Word: pointed
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...Civil War caused an upheaval at West Point. Divergent views and opinions from all parts of our country were expressed and strongly supported by members of the Corps. The intense feeling aroused by John Brown's raid resulted in a number of serious fights, and, although the authorities did not relax the customary discipline, cadets agitated by State feeling cared little for punishment or demerits received,. Seceding Southern States took with them their sons who, once loyal Unionists were soon to tear at the throats of their Northern Classmates. The names of Grant, Jackson, Stuart, and Lee will live long...
...hundred cadets had graduated, sixty-five of whom were still in active service. Although most of these graduates served in subordinate positions throughout the war, their services won commendation, and many were brevetted for gallantry in action. In 1817 Major Sylvanus Thayer, a graduate of Dartmouth and West Point and a veteran of 1812, was appointed Superintendant of the Academy. He was especially qualified to take charge of West Point; his system, many parts of which are evident at the present time, for sixteen years had the greatest influences on cadet life...
...when the Mexican War broke out, about thirteen hundred men had graduated from the Academy, many of whom rendered conspicuous services to their country. Lee, Bragg, Sherman, Hooker, Grant, and McCellan are but a few of the West Point names distinguish-in the war. Winnfield Scott, who captured Mexico City, wrote in 1860 this famous statement, which every Plebe knows by heart: "I give it as fixed opinion, that but for our graduated cadets, the war between the United States and Mexico might, and probably would have lasted some four or five years, with, in its first half, more defeats...
Then came the Spanish American War in 1898. Classes were graduated early; that of 1898 two months ahead of schedule; 1899 nearly four months early. The war was short but vigorous, and the ultimate results shed more glory on the name of West Point. Elihu Root, then Secretary of War, in 1899 reported upon the Military Academy:--"I believe that the great services it has rendered the country were never more conspicuous than it has been during the past two years. The faithful and efficient services of its graduates since the declaration of war with Spain have more than repaid...
...previous event in its history. The frenzied preparation that followed our entry swept aside all precedent. The Class of 1917 graduated two months ahead of time, 1918 graduated in August 1917, and 1919, 1920, and 1921 received their commissions in 1918. An unparalleled crisis in the history of West Point was experienced at this time. On November 2, 1918 the fourth Class, which had been at the Academy less than five months, was all that remained of the Corps...