was on the ebb once again, the Washington Corps, so far from sharing in the general decline, received a new and powerful impetus in the shape of the visit to Boston of the West Point Cadets. Their organization, their uniform, and their clock-like precision made a profound impression on the collegians, and were all eagerly copied. The next summer the Corps was remodelled. A second grant of improved arms was obtained from the State. The force was turned into a battalion of four companies, with about one hundred and twenty men, commanded by a lieutenant-colonel. The first incumbent was George Peabody, of ’23. The old-fashioned single-rank formation was changed to double rank, based on “Scott’s Manual.” The uniform was made to conform as nearly as possible to the West Point style. Fortunately, the college dress then prescribed for undergraduates was a dark gray Oxford mixed, single-breasted coat, with claw-hammer tails. Over this were put the white cross-belts and waist-belt of the cadets. The officers wore the same coat, enlivened with gilt buttons and gold epaulets, white trousers, black shako with fountain plume, scarlet sash, white sword-belt, and straight sword.
Hard and constant drills, by squad, by company, and by battalion, produced an astonishing proficiency. In their zeal, the Washingtonians even attempted to pitch a practice camp near the river-bank, about on the site of
