Soon after this he had a
fight with Cadet Wilson and cut his face with a dipper.
Then followed the breach of discipline on drill, the
court-martial and sentence, and finally the Congressional
investigation, which did not effect any good. Smith says
that frequently on squad drill he was detached from the
squad by the cadet corporal, and told that he was not to
stand side by side with white men.
"WEST POINT, June 19."
THE COLORED CADET.
HIS TRIALS AND PERSECUTIONS--THREE YEARS OF ABUSE--
SETTLED AT LAST--"ELI PERKINS" TELLS THE STORY.
To the Editor of the Daily Graphic:
About the 20th of May, 1870, I saw the colored Cadet,
James W. Smith land at the West Point Dock. He was
appointed by a personal friend of mine, Judge Hoge,
Member of Congress from Columbia, South Carolina.
The mulatto boy was about five feet eight inches high,
with olive complexion and freckles. Being hungry he
tipped his hat to a cadet as he jumped from the ferry
-boat and asked him the way to the hotel.
"'Over there, boy,' replied the cadet, pointing to
the Rose Hotel owned by the government.
"On arriving there the colored boy laid down his carpet-
bag, registered his name, and asked for something to eat.
"'What! A meal of victuals for a nigger?' asked the clerk.
"'Yes, Sir, I'm hungry and I should like to buy something
to eat.'
"'Well, you'll have to be hungry a good while if you
wait to get something to eat here,' and the clerk of
the government hotel pushed the colored boy's carpet
-bag off upon the floor.
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