On the 12th of August we again visited the trunk rooms, and this time to put away our dress coats, white pants, dress hats, etc., as we were to go on a campaign. A knapsack and a half of a shelter tent were issued to each cadet. After packing our knapsacks and getting everything, except our wall tents, in readiness, we fell in at the sound of the drum. Our wall tents were left standing with the walls fastened down and the flaps tied in front. To the time of “The Girl I Left Behind Me” we marched in a drenching rain about a dozen miles westward up into the mountains; halted, stacked arms, unslung knapsacks, and unloaded the big six-mule wagons that had followed us. We then pitched the “A” tents that were provided for our use now; we then dug a trench around each tent, and so as not to lie in the mud we cut boughs to sleep on. We then got our rifles and knapsacks, and were soon at home again, but this time in more contracted quarters. We were now taught to live at Camp Lookout in regular army style, and as there is no delinquency book in the army we had none in this camp. We ate army rations and slept on the ground. We built camp fires, sang songs, and otherwise enjoyed our freedom, for no one said anything about palms to the front out there in the mountains. The camp was in the woods, between Long Pond and Round Pond. We obtained drinking water from one, and utilized the other to wash and to bathe in. We remained out there about ten days, and each cadet learned to do guard duty in the woods. Members of the guard had to cut poles for their shelter tents, and button two or more pieces together for use at night, and they were needed, too, as it rained more than half the time we were in the mountains. Between rains, when not on duty, we roamed through the woods and over the hills. There were many laurel bushes all about us, and one day a first classman said that he wanted a nice root to make a pipe, and that I could get it with a hatchet and spade. I took the hint and dug about half a dozen good roots. I put the two best ones in the breast of my gray jacket and gave the others to the first classmen. I afterwards made myself two fine pipes, and I have one of them now. Years afterwards that first classman and I met, and the first thing I did was to show him my pet pipe and thank him for it. He admired the pipe and my cheek, too, for having kept the best root.

As soon as we returned to Camp McPherson palms of the hands were turned to the front again and the usual routine there resumed.

Some of the yearlings said that certain of the plebes had become “too fresh” out in the mountains, and as the ordinary methods would not tame them down a few fights in Fort Clinton were necessary. Seconds were chosen, and soon nearly every cadet in camp knew that there would be a fight in Fort Clinton on a certain day during the supper hour. Fort Clinton is just across Posts Nos. 2 and 3. Those who desired to witness a fight assembled at the ice water tank, near which the Posts of Nos. 2 and 3 meet. Then when the two sentinels on these posts were far apart and their backs toward one another (which is against the rule) across the posts would dash the Fort Clinton party, and strange to say neither sentinel would see any unauthorized person or persons cross his post. When the referee calls time the principals and seconds are in place and the fight begins. Fists only are used in these fights, and as soon as either side calls enough, or either principal fails to come to time, the fight is over. All return to camp, the bruises are bathed, and if necessary one or both principals go to the hospital, and the sick report the next morning shows one or two names with “contusions” as the cause of the disability. Unless the army officers on duty at the Point have “official knowledge” of a cadet fight no notice is taken of it. When a dispute arises that only a fight will settle and the parties to the dispute are unevenly matched the result may be one or two fights. The offending cadet must fight, and a classmate of the other cadet about his size and strength is selected to do battle with him. Sometimes the offended cadet must fight a man of his size, and then there are two fights.

I. O. C. B.

The pleasure of your company is respectfully solicited at a Hop Extraordinary, to be given on the evening of July 29th, under the auspices of the “Confirmed Bachelors” of the Class of 18—.

West Point, July 28, 1869.