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Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0010 Enlarge and print image (888K) |
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Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0010 Enlarge and print image (888K) |
| msa_sc5826_3_1-0010 ©Maryland State Archives - 10 - I was so preoccupied with the College embroglio that I did not take in for the moment the gravity of this suggestion to my future life, and we rode on in silence until we neared the house when my father said, "This is a very serious and unpleasant business, you will not go back to College, but on your Mother's account make no reference to anyone in regard to what you may have seen or heard of an unpleasant character at school." So, on the following Monday instead of galloping off with my satchel, the carriage was sent up to bring home my clothes and school books, and I heard nothing more of my friend, the principal of the College, until the newspapers reached me announcing his downfall and ejection from the Church for peccadilloes that happened long after my leaving the College, and much nearer his own distant home. Not many days elapsed before my appointment as Cadet was received directly from Mr. Calhoun, then Secretary of War. In those days the members of Congress had nothing to do with the appointments as they now have, but the examination at West Point for admission is the same now as then, except the physical examination which was not introduced til 1830 or 1831. How I ever passed the examination is a mystery to me, for few boys ever went there as young or as verdant as I was. Besides the disadvantages, under which I labored from youth and want of instruction, on the Christmas before entering the Academy, I was thrown from a horse and confined to my bed until a few weeks before starting to West Point. I had gone to meet a party of neighbors, and finding they had started, followed alone, and coming to a gate leading into the woods, found the ground frozen and the gate stuck fast. The horse became very restive and totally un- expected to me leaped the gate, and threw me on his neck, and instead of running off smoothly, lashed out with his heels until he shook me off. It was a bitter cold morning and the ground frozen hard I fell on my knee which was so hurt I |