henry ossian flipper-第13章
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y tactics。 Perhaps the frequency and unnecessary repetition of these cautions give them the appearance of hazing。 However that may be； there seems to be no way to impress upon a plebe the necessity of carrying his 〃palms to the front；〃 or his 〃head up。〃 To report him and give him demerits merely causes him to laugh and joke over the number of them that have been recorded against him。
I do not mean to defend hazing in any sense of the word； but I do believe that it is indispensable as practised at the Academy。 It would simply be impossible to mould and polish the social amalgamation at West Point without it。 Some of the rough specimens annually admitted care nothing for regulations。 It is fun to them to be punished。 Nothing so effectually makes a plebe submissive as hazing。 That contemptuous look and imperious bearing lowers a plebe； I sometimes think； in his own estimation。 He is in a manner cowed and made to feel that he must obey； and not disobey； to feel that he is a plebe； and must expect a plebe's portion。 He is taught by it to stay in his place； and not to 〃bone popularity〃 with the older cadets。
It is frequently said that 〃plebe camp〃 and 〃plebe life〃 are the severest parts of life at West Point。 To some they are； and to others they are not。 With my own self I was almost entirely free from hazing； and while there were features in 〃plebe life〃 which I disliked； I did nevertheless have a far easier and better time than my own white classmates。 Even white plebes often go through their camp pleasantly and profitably。 Only those who shirk duty have to suffer any unusual punishment or hazing。
I have known plebes to be permitted to do any thing they chose while off duty。 I have known others to have been kept working on their guns or other equipments whole days for several days at a time。 It mattered not how clean they were； or how soon the work was done。 I've known them to be many times interrupted for the mere sake of hazing； and perhaps to be sent somewhere or to do something which was unnecessary and would have been as well undone。 Plebes who tent with first…classmen keep their own tents in order； and are never permitted by their tentmates to do any thing of the kind for others unless when wanted； are entirely unoccupied； and then usually their services are asked for。 A classmate of mine； when a plebe； tented with a first…classman。 He was doing something for himself one day in a free…and…easy manner； and had no thought of disturbing any one。 A yearling corporal； who was passing； saw him； thought he was having too good and soft a time of it； and ordered him out to tighten cords； an act then highly uncalled for； save as a means of hazing。 The first…classman happened to come up just as the plebe began to interfere with the cords； and asked him who told him to do that。 He told him； and was at once directed to leave them and return to whatever he was doing before being interrupted。 The yearling； confident in his red tape and his mightiness； ordered the plebe out again。 His corporalship soon discovered his mistake； for the first…classman gave the plebe full information as to what could be required of him； and told him to disobey any improper order of the corporal's which was plainly given to haze him。 The affair was made personal。 A fight ensued。 The corporal was worsted； to the delight； I imagine； of the plebes。
Again； I've known plebes to be stopped from workif they were doing something for a cadetto transfer it to some other one who was accustomed to shirk all the duty he could； or who did things slowly and slovenly。 Indeed I may assert generally that plebes who are willing to work have little to do outside of their regular duty； and fare in plebe camp quite as well as yearlings； while those who are stubborn and careless are required to do most all the work。 Cadets purposely select them and make them work。 They； too； are very frequently objects of hazing in its severest form。 At best； though； plebe camp is rather hard； its Numerous drills； together with guard and police duty； make it the severest and most undesirable portion of the four years a cadet spends at the Academy。
To get up at five o'clock and be present at reveille roll…call； to police for half an hour； to have squad drill during the next hour； to put one's tent in order after that； and then to prepare one's self for breakfast at seven； make up a rather trying round of duties。 To discharge them alland that must certainly be donekeeps one busy； but who would not prefer little extra workand not hard work at that in the cooler part of the day to an equal amount in the heated portion of it？ I am sure the plebes do。 I know the corporals and other officers who drill them do； although they lose their after…reveille sleep。
After breakfast comes troop parade at eight o'clock； guard mounting immediately after； and the establishment of the 〃color line。〃 Arms and accoutrements must be in perfect order。 The plebes clean them during the afternoon； so that before parade it is seldom necessary to do more than wipe off dust； or adjust a belt； or something of the kind。
After establishing the 〃color line；〃 which is done about 8。30 A。M。； all cadets； save those on guard and those marching on； have time to do whatever they choose。 The cadets generally repair to the guard tents to see lady friends and other acquaintances； while the plebes either interest themselves in the inspection of 〃color men；〃 or make ready for artillery drill at nine。 The latter drill； commencing at 9 A。M。； continues for one hour。 The yearlings and plebes receive instruction in the manual and nomenclature of the piece。 The drill is not very trying unless the heavy guns are usedI mean unless they are drilled at the battery of twelve…pounders。 Of late both classes have been drilled at batteries of three…inch rifles。 These are light and easily manoeuvred； and unless the heat be intense the drill is a very pleasant one。
The first class； during this same hour； are drilled at the siege or seacoast battery。 The work here is sometimes hard and sometimes not。 When firing； the drill is pleasant and interesting； but when we have mechanical manoeuvres all this pleasantness vanishes。 Then we have hard work。 Dismounting and mounting is not a very pleasant recreation。
At eleven o'clock； every day for a week or ten days； the plebes have manual drill。 This is entirely in the shade； and when 〃In place； rest；〃 is frequently given； is not at all displeasing； except when some yearling corporal evinces a disposition to haze。 At five o'clock this drill is repeated Then comes parade； supper； tattoo； and best of all a long night's rest。 The last two drills continue for a few days only； and sometimes do not take place at all。
The third class； or the yearlings； have dancing from eleven to twelve； and the plebes from then till one。 In the afternoon the plebes have nothing to do in the way of duty till four o'clock。 The camp is then policed； and when that is done there may or may not be any further duty to discharge till retreat parade。 After the plebes are put in the battalionthat is； after they begin drilling； etc。； with their companies all cadets attend company drill at five o'clock。 After attending a few of these drills the first class is excused from further attendance during the encampment。 One officer and the requisite number of privates； however； are detailed from the class each day to act as officers at these drills。
I omitted to say that the first class received in the forenoon instruction in practical military engineering and ordnance。
What most tries plebes； and yearlings； too； is guard duty。 If their classes are small； each member of them is put on guard every third or fourth day。 To the plebes； being something entirely new； guard duty is very； very obnoxious。
During the day they fare well enough； but as soon as night comes 〃well enough〃 disappears。 They are liable at any moment to be visited by cadets on a hazing tour from the body of the camp； or by the officers and non… commissioned officers of the guard。 The latter generally leave the post of the guard in groups of three or four。 After getting into camp they separate； and manage to come upon a sentinel simultaneously and from all points of the co
