Hancock later went on to relate the adventures of "the High School Boys," Dick Prescott and his five friends, in several series of series books published by Saalfield. In one series, Dick Prescott and buddy Greg Holmes went to West Point.In the month of March, 1907, the United States Military Academy at West Point was exactly one hundred and five years old. It is not only one of the oldest military academies in the world, but is admittedly the best, its graduates reaching a higher degree of efficiency during the four years' course than is attained anywhere else.
To George Washington must be given the credit of causing the first steps to be taken toward the founding of a national military academy. In 1794, while serving his second term as President, Washington succeeded in having Congress create the grade of cadet in the army. West Point was chosen as the best army post at which cadets could be trained, for the reason that it was then the most important station of the artillerists and engineers. The cadets of those days did not pass entrance examinations, and the standard of proficiency in studies did not amount to the tenth part of what is exacted nowadays. A smattering of engineering, mathematics, and artillery practice was all that was deemed necessary.
On March 16, 1802, an act of Congress was approved that provided for an actual national military academy. By virtue of that act, five officers were detailed for instruction, and ten cadets were appointed. On July 4 of the same year the academic term began. Other acts of Congress, in 1803 and again five years later, increased the number of students to nearly two hundred. Yet very few cadets were appointed, no especial provision was made for their housing, and those who did attend had great difficulty in securing adequate means of study or livelihood. And bad as this start was, matters became rapidly worse.
Then came the reaction caused by the alarm of finding ourselves a second time at war with the mother-country. Congress hastily re-organized the academy, and provided for the appointment, maintenance, instruction, and pay of a corps of two hundred and fifty cadets. Many additional courses of study were ordered, and more strict requirements were prescribed for young men who wished to graduate into the army. But Major Sylvanus Thayer who became superintendent in 1817 was the first chief of the academy to insist upon a wide knowledge of mathematics as being absolutely necessary to the making of a capable young officer.
Beginning with the sway of Major Thayer, the general system of the studies and training of the cadet were much as they are to this day. About the only changes that have been made in the courses of study are those required by advances in the art of war and the general knowledge that is required of an officer. In the first place, an officer must be a man of alert mind. He must be able to see things accurately, to form his judgment at once, and to act with precision and safety. It is for this reason that the study of mathematics has always been insisted upon as the most important feature of the course at West Point; for the training that comes from a thorough study of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry is believed to provide the surest route to quick brain action.
To-day the law provides for five hundred and eleven cadets: one to be appointed from each congressional district, one from the District of Columbia and from each Territory, two "at large" from each State, and thirty to be appointed "at large" by the President. The senators are allowed to nominate the two "at large" candidates from each State. Each cadet is expected to serve four years at the academy, although some of them, on account of deficiency in one study or another, are turned back for one year. A congressman may appoint only when a vacancy exists, from his district.
The young candidate who passes the best mental examination in reading, writing, and spelling, arithmetic, algebra, English grammar, composition and literature, geography, ordinary history and physiology and hygiene, then receives the nomination, provided his physical examination shows him to be in sound health. Appointments are generally made a year ahead of the time of admission to the academy. After the nomination is made the candidate is allowed to go before an army examining board as near as possible to his home.
In nearly every case the boy who wishes to go to West Point must put in a year or two of especially strenuous study in order to be able to pass the entrance examination. That is nothing compared with what is before him in case he succeeds in entering the academy. West Point is the worst possible place for a lazy or stupid boy. He is aroused at six o'clock in the morning, has a stated number of minutes in which to wash and dress himself, a few more minutes in which to aid his room-mate in setting the little apartment to rights.
Let the boy who wishes to go to West Point gaze around his room at home and see how it looks. Then let him understand that at the academy a scrap of paper on the floor, or any other untidiness, will bring about a punishment that affects his standing in his class. As quickly as he can possibly get his room tidy, the bugle sounds to call him to breakfast. That over, he marches to recitation. The schoolmasters at West Point, who are all army officers, are looked upon as being the most strict in the country. No cadet is allowed to make the excuse that he has not been able to prepare his lesson. He must be prepared for all that his instructors require of him. Nor can he hope to escape unnoticed, for each class is divided into sections of about eight young men each, and the recitations last from an hour to an hour and a half each. Between 8 A.M. and 1 P.M. the time is evenly divided between study and recitation.
At one o'clock the battalion of cadets marches to the mess-hall for dinner, after which a few minutes are allowed for "recreation." At two o'clock studies and recitations are resumed until four o'clock. This is followed by an hour and twenty minutes of drill, after which comes dress-parade. Soon after this is finished, at six-thirty, the young men march to supper. From seven to ten they spend the time in their rooms in cadet barracks at hard study. At ten o'clock "taps" sounds, and immediately every young man must have his lights out and be in bed. During the twenty-four hours he has eight hours of sleep, with sixteen hours of study, recitation, drill, the time allowed for meals, and eighty minutes devoted to "recreation." A boy who likes ease and indolent comfort would do better to stay away from West Point. Soldiers who can endure hard mental and bodily work are wanted there.
When Saturday comes around the cadet has his afternoon and evening to devote to his own pleasure, unless he is backward in his studies or has broken some of the regulations. In the former case he spends his afternoon and evening with his books. If he has been found guilty of a breach of discipline he is likely to have to spend his afternoon walking across the quadrangle inside of "barracks" in full uniform and with rifle and bayonet. During twenty-four hours a day, for seven days in the week, he must eat, walk, study, recite, and in fact do everything, according to inflexible rules. He must observe every regulation, be punctual to the minute in every duty, and obey every order given him by an officer. There is no favoritism shown, whether the young man be the son of a millionaire or of a day-laborer.
The course of study is indeed severe; but at the same time the physical well-being is guarded. Between gymnasium work, drills, marches, and absolutely regular hours of sleep, the cadet is a hard-worked but healthy young man.
From the 1st of June to the 1st of September the cadets go into camp. During this period text-books are dropped, and the work bears directly upon drill and tactics. The life now is all out of doors, but the young men are required to rise a half-hour earlier than when in barracks. Cadets who have spent two years at the academy are allowed a two months' furlough for a home visit.
Life at West Point is made up of an abundance of hard work and very little play; but this is the sort of life that develops the man who can endure the hard, exhausting, nerve-racking and body-wrecking strain of a campaign in the field. Such men were Grant, Sheridan, Sherman, Robert E. Lee, and "Stonewall" Jackson—all distinguished West Point cadets.
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