WEST POINT. A military post on the right bank of the Hudson River, on the eastern edge of Orange County, N. Y., 50 miles from the city of New York, with which it is connected by the West Shore and New York Central and Iludeon River railroads and daily steamboats. Its site is one of remarkable picturesqueness, the Hudson here breaking through the Highlands in a wind ing gap. It is the scat of the United States Military Academy. The reservation comprises 2300 acres, to 2100 of which the United States Government acquired title in 1790 and to the remainder in 1826 and 1875. It was an im portant military position during the American Revolution, and at various times (1775-S0) the surrounding heights, at an elevation of 500 to 1500 feet, were fortified at a total cost of $3,000, 000. The Polish patriot Kosciuszko was en gaged here as chief engineer in charge of the works. The defenses comprised a curious and mas sive iron chain stretched across the channel from the Point to Constitution Island. In 1779 West Point was for a time headquarters of the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. One year later (August, 1780) it was com manded by Major-General Benedict Arnold, a trusted and distinguished officer of the American Army, who, under the influence of pique at his treatment by Congress, conspired with the enemy to betray hie trust and surrender his post, an act only averted by the arrest of the British agent, Major Andre, and the exposure of the plot. At the disbandment of the army at the close of the Revolution, West Point was desig nated as one of the depots for the storage of mili tary property; in 1794 it was garrisoned by the new 'Corps of Artillerists and Engineers:' in 1802 the 'Corps of Engineers' was created to be stationed at West Point and to constitute a military academy. Until 1866 the immediate supervision and command of West Point were vested in the Corps of Engineers, but since that time officers of the army at large have been eligible to this detail. In addition to the
professors and tactical instructors, an excellent, military band and detachments from the engi neers, artillery, and cavalry are stationed at the poet for duty in connection with its police and security. The buildings are grouped upon a plateau of some 200 acres, at an elevation of 175 feet above the river. They comprise officers' quarters. cadet barracks. academie buildings, li brary, superintendent's office. mess ball, hospital, and riding hall. By bequest of a former super intendent a handsome and spacious building —known as the Cullum Memorial liall—was erected in 1897. It contains relics and trophies of the wars in which the United States has been engaged and portraits and busts of distinguished graduates. At certain points in the grounds are placed slat:lee—equestrian and othern•ise—of fa mous American generals, while towering above all is a marble shaft surmounted by a figure of "Victory" in memory of the officers and men of the Regular Army who fell in defense of the Union (1861-65). Under an act of Congress ap proved June 28, 1902, an appropriation of $5, 500,000 was made to cover the cost of new build ings. viz. an additional cadet barracks. a new academic building, a new chapel, bachelor of ficers' quarters, a riding hall (600 X 150 feet), artillery and cavalry barracks, stables. and a heating and lighting plant. These improvements when completed will greatly increase the ca pacity of the :leadenly and the attraction of this famous military educational institution and pic turesque military post. Consult: I3oynton, His tory of West Point and the Military Academy (1863) ; Farrow, West Point and the Military Academy (New York, 1879). See .11LITARY ACADEMY, UNITED STATES.