Ralph Osborn, Midshipman at Annapolis: A Story of Life at the U.S. Naval Academy

by Edward L. Beach

At this time in the battalion of midshipmen there were something over three hundred young men, of whom about one hundred were fourth classmen or “plebes.” Some years were yet to elapse before the battalion was enlarged into a brigade of eight hundred.

The day the upper classmen returned from leave was one of great activity. They had to unpack and arrange their rooms, turn in their citizen’s clothes, and naturally there was much hand-shaking and many enthusiastic greetings. Lists had been posted on the bulletin-boards containing the new battalion organization, and each midshipman found his own name and after it the number of his room and of his seat in the mess hall, and other necessary information. Other lists were posted, dividing each class into sections of from eight to twelve men for recitations, and on these lists were to be found the lessons prescribed for the next day. By these means there was no confusion whatever. Everything had been thought out beforehand and all necessary information of one kind and another was found posted on the bulletin-boards.

Ralph Osborn found himself assigned to the second division, the commander of which was Cadet Lieutenant Baldwin. He and Creelton were quartered in room No. 131. The senior midshipman in command of the battalion was Cadet Lieutenant-Commander Holman. His rank was denoted by four narrow gold stripes on his sleeve. The cadet lieutenants commanding the divisions wore three stripes. Lower in rank were “two stripers” and “one stripers,” and below them were the “cadet petty officers,” or “buzzards,” as they were termed from their wearing on their sleeves a gold embroidered American eagle.

The cadet officers and petty officers were all of the first class. They had prescribed daily duties, and under the general direction of the commandant of midshipmen were in military control of the battalion. Besides these there were always on duty an officer-in-charge who was a lieutenant, and a number of midshipmen temporarily detailed as “officers of the day,” and “midshipman in charge of floor.” These midshipmen were of the first and second classes and were changed daily, all coming on in their regular turns.

There were three lieutenants detailed as “officer-in-charge.” Each of these officers came on duty once in three days for twenty-four hours, during which time he messed with the midshipmen and slept in the same building where they were quartered. He was the mouthpiece of the commandant and in addition carried on the routine and issued orders to the cadet officers, and had certain inspections to make. His immediate assistants were those midshipmen who were on the temporary detail.

At formations the new cadet officers took charge with the air and manner of veterans. Their orders rang out sharp and clear. At supper formation of the first day of their return Ralph Osborn found himself in the middle of the rear rank of the second division. Soon there was a bugle call, and then the cadet first petty officer, standing fronting the division, read the roll of the midshipmen of his company. “Here,” answered Ralph, when he heard “Osborn” called out. Then Cadet Lieutenant Baldwin took charge. “Second company right dress! Back in the center, dress up on the left. Up a little extreme left. Steady! Front!”

Then the cadet adjutant, a two striper, read out several orders, and soon after, the cadet lieutenant-commander gave the order: “Battalion fours right! March!” The battalion moved like clockwork into the mess hall and when it was halted Ralph found himself at the table seat which had previously been assigned to him.

The study hours were called at half-past seven and all midshipmen were required to remain in their rooms until half-past nine. Then they were free until ten o’clock, when the midshipmen had to be in their beds.

Ralph and Creelton took up their books with great interest.

“These lessons are too long!” exclaimed Ralph. “Great Cæsar’s ghost, Creel, we’ll never have time enough to get these lessons; why look here, the algebra lesson is thirteen pages, the rhetoric is fifteen, and just look what we have to do in French! I’ll bilge sure.”[3]