NOTE.

SINCE the principal part of the preceding sketch was put to press, the writer has been favoured with a letter from General Swift, in reply to a note of inquiry, addressed to that gentleman, the answer to which was delayed by his absence from home. It contains so much valuable information, that its insertion here will, it is hoped, be pardoned by its author, and will surely gratify those interested in the history of West Point. General Swift states as follows:

"Not only from July, 1812, to January, 1815, but also to July, 1817, and indeed to November, 1818, I was, as the law prescribes, the Superintendent of the Academy; for the Chief Engineer had no power to divest himself of the responsibilities of that office. The dates, January, 1815, and July, 1817, have reference to official but not statute rule, and were to give the Chief Engineer the functions of Inspector, and the officer detailed to reside at West Point that of Superintendent. The senior officer of engineers, (not being the chief,) present at the Point, was considered the temporary superintendent, pending the absence

of the chief, and especially so from 1812 to 1817, at which last date, the Secretary of War, Mr. Calhoun, introduced the since efficient rule of inspection. The duty of the Superintendent, early in the existence of the Military Academy, was also that of an instructor; but after 1808, the functions of the Chief Engineer became more those of a commandant and inspector.

"The Superintendent, from November, 1816, to January, 1817, was especially ordered by the President, for the twofold purposes, 1st, of separating the Chief Engineer from service with a Foreign Engineer, in consequence of remonstrance against the impolitic interpolation into the corps that produced the resignation of the chief in 1818; and 2d, to reform certain abuses alleged to have arisen at West Point. January, 1817, that officer was ordered to Washington, and Captain Partridge left in temporary superintendence, in which, by order of said chief, he was superseded by Major Thayer, in July of that year.

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'George Baron was the first superintendent, and the first Professor of Mathematics at the Military Academy in 1801. He was succeeded by Major Williams, in December, 1801. When said Baron was dismissed, in February, 1802, Captain William A. Barron, of the corps of engineers, was his successor, and continued professor of mathematics until 1807, when Professor Hassler took that chair, and continued until 1810, when Captain Partridge, the then assistant professor, discharged the duty until 1813. Captain Mansfield, the first Professor of Philosophy, 1802,

with Professor Barron, signed the first diploma granted at the Military Academy, in 1802. In 1806, the philosophical chair was vacated by the absence of Professor Mansfield, who, as surveyor-general of Ohio, remained absent until 1812. In reference to Mr. Crozet, he was, by permission of the Secretary of War, at the request of General Swift, introduced, in 1816, as assistant professor of Engineering; and at the instance of the same officer, was appointed professor in 1817.

"Major George Fleming had been, for many years prior to 1800, military storekeeper at West Point; and, during the Revolutionary War, had been stationed at that place. When General Swift was a cadet there, Major Fleming often mentioned that the fort and the stone barrack on Constitution Island, were erected and occupied by the Connecticut Line, at the same time that similar works and barracks were being constructed at West Point, save Fort Clinton, which was commenced at a later period on a plan made by General Duportail, who also commenced Fort Putnam; which latter work was discontinued, and subsequently recommenced in 1792, but left unfinished. According to Major Fleming's account, Kosciuszko's Garden was made by that Polish officer, who formed a fountain in the garden, the ruins of which Lieutenant Macomb and Cadet Swift discovered, and repaired the whole in 1802.

"In the year 1794, at the recommendation of General Washington, a military school was commenced at

West Point, and the building stood on the margin of the hollow northwest from the present site of the icehouse, and was burnt down by an incendiary in 1796, with its contents of books and apparatus. The school was suspended until 1801."

To those gentlemen who have kindly assisted the writer, by furnishing information for the preceding pages, he would, in conclusion, express his sincere acknowledgments; and should any errors be discovered in the work, he will be alike indebted for their correction or for any additional information relating to the subject of his labour, cheerfully and voluntarily attempted, though of necessity imperfectly performed.

THE END.