The ENCAMPMENT commences at the close of the Annual Examination, about the 20th of June, and the camp is located on the Northeast portion of the Plain. This period, affording as it does the only relaxation from study during the year, and as the time for the realization of the long-cherished expectations of the graduating and furlough classes, to enjoy the pleasures of home and early friendships, is one of unusual interest and hilarity. With the disappearance of these two classes, orders are promulgated to pitch the tents, and march into camp at a stated hour. The latter is preceded by a general stampedeing force of Cadets, conveying from the barracks to the now unoccupied recitation rooms all unnecessary articles of furniture. Gray forms are seen with heads crowned with washstands, chairs, mattresses, and other camp-prohibited articles, working with such vigor that, in two or three hours, the barracks are cleared of all Cadet property save their military accoutrements. Before breakfast the camp is laid out and the tents pitched, and at the appointed hour the battalion, with the Band and with colors unfurled, marches to its Summer home. [Illustration: The Cadet's Encampment] The Encampment consists of eight rows of tents, two to each company, opening on four streets parallel to each other, and a broad avenue runs through the centre of the camp. The tents of the Company Officers and of the Army Instructors of Tactics, are situated opposite their respective companies, while the tent of the Commandant of Cadets is placed centrally at the East end of the broad avenue. The Guard tents, five or six in number, are situated in a line a little distance in front of the whole camp. A chain of six or eight sentinels surrounds the camp day and night. The guard consists of three reliefs, which walk post in turn, during the twenty-four hours for which each guard is detailed. This detail is drawn as equitably as possible from the four companies, and guard duty recurs once in from three to five days, making the duty a real hardship to those not inured to it. The subdivisions of the guard require each relief to walk two hours, and then wait four hours before it is again posted. The operation of changing is as follows: When the relief is duly formed and inspected by the Officer of the Guard, it is marched by its Corporal around the line of posts, and after "Taps," each sentinel challenges the longed-for delegation with a fierce, "Who comes there?" as though the enemy were upon him. The reply of the Corporal leads to a further demand for a cabalistic word which, when whispered, so elevates the party in the estimation of the sentinel, that he quickly abandons his vigilant, defiant manner, and quietly yields his post to his successor, whose place in the ranks of the relief is then most cheerfully accepted.