So, the first year experience at an SMC - especially the first semester - is often accompanied with various levels of remorse. The experience seems to be the same through the centuries. For reflection, below is an excerpt from the journal of a Citadel graduate written during his first year at the South Carolina Military Academy in 1854. First year cadets were enrolled at the Arsenal in Columbia and if successful their first year, transferred to the Old Citadel in Charleston for their last 3 years:
Excerpt from the Journals of Thomas A. Hugguenin ‘1859
"This was the year 1854 and I became 15 years old in that November. The time had now come when some decisive course of action must be adopted, and without my knowledge my father applied for an appointment to the S.C. Military Academy. One day in December on returning from shooting with my father, the mail-boy handed me a letter, something I was totally unaccustomed to receive; besides this one was in an official envelope and had a very ominous look. My father knew what it was but said nothing and walked into dinner. As soon as I got to my room I opened it and found it contained, to my surprise, my appointment as a Cadet to the Arsenal in Columbia. "How well I would look as a soldier" "The beauty of brass buttons and gold lace." Everything was done to keep my spirits up and every argument used to show that of all places in the world it was the one I would like best.
On the first of January 1855 I left for Columbia on the steamer via Charleston, arriving there after dark in a cold drizzly rain. On my arrival at the Arsenal I reported to Capt. Mathews the Supt., a gruff old soldier, but who I found out to be a kind hearted noble old gentleman notwithstanding his gruff exterior. I was assigned to Room No 11 bunk 47. There were two other cadets in the room McCaslan and McDowell, both from Abbeville Dist. A few minutes afterwards we were summoned to supper, and I found myself placed at the left of the Company (being the smallest) of 96 Cadets. We were marched into supper, and oh horror! I found myself seated at a pine table, without a table cloth, a plate containing molasses in front of me flanked by a chunk of stale loaf bread. We also had coffee without milk and sweetened with molasses.
My heart full, I tried to eat, but could not swallow. I just sat there stupefied as it were. Just before we were ordered to get up one of the boys at an adjoining table threw a ball of bread which struck in to my plate and bounced upon my shirt and vest, plastering me with molasses. The tears rolled silently down my cheeks and small as I was if I could have located the boy there would certainly have been trouble. Marching out from supper, we were dismissed on the parade ground, then my troubles really commenced being the last to arrive the entire gang joined in tormenting me, until weary and angry I sought my room. When it was time to go to bed, I made up my bed as well as I could and tried to sleep, but what with the cold and my distress I laid awake for hours bathed in tears. It was certainly the most miserable night I ever spent.
I made up my mind that it was impossible for me to stay in such a place after being accustomed to all the luxuries of life. The next morning brought no relief. I could not eat the fare, the cooking was so bad, the jibes and taunts of my companions were unbearable. I must have had a half dozen fights that day, and being the smallest and the youngest boy in the class I generally got the worst of it. My mind being made up I wrote to my father describing the situation in full, possibly making it actually worse, and concluded by asking him to send me money to come home, as it was impossible for me to stay. Thus having done all I could do I quietly awaited his reply, believing firmly that my request would be granted, and at most I would have but a few more days to suffer.
This was the turning point in my life. Had my father yielded to my entreaties, I would have gone home and instead of obtaining an education and fitting myself for the battle of life which was before me I would have grown up a simple country bumpkin unfit for anything. A few days brought his reply. It simply stated that he had done everything he could do for me, flatly refused to send the money, winding up with the expression "if I left I need not come home" as he would not receive me. Nothing less than this heroic treatment would do.
Up to this time I had from my birth virtually had my own way. I knew that my father was wealthy and expected to be provided for in every way not only in the present but in the future. Here then at one dash my hopes and expectations had been blasted. I was thrown entirely upon myself without help from any side. I was miserable. In a few days I received a letter from my mother, while approving of my father's action, it was filled with kind words and sound advice, placing before me the many advantages to be derived by graduating, and with the affectionate words such as only a good mother can use beseeching me to be reconciled and to apply myself. This letter so much in contrast with the stern and presumptory one my father had its effect, and I determined to make the best of it.
In a few days I made many friends, some of them friends to this day. The boys left off greying me, and in fact I became a favorite and was petted and made much of on account of my youth and size. I easily mastered my lessons, and in April at the examination I was first in Mathematics and about 4th or 5th in general standing in a class of 96, many of whom were four or five years older than I was; this however was because
I had been better prepared than many of them. On going home at vacation with this high stand in my class, I was received with open arms by all the family, "the fatted calf" so to speak was killed, nothing was too good for me, every wish was anticipated. Even the neighbors and friends of the family joined in to do me honor. It was the happiest month of my life.
At the end of my vacation I returned and finished the year with my good stand. I was now very much encouraged, my ambition was aroused, and I felt confidence in myself and my ability. The following January I with the class who had passed the yearly examination was transferred to the Citadel and in April my stand was so good that I was appointed a Corporal! Oh proudest day of my life, when I heard my name read out by the Adjt. (afterwards Gov Thompson). I hastened to write the news home as I knew they would be pleased. As I expected a deluge of letters came from home, everyone who could write did so. My praises were sounded so that my head was almost turned, and when the gold stripe was sewed on my sleeves my joy was complete."
