FOR THE MILITARY AND NAVAL MAGAZINE.

A PLEIB'S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF.

"MY RECEPTION."

I am not a "Peter Simple," Mr. Editor, nor did I follow in his track, though I made strong efforts with the Secretary of the Navy to do so, at one time; but as Peter's entertaining adventures transpired at a distance, probably you will be pleased to hear of something which took place nearer home.

It was in the month of March, 18, that I received a cadet's warrant, to enter the Military Academy at West Point. I cannot describe to you the joy and self-importance I felt upon the occasion; suffice it to say, no one held a higher head, or looked forward with more impatience for the 1st of June, (the time for my departure) than your humble servant; nor can I describe the bright prospects I figured to myself, and the airy castles I built on high. Let me see, "I am now fifteen; in four years I will graduate, will then be nineteen; will prefer the Engineer corps, as only No. 1 can ever get there; perhaps may put up with the Artillery; can't say yet-à Lieut. at 19 will certainly be a Captain at 30, perhaps at 25, will be stationed at Old Point: I know the Adj. Gen. and he will certainly send me there, and then for honor, life, and glory." Thus did I think away the passing time. The day at length arrived, and after bidding adieu to family and friends, and every thing being prepared for my comfort and convenience, I proceeded on my journey with all expedition. If my anxiety to get to my journey's end was great, I was no less gratified by my route. I had never before visited the great cities of the north, and consequently was delighted with all I saw-the monuments and pretty women of Baltimore-the smooth, clean streets, the large houses, and fine shops of Philadelphia-and the Park, Broadway, the well-dressed young men, the theatres and Niblo's of New York-all inspired me, and gave me a taste for a worldly life; and when I reflected how soon I was to be shut out from all its pleasures, and be incarcerated in such a prison as I then thought West Point was, I determined to make the best of my time, by enjoying and seeing every thing, and going every where, as I then considered myself a young officer of the Army; moreover as my pockets were well lined, and as I had been told, I would have no use for the "rhino " where I was going; (which, unluckily for me proved false in the sequel,) I spared no expense; and asked every mid'n or stran ger I became acquainted with, to dine with me at the "American," where I was staying. On the 19th I left New York in the steam boat, for my place of destination. I became ac

quainted, I know not by what means, on the passage up, with several gentlemen. Among them, a brigadier general of the army, then on his tour of inspection, who told me he expected to see my name very high on the merit roll next year: and one gentleman, who I believe had once been a cadet, gave me some good advice to learn to say "no;" to "study hard," to get 'no reports;" never go to " Bennys ;" and to "room in the south barracks;" all which I afterwards found to be the most salutary he could have given me, and which I recommend to all pleibs hereafter. After about five hours run, we passed St. Anthony's Nose, a high promontory of the highlands, and came in full view of West Point. Who can describe the beauty and majestic grandeur of the scenery here displayed? it can only be imagined. I had read Basil Hall's work-and I here, for once, gave him credit for his remarks. I had seen engravings, and had heard descriptions of it from many; but never before did I behold the reality, never before saw nature so "truly pictured." Among the many passengers who crowded on one side of the boat to remark its beauty, was one middle aged man, who appeared to be a farmer, who remarked to his companion, pointing with his hand, "go over there, you'll see some of the most likely young men in the country.' I felt proud at the time, as I was so soon to be added to the number. In a few minutes more, we reached the landing; the sentinel on the dock was ready with his slate, to take the names of the passengers. I gave mine with its title at full length, and made my way up to an officer with a sword at a little distance off, whom I took to be no less a personage than the colonel himself, (but who afterwards proved to be the sergeant of the guard) took off my hat, and told him "I had come to join the corps and report myself." He cut me short, and called an officer in scarlet and white uniform, whom I certainly thought to be the adjutant, (but who in fact was his orderly) to take me up. I followed on by his side, and in ascending the hill, thinking he might be the officer, for whom I had a letter of introduction, I asked him with great politeness, if he was captain? "My name is Kelly," he answered. And the officer on the dock, was that the colonel? "The colonel-ha, ha, ha!" he burst into a loud laugh-"that's Sodine, the bombardier sergeant." I felt quite mortified at my mistake, which was owing to my ignorance of the army uniform, and angry with the orderly, and spoke not another word, until we arrived at the gate of a large yellow house, where I followed my conductor into a kind of office down a cellar, where sat, before a table with papers, the real adjutant, a fine looking officer with whiskers, (Mr. Smith, I believe) who having taken my name, the amount of money in my possession, &c. he directed the orderly, whom by this time I began to look down upon, to take me to the treasurer's

to make my deposite, and thence to lieutenant Swift, who would assign me quarters. Very luckily for me it was Sunday evening, and the treasurer's office was shut; so by that circumstance I saved my money. Here the orderly left me, and I proceeded to Lieut. S -quarters as directed; on my way I met a cadet coming out of the chapel, who made up to me very politely, "presumed I had come to join the corps, would show me the way with pleasure, and concluded by asking from what state I came." I knowing the superintendent's part of the country, and thinking it would be best for my advancement, answered, "from one of the eastern states," he said no more. I looked round, but he was off in a tangent. I at once guessed the reason, and vowed to tell the truth next time. He was from Ohio. I found my way to the lieutenant's room, reported, and was sent to No. 31, S. B. where were already six of my future classmates-this was the effect of my coming late. The next day being the 20th, I took every thing for the best, and was much pleased. The drum beat shortly after for parade, and when I went down on the lower stoop for the first time, being very well dressed, the old cadets crowded round me very graciously. One admired my coat, and would be much obliged to me for it to go on furlough, would leave me his uniform in its place. Another asked the "loan of my cit's pants and vest"; one wanted my trunk, as it was a fine one, and one fellow even wanted my boots, saying he would give me in exchange a "pair of contracts and some gills." I of course consented to every demand, surprised as I was at their impudence, and by doing so, together with my generosity at the soda shop, which latter place of luxury I had no idea existed in this barren spot, I believe I made many friends. Next morning I was drilled two hours before breakfast, in the wet grass, and was so proficient as to advance as far as the oblique step right and left, and my drill master, a young stripling, told me I was not so gross as most other pleibs, the name of all new cadets. I marched to the mess hall with my class, (who were in the rear) and returned with my toes and heels so bruised, I could not drill all that day. As soon as the battalion enters the mess hall, the 1st captain gives the word "seats," each man knows his place, so they are at it directly. As soon as the captain is satisfied, he gives the word "rise," when all must rise, done or not. I took a ramble this morning over the Point, delivered my letters of introduction, and returned in about two hours to my room, where I found all my room-mates intently engaged in studying fractions. We were all to be examined that morning, and some old cadet had been there to tell them "that Reuben was going to find 30 deficient," which was all a hoax to frighten the poor pleibs. I, however, began to study my fractions with the rest, and was thus closely applying myself, when a

dark looking cadet, who was called D * * * * entered the room, introduced himself to me, saying he "had heard of me," and would like very much to show me the way to Benny's, if I had no objection. I remembered the advice of my steam boat friend, and modestly declined his invitation. He then replied, he hoped to be excused from being so bold, but would be much obliged for the loan of a five-as some friends were going to the falls, and were rather short of the rhino. To have refused would have ruined me, so I complied with his request; and he departed, saying he would bring me some apple jack. That day we were all to be examined, and being formed into sections, were marched to the chapel.

Upon entering the examination hall, who should I see in the midst of about 20 officers in uniform, seated at a large green table, but the Brig. Gen. I had seen in the boat. He eyed me sharply, and I thought what a fine opportunity I had lost of gaining his favor. Next to a large black board, which would have served for the d-l's dining table, sat a tall grum looking officer, in a frock coat and a most formidable pair of whiskers, to which ever and anon he gave a twirl, and then began his questions. This was "old Reuben," as the man who sat next, informed me, giving me a hunch; he seemed to pass me, as very luckily I had only two questions, which I answered. The principal part of our examination over, we adjourned to the library, where my after friend Claudy gave out the scrolls to write; one poor fellow near me could'nt spell the word Engineer, and he was in an awful quandary, until I came to his relief, and wrote his sentence all over, as upon his spelling that word depended his rise or fall. It was the custom then for each one to put down on paper all the branches he had ever studied. I, of course, added a long string, when an officer, who squinted a little, looking over my shoulder said, "Why, Mr. Quiff, you'll astonish the Point," and the natives too, added another, laying a particular stress on the letter i in natives. That evening we marched into camp, where I took up my abode for the next two months. The same night the graduating class exhibited fireworks and rockets, previous to their departure, having been detained beyond their usual term, by the arrival of the Secretary of War and his lady. Here in my tent, with two old cadets and a pleib, you must leave me, with half my wardrobe gone, and all my cit's clothes, to prepare you in my next chapter for "my first tour of guard duty."

QUIFF.

FOR THE MILITARY AND NAVAL MAGAZINE.

INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY.

The August number of the Military and Naval Magazine contains an address to the President of the United States directing his attention to the subject of the stations of those two Corps of the Army, the Artillery and the Infantry. The writer, undoubtedly an officer of the last mentioned Corps, writes with much feeling and has thrown over his remarks an air of sincerity which is the only feature of them in which we discern any merit. In the entire absence of plausibility and foundation for his arguments, he has boldly attempted to make up the deficiency, by (as he imagines) an affecting appeal to the sympathies of the President and the people. He has given us a truly pathetic description of the life of an Infantry officer; and has portrayed their numberless dangers and privations with an unsparing pen.

He commences by telling us, that there are many matters appertaining to the Army, calling loudly for a supervising and reforming attention." Although we assent most willingly to the truth of this declaration, and express our desire for the promotion of these objects, we do not think with the writer, that there is any "class of matter relating to the Army approximating to a sound decision from frequent practical construction." Would that this were the case; on the contrary, we find that the volume of Army Regulations is becoming a mere cypher, that its rules and provisions are fast vanishing before General, Department, and even Post orders, by which they are superseded, and that many of the laws for the government of the Army are far from being construed in their true spirit and intent, but like the regulations, are the victims of the fickle fancy of all who take it upon themselves to interpret them. But to return to our subject. The object of the writer is to have the Infantry removed to the sea-board and the Artillery to the frontier; he endeavours to show that it is due to the Infantry as a Corps, and not only so, but that the public interest requires it. The Artillery have never asserted as a right, that they are stationed on the sea-board, neither do they esteem it in the light of a favour from the government; they have never claimed what the writer calls the "fee simple, forgetting that they are mere tenants at will." But the writer appears to claim it as a right on the part of the Infantry; we would caution him to recollect that they too, are mere tenants at the will of the government. That these Corps are now properly disposed of, follows from their constitution and the service to which each is, by its nature adapted. The one is for the ser