The Spirit of Old West Point

Colleges and Universities A-Z Military Academy - West Point
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<p>I had the good fortune while clicking through Ebay last week to stumble upon a book printed in 1907 by Morris Schaff entitled "The Spirit of Old West Point -1858-1862". Schaff was a classmate of my GG Grandgather and graduated with him in June of 1862 whereupon they (along with most of their class of 28 persons) joined the fighting in the Civil War. The book is a fastinating first person account of his life at West Point beginning with the moment his father first opened and read aloud his appointment letter until his graduation four years later. One item I thought the current firsties and grads might find interesting detailed the "cost of outfit" for the graduating seniors in 1862:</p>

<p>class ring 25.00
class album 46.00
flannels 17.50
Uniform coat 43.00
trousers 10.00
sword ad belt 15.00
Pistols 24.00
Traveling bag 7.50
Underclothing 23.37 1/2
Boots and spurs 9.00
Total 220.37 1/2</p>

<p>The "1/2" is not a misprint. In those days they had 1/2 pennies.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that there were only 28 members of the graduating class that year (many cadets had left to fight for the South).</p>

<p>The class ring and album have a special meaning to my family as my great aunt is in posession of both the ring and album belonging to my GG-grandfather (also his sword). I have his West Point diploma and promotion document signed by Lincoln (probably by auto-pen), as well as a promotion document signed by Andrew Johnson and Secretary of War Stanton. </p>

<p>If you ever get time to visit the USMA library go up to the 4th floor (if my memory is right) and look at the archives room--lots of neat historical stuff there that didn't make it to the museum. Also on the first floor is the class ring collection where you can see an example of many of the class year rings going back to the pre-civil war era (I believe Ike's and Bradley's rings are there as well. One of the years missing is 1862 (not surprising with only 28 originals to begin with), but not for long! My aunt has agreed to donate it to the Academy so it should be in place by the fall term. You can view the class album of 1862 on line at</p>

<p><a href="http://digital-library.usma.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/clalbums&CISOPTR=522&REC=1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://digital-library.usma.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/clalbums&CISOPTR=522&REC=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>West Point is indeed a living, breathing part of the history of all Americans.</p>

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<p>That is so awesome Shogun. I love the 9.00 boots & spurs. Can you imagine paying the 46 bucks for the class album? That was some big bucks! You & your family will be so proud to see it displayed there.</p>

<p>I have a 1932 USNA pendant that I am trying to donate to the museum but no one has returned my email. Maybe they weren't interested? Do you think I should just pick up the phone & call? I got all mushy when I saw the thing in an old beat up antique shop in Indiana & I could not bring myself to leave it. Its such a nice piece. Perhaps I should attach a photo of it & send it directly to the Curator. What do you think?</p>

<p>Can you tell us what all of the buttons signified on Mr. Ranald Slidell Mackenzie's uniform?</p>

3

<p>Mackenzie graduated first in the class but I have no idea if that entitles one to "extra buttons" :)</p>

<p>"Mackenzie was known for his harsh discipline and was not well liked by troops serving under him, who called him the "Perpetual Punisher"."</p>

<p>I like that nickname!! </p>

<p>The class album contains a page with the picture of each cadet and thats about it--no "class pic" or "memory shots"---very simple.</p>

<p>A phone call to the USNA curator might be the best way to go.</p>

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<p>Very interesting. I was wondering about the numerous buttons as well. Which one is your gggrandfather?</p>

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<p>Wow. I just read that list and...wow. My class ring cost twice as much as all of that together and I went for a very simple one. I have friends who spent $2000 on theirs.</p>

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<p>He is Charles Nelson Warner.
Charles N. Warners military history, taken from the Biographical Register of the officers and graduates of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, N.Y.:
"Cadet at Military Academy, Sept. 1, 1857, to June 17, 1862, when he was graduated and promoted in the army to Bvt., second lieutenant, second artillery, June 17, 1862. Served during the Rebellion of the seceeding states, 1862-'66, and in the Virginia Penninsular Campaign (Army of the Potomac), July-August 1862
On August 5, 1862, was Second lieutenant, fourth artillery, in the Northern Virginia campaign, engaged in the battle of Manassas, August 29-30, 1862; in the Maryland campaign (Army of the Potomac), Sept to Nov 1862, being engaged in the Battle of South Mountain, Sept 14, 1862,-- and the battle of Antietam, Sept 17, 1862, and march to Falmouth, Va., Oct to Nov 1862; in the Rappahannock campaign, (Army of the Potomac) Dec 1862 to June 1863, being engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec 13, 1862,--and the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 2-4, 1863; in the Pennsylvania campaign(Army of the Potomac) June-July, 1863 ,being engaged in the battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863,-- and the pursuit of the enemy to Warrentown, Va.
Bvt., First Lieutenant, July 3, 1863, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa.
July 1863, In the Rapidan Campaign (Army of the Potomac), August to Dec 1863, being engaged in action at White Sulphur Springs, August 26, 1863,-- and Mine Run Expedition Nov 26, to Dec 3, 1863; in operations about Chattanooga, Tenn. Feb 1864, being engaged in the skirmish at Dalton, Ga., Feb 25, 1864; and at Nashville, Tenn., with the artillery Reserve of the Department of the Cumberland, Mar to Dec 1864. He was with Battery of Horse Artillery, Dec 1864 to Aug 1865, being engaged in the battle of Nashville, Dec 15-16, 1864,-- in pursuit of General Hood's rebel forces across the Tennessee River with occasional skirmishing, Dec 1864 to Jan 1865,-- with General J. H. Wilson's Cavalry campaign in Alabama and Georgia, Jan to May 1865, and in Camp near Atlanta, Ga., May to Aug 1865.
Bvt., Captain, April 2, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the capture of Selma, Alabama.
Served in command of company at Camp Berry, Washington D.C. Sep-Oct., 1865; St. Louis,Oct-Nov 1865; Ft. Leavenworth,Nov 1865 to Mar 1867. On frontier duty on Indian Expedition to the plains, Mar- Apr 1867; at Ft. Riley Kansas,to Sept 1867; in Ft. Harker Kansas, to Nov. 14, 1867; and in garrison at Fort Washington, Md.,to Oct 1870 (leave of absence, Jan 9 to May 13, 1868, at about the same time as the birth of his son, Charles, jr., who died later that same year.); Fort Graham, N. C., Oct 1870; and at Lumberton, N.C., to Jan 1, 1871.
Honorably mustered out of service Jan. 1st, 1871."</p>

<p>His cousin also was a grad -Edward R. Warner (1857)</p>

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<p>shogun,</p>

<p>This is an amazing story! Thanks so much for sharing. You have your very own long gray line in the family.</p>

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<p>I have discovered what entitles one to "extra buttons":</p>

<p>"In the nineteenth century these acting instructors were authorized to wear 14 instead of eight rows of buttons on their coats, and this distinction is occasionally seen."</p>

<p><a href="http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3905/is_200009/ai_n8923062/pg_2%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3905/is_200009/ai_n8923062/pg_2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I count 15 on him, guess its close enough.</p>

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<p>Interesting, Ragman. Since he graduated first in his class he may well have been filling that "acting instructor" role. Certainly makes sense given the number of officers and cadets lost to the war effort (on both sides). Thanks!</p>