Henry Ossian Flipper, the Colored Cadet at West Point Part 25

One day in the early summer of 1875, a cadet was showing a young lady the various sights and wonders at West Point, when they came across an old French cannon bearing this inscription, viz., "Charles de Bourbon, Compte d'Eu, ultima ratio regum."

She was the first to notice it, and astonished the cadet with the following rendition of it:

"I suppose that means Charles Bourbon made the gun, and the Spanish (?) that the artilleryman must have his rations."

What innocence! Or shall I say, what ignorance?

"The authorities of West Point have entered an interdict against the cadets loaning their sashes and other military adornments to young ladies, and great is the force of feminine indignation." Summer of 1873.

COME KISS ME, LOVE.

A young lieutenant at the Academy and his fiancee were seen by an old maid at the hotel to kiss each other. At the first opportunity she reproved the fair damsel for, to her, such unmaidenly conduct.

With righteous indignation she repelled the reproof as follows:

"Not let S--kiss me! Why, I should die!" Then lovingly,

"Come kiss me, love, list not what they say, Their pa.s.sions are cold, wasted away.

They know not how two hearts like ours are Long to mingle i' the sweetness o' the kiss, That like the soft light of a heavenly star, As it wanders from its world to this, Diffuses itself through ev'ry vein And meets on the lips to melt again."

CHAPTER XV.

GRADUATION--IN THE ARMY.

"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."

MY four years were drawing to a close. They had been years of patient endurance and hard and persistent work, interspersed with bright oases of happiness and gladness and joy, as well as weary barren wastes of loneliness, isolation, unhappiness, and melancholy.

I believe I have discharged--I know I have tried to do so--every duty faithfully and conscientiously.

It had been a sort of bittersweet experience, this experimental life of mine at West Point. It was almost over, and whatever of pure sweetness, whatever of happiness, or whatever reward fortune had in store for me, was soon to become known.

"Speaking of the Military Academy, we understand that the only colored cadet now at West Point will not only graduate at the coming June commencement, but that his character, acquirements, and standing on the merit roll are such as will insure his graduation among the highest of his cla.s.s."--Harper's Weekly, April 28th, 1877.

All recitations of the graduating cla.s.s were discontinued on the last scholar day of May.

On June 1st examination began. The cla.s.s was first examined in mineralogy and geology. In this particular subject I "maxed it," made a thorough recitation. I was required to discuss the subject of "Mesozoic Time." After I had been examined in this subject Bishop Quintard, of Tennessee, a member of the Board of Visitors, sent for me, and personally congratulated me on my recitation of that day, as well as for my conduct during the whole four years. My hopes never were higher; I knew I would graduate. I felt it, and I made one last effort for rank. I wanted to graduate as high up as possible. I was not without success, as will subsequently appear. The New York Herald was pleased to speak as follows of my recitation in mineralogy and geology:

"To-day the examination of the first cla.s.s in mineralogy and geology was completed, and the first section was partially examined in engineering.

In the former studies the cla.s.s acquitted themselves in a highly creditable manner, and several members have shown themselves possessed of abilities far above the average. The cla.s.s has in its ranks a son of General B. F. Butler, Hon. John Bigelow's son, and sons of two ex-Confederate officers. Flipper, the colored cadet, was examined to-day, and produced a highly favorable impression upon the board not less by his ready and intelligent recitation than by his modest, una.s.suming, and gentlemanly manner. There is no doubt that he will pa.s.s, and he is said to have already ordered a cavalry uniform, showing that he has a predilection for that branch of the service."

The cla.s.s was next examined in law. In this, also, I exceeded my most sanguine expectations, again "maxing it" on a thorough recitation. My subject was "Domicile."

Senator Maxey, of the Board of Visitors, questioned me closely. The Bishop of Tennessee left his seat in the board, came outside when the section was dismissed, and shook my hand in hearty congratulation. These were the proudest moments of my life. Even some of my own cla.s.smates congratulated me on this recitation. All that loneliness, dreariness, and melancholy of the four years gone was forgotten. I lived only in the time being and was happy. I was succeeding, and was meeting with that success which humble effort never fails to attain.

The New York Tribune joins in with its good words as follows:

LIEUTENANT FLIPPER, THE COLORED GRADUATE OF WEST POINT.

"The examination of the first cla.s.s in law will be completed tomorrow. The sections thus far called up have done very well. The colored cadet, Flipper, pa.s.sed uncommonly well this morning, showing a practical knowledge of the subject very satisfactory to Senator Maxey, who questioned him closely, and to the rest of the board. He has a good command of plain and precise English, and his voice is full and pleasant.

Mr. Flipper will be graduated next week with the respect of his instructors, and not the less of his fellows, who have carefully avoided intercourse with him. The quiet dignity which he has shown during this long isolation of four years has been really remarkable. Until another of his race, now in one of the lower cla.s.ses, arrived, Flipper scarcely heard the sound of his own voice except in recitation, and it is to be feared that unless he is detailed at Howard University, which has been mentioned as possible, his trials have only begun."

The cla.s.s was next examined in civil and military engineering. In this also I did as well as in either of the other studies. I made a thorough recitation.

I was required to explain what is meant by an "order of battle," and to ill.u.s.trate by the battles of Zama, Pharsalia, and Leuctra.

THE COLORED CADET.

"Flipper, the colored cadet from South Carolina, was up this afternoon and acquitted himself remarkably well. Some time since he was recommended for a higher grade than the one he holds, and his performance to-day gained him a still higher standing in the cla.s.s."

In ordnance and gunnery the cla.s.s was next examined.

In this I was less successful. I was to a.s.sume one of Captain Didion's equations of the trajectory in air, and determine the angle of projection represented by phi, and the range represented by x in the following equation:

y = x tan. phi - gx2/2V2 B,

and to explain the construction and use of certain tables used in connection with it. I made a fair recitation, but one by no means satisfactory to myself.

I lost four files on it at least. A good recitation in ordnance and gunnery would have brought me out forty- five or six instead of fifty. I did not make it, and it was too late to better it. This was the last of our examination. It ended on the 11th day of June. On the 14th we were graduated and received our diplomas.

During the examination I received letters of congratulation in every mail. Some of them may not be uninteresting. I give a few of them:

POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, ROOM 48, WAs.h.i.+NGTON, D.C., June 3, 1877.

MY DEAR MR. FLIPPER: It has been four years since I last addressed you. Then you had just entered the Academy with other young colored men, who have since dropped by the way. I was at that time the editor of the Era in this city, and wrote an article on West Point and sn.o.bocracy which you may remember reading.

I felt a thrill of pleasure here the other day when I read your name as the first graduate from the Academy.

I take this opportunity of writing you again to extend my hearty congratulations, and trust your future career may be as successful as your academic one. "My boy,"

Whittaker, has, I am told, been rooming with you, and I trust has been getting much benefit from the a.s.sociation.

I am, your friend and well-wisher,

RICHARD T. GREENER.

42 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, June 4, 1877.

CADET HENRY O. FLIPPER, West Point, N. Y.:

DEAR SIR: I have been much pleased reading the complimentary references to your approaching graduation which have appeared in the New York papers the past week. I beg to congratulate you most heartily, and I sincerely trust that the same intelligence and pluck which has enabled you to successfully complete your academic course may be shown in a still higher degree in the new sphere of duty soon to be entered upon.

I inclose an editorial from to-day's Tribune.

Respectfully, --.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, WAs.h.i.+NGTON, D.C., June 5, 1877.

HENRY O. FLIPPER, Esq., U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y.

DEAR SIR: Having noticed in the daily papers of this city an account of the successful termination of your course at the Military Academy, we hasten to tender you our sincere congratulations.

We are prompted to this act by an experimental knowledge of the social ostracism and treacherous duplicity to which you must have been made the unhappy victim during the long years of faithful study through which you have just pa.s.sed.