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〃Plebe drill；〃 or； more familiarly； 〃squad drill；〃 has always been a source of great amusement to citizens； but what a horror to plebes。 Those torturous twistings and twirlings； stretching every nerve； straining every sinew； almost twisting the joints out of place and making life one long agonizing effort。 Was there ever a 〃plebe；〃 or recruit； who did not hate； did not shudder at the mere mention of squad drill？ I did。 Others did。 I remember distinctly my first experience of it。 I formed an opinion； a morbid dislike of it then； and have not changed it。 The benefit； however； of 〃squad drill〃 can not be overestimated。 It makes the most crooked； distorted creature an erect； noble； and manly being； provided； of course； this distortion be a result of habit and not a natural deformity； the result of laziness in one's walking； such as hanging the head； dropping the shoulders； not straightening the legs； and crossing them when walking。
Squad drill is one of the painful necessities of military discipline； and no one regrets his experience of it； however displeasing it may have been at the time。 It is squad drill and hazing that so successfully mould the coarser characters who come to West Point into officers and gentlemen。 They teach him how to govern and be governed。 They are more effectual in polishing his asperities of disposition and forming his character than any amount of regulations could be。 They tame him； so to speak。
Squad drill was at once a punishment； a mode of hazing； and a drill。 For the least show of grossness one was sure to be punished with 〃settings up； second time！〃 〃settings up； fourth time！ 〃Continue the motion； settings up second （or fourth） time！〃 We would be kept at these motions until we could scarcely move。 Of course all this was contrary to orders。 The drill…master would be careful not to be 〃hived。〃 If he saw an officer even looking at him； he would add the command 〃three；〃 which caused a discontinuance of the motion。 He would change； however； to one of the other exercises immediately； and thus keep the plebes continually in motion。 When he thought the punishment sufficient he would discontinue it by the command； 〃three；〃 and give 〃place； rest。〃 When the 〃place； rest〃 had been just about sufficient to allow the plebe to get cool and in a measure rested； the drill would be resumed by the command 〃'tion； squad〃 （abbreviated from 〃attention〃 and pronounced 〃shun〃）。 If the plebe was slow； 〃place； rest〃 was again given； and
〃When I give the command ''tion； squad；' I want to see you spring up with life。〃
〃'Tion； squad！〃
Plebe is slow again。
〃Well； mister； wake up。 This is no trifling matter。 Understand？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Well； sir； don't reply to me in ranks。〃
And many times and terms even more severe than these。
Now that Williams and myself were admitted； the newspapers made their usual comments on such occurrences。 I shall quote a single one from The New National Era and Citizen； published in Washington； D。C。； and the political organ of the colored people。 The article； however； as I present it； is taken from another paper； having been by it taken from the Era and Citizen：
〃COLORED CADETS AT WEST POINT。
〃The New National Era and Citizen； which is the national organ of the colored people； contains a sensible article this week on the status of colored cadets at West Point。 After referring to the colored young men； 'Plebes' Flipper of Georgia； and Williams of Virginia； who have passed the examination requisite for entering the Academy； the Era and Citizen says： 'Now that they are in； the stiff and starched protègès of the Government make haste to tell the reporters that 〃none of the fellows would hurt them； but every fellow would let them alone。〃 Our reporter seems to think that 〃to be let alone〃 a terrible doom。 So it is； if one is sent to Coventry by gentlemen。 So it is； if one is neglected by those who； in point of education； thrift； and morality are our equals or superiors。 So it is not； if done by the low…minded； the ignorant； and the snobbish。 If it be possible； among the four hundred young charity students of the Government； that Cadet Smith； for instance； finds no warm friends； and has won no respect after the gallant fight he has made for four yearsa harder contest than he will ever have in the sterner fieldthen we despair of the material which West Point is turning out。 If this be true； it is training selfish； snobbish martinetsnot knightly soldiers； not Havelocks； Hardinges； and Kearneysbut the lowest type of disciplined and educated force and brutalitythe Bluchers and Marlboroughs。 We scarcely believe this； however； and we know that any young man； whether he be poor or black； or both； may enter any first…class college in America and find warm sympathetic friends； both among students and faculty； if he but prove himself to be possessed of some good qualities 。 。 。 。 If the Smiths； Flippers； and Williamses in their honorable school …boy careers can not meet social as well as intellectual recognition while at West Point； let them study on and acquit themselves like men； for they will meet； out in the world； a worthy reception among men of worth； who have put by the prejudices of race and the shackles of ignorance。 Emerson says somewhere that 〃Solitude； the nurse of Genius； is the foe of mediocrity。〃 If our young men of ability have the stuff in them to make men out of； they need not fear 〃to be let alone〃 for a while； they will ultimately come to the surface and attain worthy recognition。'
〃That is plain； practical talk。 We like it。 It has the ring of the true metal。 It shows that the writer has faith in the ultimate triumph of manhood。 It is another form for expressing a firm belief that real worth will find a reward。 Never has any bond people emerged from slavery into a condition full of such grand opportunities and splendid possibilities as those which are within the reach of the colored people of the United States； but if those opportunities are to be made available； if those possibilities are to be realized； the colored people must move into the fore…front of action and study and work in their own behalf。 The colored cadets at West Point； the colored students in the public schools； the colored men in the professions； the trades； and on the plantations； can not be idlers if they are to compete with the white race in the acquisition of knowledge and property。 But they have examples of notable achievements in their own ranks which should convince them that they have not the slightest reason to despair of success。 The doors stand wide open； from the plantation to the National Capitol； and every American citizen can； if he will； attain worthy recognition。〃
And thus； ere we had entered upon our new duties； were we forewarned of the kind of treatment we should expect。 To be 〃sent to Coventry；〃 〃to be let severely alone；〃 are indeed terrible dooms； but we cared naught for them。 〃To be let alone〃 was what we wished。 To be left to our own resources for study and improvement； for enjoyment in whatever way we chose to seek it； was what we desired。 We cared not for social recognition。 We did not expect it； nor were we disappointed in not getting it。 We would not