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the enterprising man of the village； offering me one hundred and
twenty dollars a year to take a position in the dry…goods store of
Fink & Dittoe。 I laid the matter before Mr。 Whitehead； and he
frankly advised me to accept； though he cautioned me that I might
regret it； adding that he was afraid Henry （referring to Mr。 Dittoe）
〃had too many irons in the fire。〃 His warning in regard to the
enterprising merchant proved a prophecy； for 〃 too many irons in the
fire〃 brought about Mr。 Dittoe's bankruptcy； although this misfortune
did not befall him till long after I had left his service。 I am glad
to say； however； that his failure was an exceptionally honest one；
and due more to the fact that he was in advance of his surroundings
than to any other cause。
I remained with Fink & Dittoe until I entered the Military Academy；
principally in charge of the book…keeping； which was no small work
for one of my years； considering that in those days the entire
business of country stores in the West was conducted on the credit
system； the customers； being mostly farmers； never expecting to pay
till the product of their farms could be brought to market； and even
then usually squared the book…accounts by notes of hand； that were
often slow of collection。
》From the time I ceased to attend school my employment had
necessitated； to a certain degree； the application of what I had
learned there； and this practical instruction I reinforced somewhat
by doing considerable reading in a general way； until ultimately I
became quite a local authority in history； being frequently chosen as
arbiter in discussions and disputes that arose in the store。 The
Mexican War； then going on； furnished； of course； a never…ending
theme for controversy； and although I was too young to enter the
military service when volunteers were mustering in our section； yet
the stirring events of the times so much impressed and absorbed me
that my sole wish was to become a soldier； and my highest aspiration
to go to West Point as a Cadet from my Congressional district。 My
chances for this seemed very remote； however； till one day an
opportunity was thrown in my way by the boy who then held the place
failing to pass his examination。 When I learned that by this
occurrence a vacancy existed； I wrote to our representative in
Congress； the Hon。 Thomas Ritchey； and asked him for the appointment；
reminding him that we had often met in Fink & Dittoe's store； and
that therefore he must know something of my qualifications。 He
responded promptly by enclosing my warrant for the class of 1848； so；
notwithstanding the many romances that have been published about the
matter； to Mr。 Ritchey； and to him alone； is due all the creditif
my career justifies that termof putting me in the United States
Army。
At once I set about preparing for the examination which precedes
admission to the Military Academy； studying zealously under the
direction of Mr。 William Clark； my old teachers； McNanly and Thorn；
having disappeared from Somerset and sought new fields of usefulness。
The intervening months passed rapidly away； and I fear that I did not
make much progress； yet I thought I should be able to pass the
preliminary examination。 That which was to follow worried me more
and gave me many sleepless nights； but these would have been less in
number； I fully believe； had it not been for one specification of my；
outfit which the circular that accompanied my appointment demanded。
This requirement was a pair of 〃Monroe shoes。〃 Now； out in Ohio；
what 〃Monroe shoes〃 were was a mysterynot a shoemaker in my section
having so much as an inkling of the construction of the perplexing
things； until finally my eldest brother brought an idea of them from
Baltimore； when it was found that they were a familiar pattern under
another name。
At length the time for my departure came； and I set out for West
Point； going by way of Cleveland and across Lake Erie to Buffalo。 On
the steamer I fell in with another appointee en route to the academy；
David S。 Stanley； also from Ohio； and when our acquaintanceship had
ripened somewhat； and we had begun to repose confidence in each
other； I found out that he had no 〃Monroe shoes；〃 so I deemed myself
just that much ahead of my companion； although my shoes might not
conform exactly to the regulations in Eastern style and finish。 At
Buffalo； Stanley and I separated； he going by the Erie Canal and I by
the railroad； since I wanted to gain time on account of commands to
stop in Albany to see my father's uncle。 Here I spent a few days；
till Stanley reached Albany； when we journeyed together down the
river to West Point。 The examination began a few days after our
arrival； and I soon found myself admitted to the Corps of Cadets； to
date from July 1； 1848； in a class composed of sixty…three members；
many of whomfor example； Stanley； Slocum； Woods； Kautz； and Crook…
…became prominent generals in later years； and commanded divisions；
corps； and armies in the war of the rebellion。
Quickly following my admission I was broken in by a course of hazing；
with many of the approved methods that the Cadets had handed down
from year to year since the Academy was founded； still； I escaped
excessive persecution； although there were in my day many occurrences
so extreme as to call forth condemnation and an endeavor to suppress
the senseless custom； which an improved civilization has now about
eradicated； not only at West Point； but at other colleges。
Although I had met the Academic board and come off with fair success；
yet I knew so little of Algebra or any of the higher branches of
mathematics that during my first six months at the Academy I was
discouraged by many misgivings as to the future； for I speedily
learned that at the January examination the class would have to stand
a test much severer than that which had been applied to it on
entering。 I resolved to try hard； however； and； besides； good
fortune gave me for a room…mate a Cadet whose education was more
advanced than mine； and whose studious habits and willingness to aid
others benefited me immensely。 This room…mate was Henry W。 Slocum；
since so signally distinguished in both military and civil capacities
as to win for his name a proud place in the annals of his country。
After tapsthat is； when by the regulations of the Academy all the
lights were supposed to be extinguished； and everybody in bedSlocum
and I would hang a blanket over the one window of our room and
continue our studieshe guiding me around scores of stumbling…blocks
in Algebra and elucidating many knotty points in other branches of
the course with which I was unfamiliar。 On account of this
association I went up before the Board in January with less
uneasiness than otherwise would have been the case； and passed the
examination fairly well。 When it was over； a self…confidence in my
capacity was established that had not existed hitherto； and at each