Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/72

46 The former class of Midshipmen no longer exist; the present ones have little or no knowledge of a sailor's character & of the true discipline of a Man of war. Indeed this can only be learnt by acquiring their peculiar habits, when brought into contact with them as part of the crews; the duties of a Man of war require the aid of this class of officers to preserve a proper discipline and the mixing up with them through familiar intercourse. This is no longer the case. The Mids are now changed to cadets and everything gives place to studies and drill—not that I find fault with the system of education, on the contrary, I highly approve of it. Yet it would be desirable, in their novitiate, to give them their instruction in performing duties on board. Many enter the Academy who are totally unfitted for a sea life and would retire from the service after a first cruize, while those who had the necessary partiality and ambition would survive the trial and begin a course of study which would at once secure the application of all that which they had acquired.

When I joined the Navy the Southern element greatly predominated, from Virginia South, particularly that State and South Carolina, some from Maryland and a few from Georgia. The North and West were but slimly represented, and cliques were formed which ignored the young officers from other States. It was laughable to see the manoeuvres which were resorted to; the messes were divided, the Southerners forming one and the Northern and Western appointees the others. Aristocratic feeling and gentility were assumed on the part of the first and plebian was designated as the other. If misunderstanding ensued between the parties, they were almost always arranged in like order. There was perhaps more refinement or education in the former, but for the sturdy making of officers and the performance of duties, the North, East & West were much superior. All the fancy situations, such as aides &c, were selected from the South but this was a great disadvantage to them, for it threw them out of what may be called the rough and tumble of the Service and they could not contend with the hardy constitutions and common sense, as well as correct deportment, that did the duties. The appearance of the officers was decidedly in favor of those from the South, but, on aquaintance, the sterling traits of those from a more Northern section soon showed themselves.

This Southern Click continued until the rebellion broke out, with Norfolk as its headquarters, and the true metal of the North and its thorough steadfastness of the Govt and flag was soon evident. There were but a few of the Southern officers who loved the Govt as much as the States they came from, and without any reason went to join in the rebellion against the flag which they had sworn to honor, uphold and maintain. With the Southern Country they have been crushed and will regret the course they took as long as they live. As for myself, coming as I did from New York or a middle state, I determined to avoid any alliance with either side and, with a few others, maintained an independence of action and opinions.

Officers are soon discovered as to their metal and principles and will