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to go to West Point as a Cadet from my Congressional district。 My
chances for this seemed very remote； however； till one day an
opportunity was thrown in my way by the boy who then held the place
failing to pass his examination。 When I learned that by this
occurrence a vacancy existed； I wrote to our representative in
Congress； the Hon。 Thomas Ritchey； and asked him for the appointment；
reminding him that we had often met in Fink & Dittoe's store； and
that therefore he must know something of my qualifications。 He
responded promptly by enclosing my warrant for the class of 1848； so；
notwithstanding the many romances that have been published about the
matter； to Mr。 Ritchey； and to him alone； is due all the creditif
my career justifies that termof putting me in the United States
Army。
At once I set about preparing for the examination which precedes
admission to the Military Academy； studying zealously under the
direction of Mr。 William Clark； my old teachers； McNanly and Thorn；
having disappeared from Somerset and sought new fields of usefulness。
The intervening months passed rapidly away； and I fear that I did not
make much progress； yet I thought I should be able to pass the
preliminary examination。 That which was to follow worried me more
and gave me many sleepless nights； but these would have been less in
number； I fully believe； had it not been for one specification of my；
outfit which the circular that accompanied my appointment demanded。
This requirement was a pair of 〃Monroe shoes。〃 Now； out in Ohio；
what 〃Monroe shoes〃 were was a mysterynot a shoemaker in my section
having so much as an inkling of the construction of the perplexing
things； until finally my eldest brother brought an idea of them from
Baltimore； when it was found that they were a familiar pattern under
another name。
At length the time for my departure came； and I set out for West
Point； going by way of Cleveland and across Lake Erie to Buffalo。 On
the steamer I fell in with another appointee en route to the academy；
David S。 Stanley； also from Ohio； and when our acquaintanceship had
ripened somewhat； and we had begun to repose confidence in each
other； I found out that he had no 〃Monroe shoes；〃 so I deemed myself
just that much ahead of my companion； although my shoes might not
conform exactly to the regulations in Eastern style and finish。 At
Buffalo； Stanley and I separated； he going by the Erie Canal and I by
the railroad； since I wanted to gain time on account of commands to
stop in Albany to see my father's uncle。 Here I spent a few days；
till Stanley reached Albany； when we journeyed together down the
river to West Point。 The examination began a few days after our
arrival； and I soon found myself admitted to the Corps of Cadets； to
date from July 1； 1848； in a class composed of sixty…three members；
many of whomfor example； Stanley； Slocum； Woods； Kautz； and Crook…
…became prominent generals in later years； and commanded divisions；
corps； and armies in the war of the rebellion。
Quickly following my admission I was broken in by a course of hazing；
with many of the approved methods that the Cadets had handed down
from year to year since the Academy was founded； still； I escaped
excessive persecution； although there were in my day many occurrences
so extreme as to call forth condemnation and an endeavor to suppress
the senseless custom； which an improved civilization has now about
eradicated； not only at West Point； but at other colleges。
Although I had met the Academic board and come off with fair success；
yet I knew so little of Algebra or any of the higher branches of
mathematics that during my first six months at the Academy I was
discouraged by many misgivings as to the future； for I speedily
learned that at the January examination the class would have to stand
a test much severer than that which had been applied to it on
entering。 I resolved to try hard； however； and； besides； good
fortune gave me for a room…mate a Cadet whose education was more
advanced than mine； and whose studious habits and willingness to aid
others benefited me immensely。 This room…mate was Henry W。 Slocum；
since so signally distinguished in both military and civil capacities
as to win for his name a proud place in the annals of his country。
After tapsthat is； when by the regulations of the Academy all the
lights were supposed to be extinguished； and everybody in bedSlocum
and I would hang a blanket over the one window of our room and
continue our studieshe guiding me around scores of stumbling…blocks
in Algebra and elucidating many knotty points in other branches of
the course with which I was unfamiliar。 On account of this
association I went up before the Board in January with less
uneasiness than otherwise would have been the case； and passed the
examination fairly well。 When it was over； a self…confidence in my
capacity was established that had not existed hitherto； and at each
succeeding examination I gained a little in order of merit till my
furlough summer came roundthat is； when I was half through the
four…year course。
My furlough in July and August； 1850； was spent at my home in Ohio；
with the exception of a visit or two to other Cadets on furlough in
the State； and at the close of my leave I returned to the Academy in
the full expectation of graduating with my class in 1852。
A quarrel of a belligerent character in September； ；1851； with Cadet
William R。 Terrill； put an end to this anticipation； however； and
threw me back into the class which graduated in 1853。 Terrill was a
Cadet Sergeant； and； while my company was forming for parade； having；
given me an order； in what I considered an improper tone； to 〃dress〃
in a certain direction； when I believed I was accurately dressed； I
fancied I had a grievance； and made toward him with a lowered
bayonet； but my better judgment recalled me before actual contact
could take place。 Of course Terrill reported me for this； and my ire
was so inflamed by his action that when we next met I attacked him；
and a fisticuff engagement in front of barracks followed； which was
stopped by an officer appearing on the scene。 Each of us handed in
an explanation； but mine was unsatisfactory to the authorities； for I
had to admit that I was the assaulting party； and the result was that
I was suspended by the Secretary of War； Mr。 Conrad； till August 28；
1852the Superintendent of the Academy； Captain Brewerton； being
induced to recommend this milder course； he said； by my previous good
conduct。 At the time I thought； of course； my suspension a very
unfair punishment； that my conduct was justifiable and the
authorities of the Academy all wrong； but riper experience has led me
to a different conclusion； and as I look back； though the
mortification I then endured was deep and trying； I am convinced that
it was hardly as much as I deserved for such an outrageous breach of
discipline。
There was no question as to Terrill's irritating tone； but in giving
me the order he was prompted by the duty of his position as a file
closer； and I was not the one to remedy the wrong which I conceived
had been done me； and clearly not justifiable in assuming to correct
him with my own hands。 In 1862； when General Buell's army was
assembling at Louisville； Terrill was with it as a brigadier…general
（for； although a Virginian； he had remained loyal）； and I then took
the initiative toward a renewal of our acquaintance。 Our renewed
friendship was not destined to be of long duration； I am sorry to
say； for a few days later； in the battle of Perryville； while
gallantly fighting for his country； poor Terrill was killed。
My suspension necessitated my leaving the Academy； and I returned
home in the fall of 1851； much crestfallen。 Fortunately； my good
friend Henry Dittoe again gave me employment in keeping the books of
his establishment； and this occupation of my time made the nine
months which were to elapse before I could go back to West Point pass
much more agreeably than they would have done had I been idle。 In
August； 1852； I joined the first class at the Academy in accordance
with the order of the War Department； taking my place at the foot of
the class and graduating with it the succeeding June； number thirty…
four in a membership of fifty…two。 At the head of this class
graduated James B。 McPherson； who was killed in the Atlanta campaign
while commanding the Army of the Tennessee。 It also contained such
men as John M。 Schofield； who commanded the Army of the Ohio； Joshua
W。 Sill； killed as a brigadier in the battle of Stone River； and many
others who； in the war of the rebellion； on one side or the other；
rose to prominence； General John B。 Hood being the most distinguished
member of the class among the Confederates。
At the close of the final examination I made no formal application
for assignment to any particular arm of