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Appendix O

This webpage reproduces an appendix to
The History of West Point

by
William F. H. Godson

Philadelphia, 1934

The text is in the public domain.

This page has been carefully proofread
and I believe it to be free of errors.
If you find a mistake though,
please let me know!

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This site is not affiliated with the US Military Academy.

 p106  Appendix P
Miscellaneous References to West Point

1.

West Point
By Edward S. Holden, '70

Here where resistlessly the river runs

Between majestic mountains to the sea

To keep that Freedom pure, inviolate,​a

The Patriots' watch fires burned; their constancy

Won freedom as an heritage for their sons.

Here are the Nation's children schooled in arts

Of Peace, in discipline of War; their hearts

Made resolute, their wills subordinate

To do their utmost duty at the call

Of this, their country, whatsoe'er befall,

Broadcast upon our History's ample page

The records of their valiant deeds are strown.

Proudly their Alma Mater claims her own.

May she have sons like these from age to age.

****

2.

Scott's Fixed Opinion
By General Winfield Scott

"I give it as my fixed opinion, that but for our graduated cadets, the war between the United States and Mexico might, and probably would have lasted some four or five years, with, in its first half, more defeats than victories falling to our share; whereas, in less than two campaigns, we conquered a great country without the loss of a single battle or skirmish."​b

****

3.

Benny Havens

(Song)

Come fill your glasses fellows, and stand up in a row,

To singing sentimentally we're going for to go:

In the Army there's sobriety, promotion's very slow,

So we'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, Oh!

(Chorus)

Oh Benny Havens, Oh! Oh Benny Havens, Oh!

So we'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, Oh!

Etc. etc. . . . 

****

 p107  4.

The Corps
By the Rev. H. S. Shipman

The Corps! Bareheaded salute it,

With eyes up, thanking our God

That we of the Corps are treading

Where they of the Corps have trod —

They are here in ghostly assemblage,

The men of the Corps long dead,

And our hearts are standing attention

While we wait for their passing tread.

We, sons of today, salute you, —

You sons of an earlier day;

We follow, close order, behind you,

Where you have pointed the way;

The long gray line of us stretches

Through the years of a century told,

And the last man feels to his marrow

The grip of your far-off hold.

Grip hands with us now, though we see not,

Grip hands with us, strengthen our hearts

As the long gray line stiffens and straightens

With the thrill that your presence imparts.

Grip hands — though it be from the shadows

While we sware,º as you did of yore,

Or living or dying to honor

The Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps.

****

5.

Army Blue
(Played last at dances)

We've not much longer here to stay,

For in a month or two,

We'll bid farewell to "Cadet Gray,"

And don the "Army Blue."

Chorus

Army Blue, Army Blue, Hurrah, for the Army Blue,

We'll bid farewell to "Cadet Gray," and don the "Army Blue."

etc. etc. . . .

****

 p108  6.

Alma Mater
By P. S. Reinecke, '11

Hail, Alma Mater dear,

To us be ever near,

Help us thy motto bear

Through all the years.

Let duty be well performed,

Honor be e'er untarned,

Country be ever armed,

West Point, by thee.

Guide us, thy sons, aright,

Teach us by day, by night,

To keep thine honor bright,

For thee to fight,

When we depart from thee,

Serving on land or sea,

May we still loyal be,

West Point, to thee.

And when our work is done,

Our course on earth is run,

May it be said, "Well done,

Be thou at peace."

E'er may that line of gray

Increase from day to day,

Live, serve, and die, we pray,

West Point, for thee.

****

7.

Long Corps Yell

Rah, Rah, Ray. Rah, Rah, Ray.

West Point, West Point,

AR–MAY

Ray, Ray, Ray,

Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah.

West Point.

Team. [image ALT: A blank] Team. [image ALT: A blank] Team.


Thayer's Notes:

a The line is misplaced. The poem is a sonnet, with the fairly classic rhyme scheme

ABBA CDDC EEF GGF

and thus, even without knowing the poem, it can be instantly seen that this line belongs after "heritage for their sons." The text is correctly given by Waugh, p244.

[decorative delimiter]

b As given above, the quote is not right; a pretty important idea has been left out. It should read (my italics):

"I give it as my fixed opinion, that but for our graduated cadets, the war between the United States and Mexico might, and probably would have lasted some four or five years, with, in its first half, more defeats than victories falling to our share; whereas, in less than two campaigns, we conquered a great country and a peace without the loss of a single battle or skirmish."


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Page updated: 27 Jul 09