按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
perintendent。 I then went to the officer of the guard； who was standing near by； and stated the circumstances to him； requesting him to protect us from such insults。 He spoke to the soldier； saying that he had best not try to enforce that order； as the order was intended to apply to servants； and then the soldier went off and left us。
〃Soon after that the drum sounded for parade； and I was compelled to leave my friends for the purpose of falling in ranks； but promising to return as soon as the parade was over； little thinking that I should not be able to redeem that promise； but such was the case； as I shall now proceed to show。
〃Just as the companies were marching off the parade ground； and before the guard was dismissed； the 'officer in charge；' Lieutenant Charles King； Fifth Cavalry； came to the guard tent and ordered me to step out of ranks three paces to the front； which I did。
〃He then ordered me to take off my accoutrements and place them with my musket on the gun rack。 That being done； he ordered me to take my place in the centre of the guard as a prisoner； and there I stood until the ranks were broken； when I was put in the guard tent。 Of course my friends felt very bad about it； as they thought that they were the cause of it； while I could Not speak a word to them； as they went away； and even if I could have spoken to them； I could not have explained the matter； for I did not know myself why I had been put thereat least I did not know what charge had been trumped up against me； though I knew well enough that I had been put there for the purpose of keeping me from the 'hop；' as they expected I would go。 The next morning I was put 'in arrest' for 'disobedience of orders in not fastening down tent wall when ordered；' and 'replying in a disrespectful manner to a cadet corporal；' etc。； and thus the simplest thing was magnified into a very serious offence； for the purpose of satisfying the desires of a few narrow…minded cadets。 That an officer of the United States Army would allow his prejudices to carry him so far as to act in that way to a subordinate； without giving him a chance to speak a word in his defencenay； without allowing him to know what charge had been made against him； and that he should be upheld in such action by the 'powers that be；' are sufficient proof to my mind of the feelings which the officers themselves maintained towards us。 While I was in ranks； during parade； and my friends were quietly sitting down looking at the parade； another model 'officer and gentleman；' Captain Alexander Piper； Third Artilleryhe was president of my second court… martialcame up； in company with a lady； and ordered my brother and sister to get up and let him have their camp…stools； and he actually took away the camp…stools and left them standing； while a different kind of a gentlemanan 'obscure citizen；' with no aristocratic West Point dignity to boast ofkindly tendered his camp…stool to my sister。
〃I only wish I knew the name of that gentleman； but I could not see him then； or I should certainly have found it out； though in answer to my brother's question as to his name； he simply replied； 'I am an obscure citizen。' What a commentary on our 'obscure citizens；' who know what it is to be gentlemen in something else besides the namegentlemen in practice； not only in theoryand who can say with Burns that 'a mans a man for a' that；' whether his face be as black as midnight or as white as the driven snow。
〃There is something in such a man which elevates him above many others who； having nothing else to boast of； can only say； 'I am a white man； and am therefore your superior；' or 'I am a West Point graduate； and therefore an officer and a gentleman。'
〃After the usual 'investigation' by the Commandant of Cadets； I was sentenced to be confined to the 'company street' until the 15th of August； about five weeks； so that I could not get out to see my brother and sister after that； except when I was at drill； and then I could not speak to them。 I tried to get permission to see them in the 'Visitors' Tent' the day before they left the 'Point' on their return home； but my permit was not granted； and they left without having the privilege of saying 'Good…by。'
〃I must say a word in reference to the commandant's method of making 'investigations。' After sending for Cadet Corporal Tyler and other white cadets； and hearing their side of the story in reference to the tent wall and the disrespectful reply； he sent for me to hear what I had to say； and after I had given my version of the affair； he told me that I must surely be mistaken； as my statement did not coincide with those of the other cadets； who were unanimous in saying that I used not only disrespectful； but also profane language while addressing the cadet corporal。 I told him that new Cadet Napier and my brother were both there and heard the conversation； and they would substantiate my statement if allowed to testify。 He said he was convinced that I was in the wrong； and he did not send for either of them。 What sort of justice is that which can be meted out to one without allowing him to defend himself； and even denying him the privilege of calling his evidence？ What a model Chief Justice the Commandant of Cadets would make； since he can decide upon the merits of the case as soon as he has heard one side。 Surely he has missed his calling by entering the army； or else the American people cannot appreciate true ability； for that 'officer and gentleman' ought now to be wearing the judicial robe so lately laid down by the lamented Chase。
〃In reply to my complaint about the actions of the soldier in ordering my friends away from the visitors' seats； he said that the soldier had misunderstood his orders； as the superintendent had told him to keep the colored servants on the 'Point' from coming in front of the battalion at parade； and that it was not meant to apply to my friends； who could come there whenever they wished。
〃It seems； though； very strange to me that the soldier could misunderstand his orders； when he saw me sitting there in company with them； for it is one of the regulations of the Academy which forbids any cadet to associate with a servant； and if I had been seen doing such a thing I would have been court…martialled for 'conduct unbecoming a cadet and a gentleman。〃
〃The cadets were； of course； very much rejoiced at my being 'in arrest；' and after my sentence had been published at parade； they had quite a jubilee over it； and boasted of 'the skill and tact which Cadet Tyler had shown in putting the nigger out of the temptation of taking those black wenches to the hops。' They thought； no doubt； that their getting me into trouble frightened me out of any thoughts I might have had of attending the 'hops；' but if I had any idea of going to the 'hops；' I should have been only more determined to go； and should have done so as soon as my term of confinement was ended。 I have never thought of going to the 'hops；' for it would be very little pleasure to go by myself； and I should most assuredly not have asked a lady to subject herself to the insults consequent upon going there。 Besides； as I said before； I did not go to West Point for the purpose of advocatin