Assistant Professors," each cadet so detailed to receive ten dollars per month," and the appointment, declared an "honorable distinction," was further marked by the order of the Superintendent, dated September 10, 1823, which prescribed the additional number of buttons on the uniform of such as held these positions.*

Practical instruction at this time was conveyed not only at the Academy, but excursion marches, under Major William J. Worth, the Commandant of Cadets, were made at different times by the cadets to Boston, Philadelphia, Princeton, and other points, during which all the duties incident to camp-life and field-service were regularly performed.

A Regulation, approved by the Secretary of War, dated July 23d, 1818, introduced the following radical changes in the existing code:

"I. There shall be two general examinations in each year; the first to commence on the 1st of January, and the second on the 1st of June.

"II. All newly appointed cadets will be ordered to join the Military Academy for examination by the 25th of June in each year, and no cadet shall be examined for admission after the first day of September following, unless he shall have been prevented from joining at the proper time by sickness or some other unavoidable cause; in which case he may be examined with the fourth class at the general examination in January, and if then found qualified to proceed with that class, may be admitted accordingly.

"III. Until a revision of the laws relating to the

*Order-Book, 1823, U. S. M. A.

Military Academy, there shall be, in lieu of the vacation authorized by the existing regulations, an annual encampment, to commence on the 1st of July and end on the 31st of August.

"IV. The Superintendent is authorized to grant furloughs to the cadets, at the request of their parents, during the period of their encampment, provided that not more than one-fourth of the whole number be absent at any one time, and provided also that every cadet, previously to his receiving a diploma, shall have been present at not less than two entire encampments.'

At his own request, on July 1, 1833, Colonel Thayer was relieved as Superintendent by Major R. E. DE RUSSY, of the Corps of Engineers. The upward impetus given to the Institution by the former, had attracted general observation. Cadet appointments became a matter of greater importance and patronage. The asperities of party were aroused; politics invaded the Military Academy; and the decisions of its controlling authorities were subject to reversion, by those who sought to perpetuate influence rather than uphold discipline.

Under Colonel De Russy the present Academic Hall was commenced; and while yet in progress, on February 19, 1838, the old two-story stone Academy, facing the north, and in front of the present Barracks, was destroyed by fire.

The books and records of the Adjutant's Office, containing the history of the Academy, and of the Post since the Revolution, were entirely consumed, and a loss

* Order-Book, Aug., 1818, U. S. M. A.

was thereby sustained which can never be replaced. The contents of the Library, Engineering Department, and Chemical Laboratory, were rescued by the cadets in a seriously damaged condition.

By the Act of July 5, 1838, it was provided, "That an additional professor be appointed to instruct in the studies of Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Geology," and the Secretary of War was authorized to assign an assistant professor," to be taken from the officers of the line or cadets, and who should receive the same pay as the other assistant professors."

The Department thus created was organized by the appointment of Lieutenant Jacob W. Bailey, as Professor.

Section 28 of the same Act declared: "That the term for which Cadets hereafter admitted into the Military Academy at West Point shall engage to serve be, and the same is hereby, increased to eight years, unless sooner discharged."

This engagement has remained unchanged; and by it the United States claims the services of those who have been educated at the expense of the nation, though the latter is by no means bound to provide commissions to the cadets after passing the prescribed four years at the Military Academy. No instances, however, have occur red where the services were refused, or the graduates left unprovided with commissions.

CHAPTER XIII.

MAJOR DELAFIELD APPOINTED TO SUCCEED COLONEL DE RUSSY AS SUPERINTENDEnt.—ProgresS IN IMPROVEMENTS.—ESTABLISHMENT OF CAVALRY INSTRUCTION.-COMMANDANT OF THE POST.-METHOD OF APPOINTING THE CADETS.-PRINCIPLES REGULATING IT.-NOT CONTROLLED BY THE WEALTHY.-OPEN TO ALL. SUBSTITUTES FOR THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF MAKING APPOINTMENTS.-ENORMOUS EXPENSE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE.-COMPARISON OF A CADET AND CITIZEN APPLICANT FOR GRADE OF LIEUTENANT. THE MILITARY ACADEMY SAID TO BE "ONLY A SCHOOL OF ART," AND ACCUSED OF HAVING PRODUCED NO "GREAT MILITARY GENIUS.”—AN APPEAL TO ITS RECORDS.-TERM OF SERVICE OF GRADUATES, AND OF CITIZENS IN THE ARMY.

ON September 1, 1838, Colonel De Russy was succeeded by Major RICHARD DELAFIELD, of the Corps of Engineers, as Superintendent. Endowed with administrative abilities of a high order, and an inflexible resolution to maintain the discipline of the Institution, one of the earliest efforts of this officer was directed towards defining and establishing the boundaries of the public lands at West Point, and removing all unauthorized individuals who had settled thereon. Various suits of ejectment were successfully instituted against those who, under divers pretences, occupied portions of the public domain. Under his direction, Lieutenant Knowlton was employed to search the State and County records; and the result was most successful in effecting the removal of the offending parties, and the establishment by a new

survey, in 1839, of the boundaries before described, and which have remained ever since unchanged. The erection of the Library Building and Artillery Laboratory, the enlargement of the Library, the improvement of the Chemical Laboratory, many acquisitions to the Drawing department, and the construction of the roads leading towards Canterbury, to the North Wharf, and the Chain battery walk, are some of the efforts which attest Major Delafield's untiring energy.

The repeated representations of the successive Boards of Visitors induced Mr. Poinsett, the Secretary of War, on June 12, 1839, to transfer a sergeant and five dragoons from Carlisle Barracks, to aid in the introduction of exercises in Riding at the Academy. Twelve horses were supplied by the Quarter-Master's Department in the ensuing week. In September following, the Sergeant was appointed Riding-Master; and at the same time authority was given the Superintendent to recruit the detachment, purchase thirty additional horses with equipments, and the harness necessary for a battery of Light Artillery.

From this period new life was infused into the Light Artillery and mounted corps of the army, and instruction in both of these branches has continued without interruption.

By the Act of July 20, 1840, it was declared that the Commandant of Cadets should be either the instructor of Artillery, Cavalry, or Infantry tactics, or the instructor of practical Engineering; and by the same Act, an Assistant professor was authorized in the department of Ethics as in other departments.

Section 6th of the Act of August 23, 1842, declared,