Relates to the early acquisition of West Point by the United States, and the military importance of the Post during the period of the American Revolution; embracing the rise and progress of the fortifications, and the purchase and arrangement of the Great Chain, designed to obstruct the navigation of the Hudson River, drawn from authentic documents, and illustrated by Maps and Engravings never before published. The perfidious designs of Benedict Arnold, and his connection with Major John Andre, Adjutant-General of the British Army in America, are succinctly described, together with the "Proceedings of the Board of General Officers," in the case of Major Andre, in a _fac-simile_ form as published at the time by the authority of the Continental Congress. The grand _feu de joie_ at West Point on the occasion of the birth of the Dauphin of France, in 1782, with all the changes in the Garrison prior to the beginning of the present century, and many of the Orders of Washington from this spot, are now for the first time given to the public. Part Second Describes the origin of the Military Academy, and its progress down to the present date; the recognition of the necessity for such an institution at the very commencement of the Revolution, and the accumulated opinions in its favor upon the restoration of peace, as pronounced by the leading minds in the country, are given. The Constitutionality of the institution, its alleged aristocratic tendencies, and the services of its graduates in and without the military profession, are treated at length. The progress of the institution under each successive Superintendent, the erection and removal of the Early Public Buildings, illustrated by accurate Engravings and Descriptions, together with those of modern date, will be found to constitute an interesting feature in the work. To those who seek admission into the Military Academy, or who desire to know the manner of selecting Cadets and making appointments, the course of life, the employment of time, and the duties of instruction afterward, full and complete information has been carefully prepared and imparted to the reader. To the visitor or tourist, the work points out and describes (with the aid of a Map) all the objects of interest connected with the old Forts, and the Public Buildings, as they exist, and the method of obtaining access to all such is given. The Appendix Contains the roll of the Academic Staff, from the commencement of the institution; the five most distinguished Cadets in each class from 1817 to the present date, as published by the War Department; a numerical list of all the Cadets who have been _admitted_ into the Military Academy, and the States and Territories whence appointed; a similar list of all the _graduates_ of the institution, together with a synopsis of all the laws of the United States relative to the Military Academy, and a sketch of military education and the military schools in Europe.