him。 If he had； my reply to him would have been sustained。 I afterward had reason to believe the offer was made merely to test me； as I received from strangers expressions of confidence in me and in my doing faithfully all that might devolve upon me from my appointment。
CHAPTER III。
REPORTING。
MAY 20th； 1873！ Auspicious day！ From the deck of the little ferry…boat that steamed its way across from Garrison's on that eventful afternoon I viewed the hills about West Point； her stone structures perched thereon； thus rising still higher； as if providing access to the very pinnacle of fame； and shuddered。 With my mind full of the horrors of the treatment of all former cadets of color； and the dread of inevitable ostracism； I approached tremblingly yet confidently。
The little vessel having been moored； I stepped ashore and inquired of a soldier there where candidates should report。 He very kindly gave me all needed information； wished me much success； for which I thanked him； and set out for the designated place。 I soon reached it； and walked directly into the adjutant's office。 He received me kindly； asked for my certificate of appointment； and receiving thator assurance that I had it： I do not now remember whichdirected me to write in a book there for the purpose the name and occupation of my father； the State； Congressional district； county and city of his residence； my own full name； age； State； county； and place of my birth； and my occupation when at home。 This done I was sent in charge of an orderly to cadet barracks； where my 〃plebe quarters〃 were assigned me。
The impression made upon me by what I saw while going from the adjutant's office to barracks was certainly not very encouraging。 The rear windows were crowded with cadets watching my unpretending passage of the area of barracks with apparently as much astonishment and interest as they would； perhaps； have watched Hannibal crossing the Alps。 Their words； jeers； etc。； were most insulting。
Having reached another office； I was shown in by the orderly。 I walked in； hat in handnay； rather started in when three cadets； who were seated in the room； simultaneously sprang to their feet； and welcomed me somewhat after this fashion：
〃Well； sir； what do you mean by coming into this office in that manner； sir？ Get out of here； sir。〃
I walked out； followed by one of them； who； in a similar strain； ordered me to button my coat； get my hands around〃fins〃 he saidheels together； and head up。
〃Now； sir；〃 said he； leaving me； 〃when you are ready to come in； knock at that door；〃 emphasizing the word 〃knock。〃
The door was open。 I knocked。 He replied； 〃Come in。〃 I went in。 I took my position in front of and facing him； my heels together； head up； the palms of my hands to the front； and my little fingers on the seams of my pantaloons； in which position we habitually carried them。 After correcting my position and making it sufficiently military to suit himself； one of them； in a much milder tone； asked what I desired of them。 I told him I had been sent by the adjutant to report there。 He arose； and directing me to follow him； conducted me to the bath…rooms。 Having discharged the necessary duty there； I returned and was again put in charge of the orderly； who carried me to the hospital。 There I was subjected to a rigid physical examination； which I 〃stood〃 with the greatest ease。 I was given a certificate of ability by the surgeon； and by him sent again to the adjutant； who in turn sent me to the treasurer。 From him I returned alone to barracks。
The reception given to 〃plebes〃 upon reporting is often very much more severe than that given me。 Even members of my own class can testify to this。 This reception has； however； I think； been best described in an anonymous work； where it is thus set forth：
〃How dare you come into the presence of your superior officer in that grossly careless and unmilitary manner？ I'll have you imprisoned。 Stand； attention； sir！〃 （Even louder than before。） 〃Heels…together…and…on… the…same…line； toes…equally …turned…out； little…fingers…on…the…seams…of…your… pantaloons； button…your…coat； draw…in…your…chin； throw…out…your…chest； cast…your…eyes…fifteen…paces …to…the…front； don't…let…me…see…you…wearing…standing… collars…again。 Stand…steady； sir。 You've evidently mistaken your profession； sir。 In any other service； or at the seat of war； sir； you would have been shot； sir； without trial； sir； for such conduct； sir。〃
The effect of such words can be easily imagined。 A 〃plebe〃 will at once recognize the necessity for absolute obedience； even if he does know all this is hazing； and that it is doubtless forbidden。 Still 〃plebes〃 almost invariably tremble while it lasts； and when in their own quarters laugh over it； and even practise it upon each other for mutual amusement。
On the way to barracks I met the squad of 〃beasts〃 marching to dinner。 I was ordered to fall in； did so； marched to the mess hall； and ate my first dinner at West Point。 After dinner we were marched again to barracks and dismissed。 I hastened to my quarters； and a short while after was turned out to take possession of my baggage。 I lugged it to my room； was shown the directions on the back of the door for arrangement of articles； and ordered to obey them within half an hour。 The parts of the regulations referred to are the following：
SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR BARRACKS。
ORDERLIES OF ROOMS。
The particular attention of Orderlies is directed to those paragraphs of the Regulations for the U。 S。 Military Academy specifying their duties。
CADETS。
The hours of Recitation of each Cadet will be posted on the back of the door of his room。 When a room is being washed out by the policeman； on reporting to the Officer of the Day； and stating to him the number of some room in his own Division he wishes to visit； a Cadet will be permitted to visit that particular room until his own can be occupied。 The uniform coat will be worn from 8 till 10 A。M。； at Inspection before 10 A。M。 the coat will be buttoned throughout； at Sunday Morning Inspection gloves and side…arms will also be worn。 After 10 A。M。 any uniform garment or dressing…gown may be worn in their own rooms； but at no time will Cadets be in their shirt… sleeves unnecessarily。 During the 〃Call to Quarters；〃 between 〃Inspection Call〃 in the morning and 〃Tattoo；〃 the following Arrangement of Furniture； etc。； will be required：
ACCOUTREMENTS。
Dress CapOn gun…rack shelf。
Cartridge Boxes； Waist Belts； Sabres； Forage Caps Hung on pegs near gun…rack shelf。
MusketsIn gunrack； Bayonets in the scabbards。
SpursHung on peg with Sabres。
BEDSTEADS AND BEDDING。
BedsteadsIn alcove； against side wall of the room； the head against the back wall。
BeddingMattress to be folded once； Blankets and Comforters； each one to be neatly and separately folded； so that the folds shall be of the width of an ordinary pillow； and piled at the head of the BEDSTEAD in the following order； viz。： MATTRESS； SHEETS； PILLOWS； BLANKETS； and COMFORTERS； the front edge of sheets； pillows； etc。； to be vertical。 On Sunday afternoons the BEDS may be made down and used。
CLOTHES…PRESS。
BooksOn the top of the Press； against the wall； and with the backs to the front。 BRUSHES （tooth and hair）； COMBS； SHAVING IMPLEMENTS and MATERIALS； such small boxes as may be allowed； vials； etc。； to be neatly arranged on the upper shelf。 BELTS； COLLARS； GLOVES； HANDKERCHIEFS； SOCKS； etc。； to be neatly arranged on the second shelf from the top。 SHEETS； PILLOW…CASES； SHIRTS； DRAWERS； WHITE PANTS； etc。； to be neatly arranged on the other shelves； the heaviest articles on the lower shelves。
ArrangementAll articles of the same kind are to be carefully and neatly placed in separate piles。 The folded edges of these articles to be to the front； and even with the front edge of the shelf。 Nothing will be allowed between these piles of clothing and the back of the press； unless the want of room on the front edge renders it necessary。
Dirty ClothesTo be kept in clothes…bag。
Shoes and Over…ShoesTo be kept clean； dusted； and arranged in a line where they can be seen by the Inspector； either at the foot of the bedstead or at the side near the foot。
Woollen Clothing； Dressing…Gown； and Clothes…Bag To be hung on the pegs in alcove in the following general order； from the front of the alcove to the back： Over…Coat； Dressing…Gown； Uniform Coats； Jackets； Pants； Clothes…Bag。
FURNITURE。
BroomTo be kept behind the door。 TIN BOX for CLEANING MATERIALSTo be kept clean and in the fire…place。 SPITTOON To be kept on one side of the hearth near mantel…piece。 CHAIRS and TABLES On no occasion to be in alcoves； the chairs； when not in use； to be against the owners' tables。 LOOKING…GLASSAt the centre of the mantel…piece。 WASH…STANDTo be kept clean； in front and against alcove partition。 WASH…BASINTo be kept clean； and inverted on the top of the Wash…stand。 WATER…BUCKET To be kept on shelf of wash…stand。 SLOP…BUCKET To be kept near to and on side of Wash…stand； opposite door。 Baskets； Pictures； Clocks； Statues； Trunks； and large