About ten days after this I received another letter from the congressman, a great large one, in a long envelope, and all I could read of that was “I have recommended you”; but that was enough, as the appointment itself was enclosed, and I could read it, and I was a happy boy. I ran home to show the appointment to my mother, and then to the store to show it to my father, and also to get him to read the letter to me, which was as follows: “I have recommended you, and enclose herewith your conditional appointment as a cadet to West Point, together with certain other papers from the War Department. I shall now expect you to prepare yourself for the examination next June, and I hope you will graduate with high honors, and that afterwards you will be loyal and useful to your country.” THE APPOINTMENT. War Department.[2] Washington, ________ 1868. Sir: You are hereby informed, that the President has conditionally selected you for appointment as Cadet of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, New York. Should you desire the appointment, you will report in person to the Superintendent of the Academy on the ____ day of ________, 1869, for examination. If it be found that you possess the qualifications required by law and set forth in the circular[3] herewith, you will be admitted, with pay from date of admission, and your warrant of appointment will be delivered to you. Should you be found deficient in studies at the semi-annual or annual examinations, or should your conduct reports be unfavorable, you will be discharged from the military service, unless otherwise recommended for special reasons by the Academic Board, but will receive an allowance for traveling expenses to your home. Your attention is particularly directed to the accompanying circular, and it is to be distinctly understood that this notification confers upon you no right to enter the Military Academy unless your qualifications agree fully with its requirements, and unless you report for examination at the time specified. You are requested to immediately inform the Department of your acceptance or declination of the contemplated appointment upon the above conditions. Very respectfully, ____________ Secretary of War. To ____________ * * * * * ____________, 1868. To the Honorable Secretary of War,[4] Washington, D. C. Sir: I hereby respectfully acknowledge the receipt of your notification of my contemplated appointment as a Cadet of the United States Military Academy, with the appended circular, and inform you of my acceptance of the same upon the conditions named.