The Colored Cadet at West Point | Page 8

can
comply with your request you must get your teacher, Mr. James L.
Dunning, P.M., Colonel H. P. Fanorr, and other Republicans to indorse
for you. Give me assurance you are worthy and well qualified and I
will recommend you.
Yours respectfully,
J. C. FREEMAN.
Reply No. 2.
GRIFFIN, March 22, 1873.
MR. H. O. FLIPPER.
DEAR SIR: On my arrival from Washington I found your letter of the
19th. I have received an invitation from the War Department to appoint,
or nominate, a legally qualified cadet to the United States Military
Academy from my district.
As you were the first applicant, I am disposed to give you the first
chance; but the requirements are rigid and strict, and I think you had
best come down and see them. If after reading them you think you can
undergo the examination without doubt, I will nominate you. But I do
not want my nominee to fail to get in.

Yours very respectfully,
J. C. FREEMAN.
Reply No. 3.
GRIFFIN, GA., March 26, 1873.
MR. H. O. FLIPPER.
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 24th to hand, and contents noted. While
your education may be sufficient, it requires many other qualifications
--such as age, height, form, etc.; soundness of lungs, limbs, etc. I will
send you up the requirements, if you desire them, and call upon three
competent gentlemen to examine you, if you desire it. Let me hear from
you again on the subject.
Yours respectfully,
J. C. FREEMAN.
Reply No. 4.
GRIFFIN, March 28, 1873.
MR. H. O. FLIPPER.
DEAR SIR: Yours of 26th at hand. I have concluded to send the paper
sent me to J. A. Holtzclaw, of Atlanta, present Collector of Internal
Revenue. You can call on him and examine for yourself. If you then
think you can pass, I will designate three men to examine you, and if
they pronounce you up to the requirements I will appoint you.
Yours truly,
J. C. FREEMAN.
Reply No. 5.

GRIFFIN, April 5, 1873.
MR. H. O. FLIPPER.
DEAR SIR: The board of examiners pronounce you qualified to enter
the Military Academy at West Point. You will oblige me by sending
me your given name in full, also your age to a month, and the length of
time you have lived in the Fifth District, or in or near Atlanta. I will
appoint you, and send on the papers to the Secretary of War, who will
notify you of the same. From this letter to me you will have to be at
West Point by the 25th day of May, 1873.
Yours respectfully,
J. C. FREEMAN.
P.S.--You can send letter to me without a stamp.
Reply No. 6.
GRIFFIN, April 17, 1873.
MR. HENRY O. FLIPPER.
DEAR SIR: I this day inclose you papers from the War Department.
You can carefully read and then make up your mind whether you
accept the position assigned you. If you should sign up, direct and
forward to proper authorities, Washington, D. C. If you do not accept,
return the paper to my address, Griffin, Ga.
I am yours very respectfully,
J. C. FREEMAN.
The papers, three in number, referred to in the above letter, are the
following:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April 11, 1873.

SIR: You are hereby informed that the President has conditionally
selected you for appointment as a Cadet of the United States Military
Academy at West Point.
Should you desire the appointment, you will report in person to the
Superintendent of the Academy between the 20th and 25th days of May,
1873, when, if found on due examination to possess the qualifications
required by law and set forth in the circular hereunto appended, you
will be admitted, with pay from July 1st, 1873, to serve until the
following January, at which time you will be examined before the
Academic Board of the Academy. Should the result of this examination
be favorable, and the reports of your personal, military, and moral
deportment be satisfactory, your warrant of appointment, to be dated
July 1st, 1873, will be delivered to you; but should the result of your
examination, or your conduct reports be unfavorable, you will be
discharged from the military service, unless otherwise recommended,
for special reasons, by the Academic Board, but will receive an
allowance for travelling expenses to your home.
Your attention is particularly directed to the accompanying circular,
and it is to be distinctly understood that this notification confers upon
you no right to enter the Military Academy unless your qualifications
agree fully with its requirements, and unless you report for examination
within the time specified.
You are requested to immediately inform the Department of your
acceptance or declination of the contemplated appointment upon the
conditions annexed.
GEO. M. ROBESON, Acting Secretary of War.
HENRY O. FLIPPER, Atlanta, Georgia. Through Hon. J.