Wayne County, NC - Robinson/Ragsdale Collection William & Emmet Robinson Collection Johnston County Heritage Center Reference Box, P.C.1.1. George Ragsdale Collection West Point, NY Augt. 31st 1854 Dear Pa, Yours of the 27th ult. is just now received. You seem to think that I have forgotten you Entirely. I think you are rather severe before you learn the cause of your not receiving a letter. I answered your last as soon as received and was waiting to hear from you in return. I have written regularly every two weeks and sent you some Academy docs. The consusion and ______ incident on the breaking up on Camp alone prevented me from writing last week. I hope I shall casue you not more suspense, as I intened to write punctually twice a month if possible. We came into barracks yesterday. It was one of the grandest sights I ever saw, when at the third tap of the drum, about 87 tents droppend at once. There was a great concourse of people here to witness the breaking up of Camp Bliss. We had a grand review of the Battalion yesterday, since then we have been doing nothing, academic or military. We are to commence our studies tomorrow morning. Our class now is very full. It contains about 120 members, which as every class is, thinned out by June, until it contains only about 35 or 40. So you can yourself judge what it takes to graduate here. In the first class of about 123, only 46 graduated. There is great diversity of talent here as is the case every where else. There are some of the most talented young men here in the United States. There is a man named Gay in the present first class, that stands second in his class, as regards studies, thought his demerit threw him 3 files. He is a perfect genius and could stand head, (they say here), if he wished. He is the mosted reckless man in the compy. We have two men in the fives from North Carolina, Wheeler of the first class, and Lee of the second. I received a letter from Mr. E. D. Baker, dated at Auburn, N.Y. stating that he had sent me a writing desk by express on the 19th, by your request. I have not received it or heard anything from it, which is rather strange, as it is only 2 hours ride to N. York and as several cadets have received desks from N. York. I wish I had received it as there is nothing a cadet has more use for, and everyone in the corps has one. I received a verty neat little letter from Johnny a week or two ago. I should have answered it but I have neglected it as I have so much to think about. Give him my love and thanks for it, and tell him to try again and I will answer it. The furloughs have just got back and they could not restrain the cadets within limits where the boat ______ the wharf, such shouting, crying, and hugging, you never witnessed. You have no idea of the brotherly affection they have for one another after staying together two or three years. I have nothing more to say, only that I am well and hope to do well. Give my love to all. I am with great affection Your son Wm George P.S. Write me in your next whether you have received a report of my conduct for the last two months. I so I wish you would send it to me if you have no use for it. I am head of my class in conduct. WG _________________________________________________________________________ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Guy Potts __________________________________________________________________________