Henry Ossian Flipper, the Colored Cadet at West Point / Autobiography of Lieut. Henry Ossian Flipper, U.S.A., First Graduate of Color from the U.S. Military Academy

by Henry Ossian Flipper

"Limbo."—Confinement.

"Solemncholy."—Sad, dejected.

"Plebeskin."—A rubber overcoat issued to new cadets.

"Turnbacks."—Cadets turned back to a lower class.

"Div," "subdiv."—Division, subdivision.

"Devils."—Fellows familiarly.

"Tab."—Tabular system of French.

"To celebrate."—To do.

"A stayback."—A graduate detained at graduation to instruct the new cadets.*

*When the cadets are in barracks, the officer of the guard on Sundays either has or assumes authority to detain from church, for any emergency that might arise, one or two or more members of his guard, in addition to those on post on duty. Cadets so detained are called "staybacks.