A-B-C's of Leavenworth Maj. L. D. Davis, Infantry LTHOUGH it might be written of Leavenworth that there lies salvation for the military man, not all people believe in salvation, especially if it must be gained at the sacrifice of pleasure and habit. Thus it is likely that now, as in the past, not all officers are pining to go to Leavenworth. Yet surely the great majority must expect that sooner or later a year at the school will be among their experiences. yet Many an officer has bravely indicated on his preference card that he wishes detail to the school, yet secretly trusting in the general acceptance that they never pay any attention to desires thus routinely recorded, has gone his way unperturbed. But when in the flow of events his name is taken from the hat, or selected by whatever the system may be, and he receives notice to that effect, the odds are that he contemplates his visit with little relish. Immediately there rushes to his mind all the stories he has heard of the severity of the course-of the wild race for tenths. The picture he sees is of a struggle governed by the conditions of a super-developed competition. So powerful the psychological effects may be that cases are known where students-to-be have cancelled subscriptions to the Saturday Eve ning Post or the INFANTRY JOURNAL. Now Leavenworth deserves a more kindly consideration. There have been terrible tales of the strenuousness of school life at Leavenworth told about in the Army. Forget them. It is well to recall that Fort Leavenworth has other traditions than these. Few Army posts have a history more interesting, and few have played so important a part in the development of the country which they served. That The first whites permanently to reside in what was to be Kansas were soldiers at Fort Leavenworth. was nearly a hundred years ago. But earlier than that Army officers had traveled west from Missouri on their various missions of preparing the way for settlers and traders. And many years earlier, long before any American had reached the Missouri, military expeditions led by Cabeça de Vaca, and Coronado, and Moscoso, had explored the great plains lying southwest and west of the Missouri, engaged in the work of enriching their sovereign-and themselves. Occupying as it did in those days of the early part of the 19th century, a position in what position in what a military man would call a decisive strategical area, Fort Leavenworth became intimately concerned in the fascinating story of the Old Santa Fé Trail. The routes to the southwest naturally follow the Missouri westward from its confluence with the Mississippi to a point where it turns north, and here was built Fort Leavenworth, at the start of that famous trail. Trade between the United States and the northern and northwestern provinces of Spanish Mexico grew very slowly, for Spain did not welcome such friendliness on our part toward these possessions. In the first two decades of the last century few Americans had concerned themselves with the Santa Fé country. Then came in 1821 the rebellion which established the freedom of Mexico, the embargo on non-Spanish trade was lifted, and quickly the Santa Fé Trail. became a great highway for the prospector, the pioneer, the merchant, and their caravans. The military as always has been so in our country went right along at the head, and soon was known the need for an Army post from which to base operations. Thus happened Fort Leavenworth. It was on March 7, 1827, that the Adjutant General issued instructions to the effect that Colonel Henry Leavenworth, with four companies of his regiment, the Third Infantry, should proceed up the Missouri River to the vicinity of the junction of the Little Platte River, and there select on the left bank of the Missouri, a site for a permanent cantonment. Colonel Leavenworth shortly set out and on May 8, 1827, from his C. P. at "Mouth of Little Platte," reported that he did not like the country on the left bank but that he had located a very good site on the right (west) bank about twenty miles above the mouth of the La Here's an Old-Timer that Carries Us Back to the "Days of the Empire." Loma Church which was Just Inside of the American Lines Around Manila During the Insurrection Little Platte. Apparently the Adjutant General's office was no faster then than now, for two months later, early in July, he wrote from his new C. P. "Post Cantonment Leavenworth," that he had not yet heard in reply to his report of May 8, and was consequently uninformed as to whether his selection had been approved or not. Just why Colonel Leavenworth wrote about this is not clear, for he ended his second letter with the statement that he already had the construction of permanent buildings pretty well under way. However, on September 19, 1827, the Adjutant General addressed a letter to the Commanding General of the Western Department advising that Colonel Leavenworth's action had been approved. Later, for a short time, troops were withdrawn, but upon being re-garrisoned the post steadily grew in importance. The troops of General Kearney's expedition, of Doniphan's cavalry, outfitted here for the Mexican War; the Utah Expedition of Albert Sidney Johnston's also marched from Fort Leavenworth. Here was the great distributing point for supplies of all kinds for the posts in the west and southwest as far as California and New Mexico. Many a wagon train has passed over Three Mile and Five Mile Creeks, and out through Salt Creek Valley, bound for the advancing outposts of American civilization. For fifty years Fort Leavenworth was probably freer of all suspicion of being what an oft repeated charge of the present day alleges-highbrowthan were those westward bound settlers and traders to whom it gave pro tection. It was in 1881 that Fort Leavenworth first became identified with education and schools. In that year General Sherman, commanding the Army, caused to be established. here a school for the further instruction of infantry and cavalry officers. Since that year Fort Leavenworth has come more and more to mean professional education, until today the word "Leavenworth" spoken by a military man is entirely synonymous with the word "school." With this outline let us get on to other A. B. C.'s. They are the things that interest every student, and it is this interest that gives rise to most of the discussion about the real value of the school, of the fairness of the rating one receives as it affects future standing in the Army; that brings no end of dispute whether the object sought is real knowledge or only a nice collection of the first letter of the alphabet. Some there are who argue that not only is the attitude of the student, but of the school itself, one in which A. B. C.'s figure not as representing the rudimentary elements of an art, but as the alpha and omega of all one's desires. In other words these believe that the chief aim is the accumulation of high percentage marks with much or utter disregard to any original thinking on the part of the student. Of course, perfection does not exist, and few students there are who would not change this method and abolish that, even make the school over. But it is a fact that great improvement is being made steadily. A venture into a discussion of the principles, or of the details, of imparting instruction, of grading papers, etc., would take us The Igorrote Dog Market at Baguio in the Philippine Islands considerable about your profession, and acquired a new appreciation of the military art. Although I have just denied any intention to ascertain the meaning of these letters in precise definition acceptable to the school and student, it would perhaps be desirable to explain for the benefit of any who do not know what these A. B. C.'s are. They are three of the four letters used to convey to the student the information that his paper has been graded ers from one to a multitude of sins; in a way it is very vague, for the recipient can only guess whether his percentage was just below 75 or way down in the 60's or even 40's. And since there always is the chance of a brainstorm resulting in a finely planned withdrawal, when the proper thing was to counter attack, the spectre of a CU never fades from among the terrible things that might happen. Some notions of what a tour as student means need revision, and with the background as here briefly drawn, we come to the purpose of this article. There is no connection between the fact that General Sherman established the school and the reputed fact that he gave utterance to the effect that "War is hell." If you cannot forget the latter, at least remember that the true reason for carving his name over the door that leads to the stairs to the map problem rooms is found in the first mentioned. By all means begin the year with this understanding, for after the course in historical research you may think I have somewhat mixed up the facts. Of much interest to most students is the absence of a great number of requirements, of restrictions. There are really only two. Attendance is obligatory at all conferences, lectures, etc. The only "cuts" a student gets are on his papers. The other demands that one's marks average not below satisfactory. Note that I say average; there is nothing fatal about a CU, and few have gone a year without picking some. Even honor graduates will include in their collection one or more of these. Whether the student spends much or little time in study is of no direct concern to the school. There are no restrictions about leaving the post when this does not interfere with attendance, and as there are many afternoons, not to mention all the Saturdays and Sundays, when there is no scheduled work, so an officer has no trouble in finding time for recreation. and for attention to personal affairs. At conferences one is not expected to give a "spec" recitation. Agreement or not may be expressed with printed text, and the answer may be gotten out of the book, open before one, if that suits one's convenience. Now I have no wish to give the impression that a year at Leavenworth is a lark. It is not. In practice the officer studies and applies himself to the work. I merely want to point out that the atomosphere and spirit pervading the place are not quite so dark and oppressive as often imagined. On the evening following four hours given to a sudorific struggle with a map problem a great many officers will be found at a motion picture theatre observing the actions of some star. There is no doubt that an evening thus spent is frequently more profitably used than devoted to an attempt in study. If any important work should be passed on this account it is made up on some free afternoon, or on a Saturday morning. The school gives respites at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, of about a week's duration. And what with a good golf course, tennis courts, riding for those who like it, those only find. the year a grind who find everything a grind. But for the truly pessimistic I have reserved the best for the last. No more do they harass one by requiring maps without end and of every scale. Some think the omission of that course is the most progressive step ever made at any service school. The nearest approach to boredom now reached is found in an occasional lecture or conference. This quality is not inherent but is imparted by the person who gives the lecture or conference. Yet on the other hand some of these periods are pleasantly remembered by reason of the sharply witted discussion between instructor and student. |