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PATTON, George S., General. Autograph letter signed ("Georgie"), AS A CADET AT WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY, to his Aunt, Anne W. Patton, postmarked West Point, N.Y., 21 December 1907. 6 pages, small 4to, on stationery with gold-embossed West Point emblem at top of sheet, original envelope in Patton's hand.
"EATING FIGS ON STONEWALL JACKSON'S GRAVE" AND WATCHING ROOSEVELT'S INAUGURATION
A long, chatty letter from the young cadet, giving a vivid picture of his life at West Point and recalling his California hometown: "...It is pretty near Christmas again yet it does not seem long since I was eating figs on Stonewall Jackson's grave, that being my occupation last Christmas morning..." [Patton had studied briefly at the Virginia Military Institute before being appointed to West Point.] "Time flyes [sic]: in little more than a month we go to Washington to elect [inaugurate] Teddy [Roosevelt, about to enter his second term]..." It has been cold and snowy and "a new tactical officer," who "is a fool...objected to my sweater and I had to put it in my trunk and get a new one at the credit store...I am out of debt so can get whatever I wish from the credit store....It must be pretty bad at home if there is no rain. I can't imagine it after having lived in this arctic country for ten months..." He ruefully reports that he has "lost the fourth section [ranking] in math," but "will only drop to the fifth and can I think get back...If I fail it will be to my old friend 'carelessness' for on three consecutive days I made costly mistakes of which a baby should have been ashamed..." He and "most of the plebes are on vacation...though we have to stay in barracks. We have no lessons and so sleep and read...I have just found out that I will not have to take the examination in English so I am through with everything. Never again will I be scared at English! Wow.! Pasadena must be getting pretty sporty...are there any rich Easterners there this winter...Has the land along Mr. H's electric line grown up with houses as he expected it would?" His sister Nita is traveling in Boston, and he finds it odd that she is "dashing about the East and that I should be preparing to inaugurate Presidents when yesterday we did not go into town by our selves...."
Patton graduated West Point in 1909 and began his Army career as a second lieutenant in the cavalry.
"EATING FIGS ON STONEWALL JACKSON'S GRAVE" AND WATCHING ROOSEVELT'S INAUGURATION
A long, chatty letter from the young cadet, giving a vivid picture of his life at West Point and recalling his California hometown: "...It is pretty near Christmas again yet it does not seem long since I was eating figs on Stonewall Jackson's grave, that being my occupation last Christmas morning..." [Patton had studied briefly at the Virginia Military Institute before being appointed to West Point.] "Time flyes [sic]: in little more than a month we go to Washington to elect [inaugurate] Teddy [Roosevelt, about to enter his second term]..." It has been cold and snowy and "a new tactical officer," who "is a fool...objected to my sweater and I had to put it in my trunk and get a new one at the credit store...I am out of debt so can get whatever I wish from the credit store....It must be pretty bad at home if there is no rain. I can't imagine it after having lived in this arctic country for ten months..." He ruefully reports that he has "lost the fourth section [ranking] in math," but "will only drop to the fifth and can I think get back...If I fail it will be to my old friend 'carelessness' for on three consecutive days I made costly mistakes of which a baby should have been ashamed..." He and "most of the plebes are on vacation...though we have to stay in barracks. We have no lessons and so sleep and read...I have just found out that I will not have to take the examination in English so I am through with everything. Never again will I be scared at English! Wow.! Pasadena must be getting pretty sporty...are there any rich Easterners there this winter...Has the land along Mr. H's electric line grown up with houses as he expected it would?" His sister Nita is traveling in Boston, and he finds it odd that she is "dashing about the East and that I should be preparing to inaugurate Presidents when yesterday we did not go into town by our selves...."
Patton graduated West Point in 1909 and began his Army career as a second lieutenant in the cavalry.