It gives me the greatest pleasure to acknowledge here my appreciation and thanks to Lieutenant Colonel L. H. Holt, U. S. A., Professor of English and History U. S. M. A., not only for his helpful suggestions and criticisms, but for his encouragement and unselfish interest in the preparation of this book. I also wish to acknowledge the courtesy of the Reverend Herbert Shipman of New York, formerly Chaplain at the Military Academy, in allowing me to use his poem _The Corps_, with which I close the volume. Since this book has gone to press, Colonel John Biddle, the Superintendent, has been promoted to the grade of Brigadier-General and relieved from the command of West Point. He has been succeeded by Colonel Samuel E. Tillman, Retired, who until 1910 was the Professor of Chemistry and Electricity at the Military Academy. Colonel Tillman perhaps more than any officer in the Army is better qualified for this important position. He is a graduate of West Point, to whose advancement he has devoted most of his life and he has made an exhaustive study of its needs. His appointment by the President seems to be particularly felicitous for he possesses a most intimate knowledge of the Military Academy. All West Pointers rejoice that West Point is in such good hands. ROBERT CHARLWOOD RICHARDSON, JR. WEST POINT, N. Y., _May, 1917_. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I.--IN THE DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 1 II.--THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS 19 III.--THE REALIZATION OF AN ARCHITECT’S DREAM 37 IV.--THE POWERS THAT BE 75 V.--“BEAST BARRACKS”--BLESSED ARE THE MEEK FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH 101 VI.--BENDING THE TWIG 127 VII.--THE DISCIPLINE OF THE MIND 163 VIII.--GROWING MUSCLES 194 IX.--LESSONS FROM MARS 213 X.--HENCE, LOATHED MELANCHOLY! 244 XI.--STRENGTHENING THE MORAL FIBER 276 XII.--SPIRITUAL INFLUENCES 291 XIII.--THE SPIRIT OF WEST POINT 300 APPENDIX 305 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE EAST VIEW OF WEST POINT FROM THE HUDSON RIVER _Frontispiece_ THE SPIRIT OF WEST POINT 2 ARTILLERY TARGET PRACTICE 6