West Point

  • The Colored Cadet Again

  • The Dipper Difficulty

  • The Injustice At West Point

  • The Honor of a Cadet and Gentleman

  • The Negro Cadets

  • Cadet Smith's Expulsion

  • Naturally Bad

  • Deficient In His Studies

Preface

The following pages were written by request. They claim to give an accurate and impartial narrative of my four years life while a cadet at West Point, as well as a general idea of the institution there. They are almost an exact transcription of notes taken at various times during those four years. Any inconsistencies, real or apparent, in my opinions or in the impressions made upon me, are due to the fact that they were made at different times at a place where the feelings of all were constantly undergoing material change.

They do not pretend to merit. Neither are they written for the purpose of criticising the Military Academy or those in any way connected with it.

My "notes" have been seen and read. If I please those who requested me to publish them I shall be content, as I have no other object in putting them before the public.

H. O. F.
Fort Sill, Indian Ter., 1878.

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