Susan Amper's Blog: Bookcrazie - Posts Tagged "west-point"

Edgar Allan Poe is best known for his works of horror, mystery, and poetry, but he also had a brief stint as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Unfortunately, Poe's time at West Point was short-lived and ended in a court martial.
In 1826, Poe enrolled at the University of Virginia, but he quickly found himself in financial trouble due to his gambling habit. Allan refused to pay Poe's debts, and Poe left the university after just one semester. After several years of struggling to make a living as a writer, Poe decided to follow in the footsteps of his foster father and join the military.
Poe attempted to enter West Point starting in 1829 to no avail. But he kept on and by March 13, 1830, he had some help. Senator Powhatan Ellis of Mississippi wrote to Secretary of War John H. Eaton a letter in Poe’s behalf: “I have recd. a letter from a young gentleman in Richmond by the name of Edgar A. Poe stating that he was an applicant for a situation in the Military Academy at West Point. He requested me to ask you, if there was any probability of his receiving a warrant to enter that institution. I am not personally acquainted with Mr. Poe — but from information I would say his capacity & learning eminently qualify him to make in a few years a distinguished officer” (National Archives; Cameron [1973], p. 168).
And Poe also asks John Allan to aid in his quest. On March 31, 1830 Allan wrote Secretary John H. Eaton: “As the Guardian of Edgar Allan Poe I hereby signify my assent to his signing articles by which he shall bind himself, to serve the United States for five years, unless sooner discharged, as Stipulated in your Official Letter appointing him a Cadet” (National Archives; Cameron [1973], p. 170).
Poe arrived at West Point on June 20, 1830 and on July 1, Poe’s name appeared for the first time on the muster rolls of cadets. His age was recorded as nineteen years and five months (Cadet Alphabetic Cards, USMA). Poe took classes in French and mathematics. However, Poe quickly found himself at odds with the strict and disciplined environment of the academy. He was frequently absent from roll call and neglected his studies. He wrote to Allan to help him get out of West Point. In a letter dated January 3, 1831, Poe writes in part “it is my intention to resign. For this end it will be necessary that you (as my nominal guardian) enclose me your written permission .... your refusal would only deprive me of the little pay which is now due as mileage.
From the time of writing this I shall neglect my studies and duties at the institution — if I do not receive your answer in 10 days — I will leave the point without — for otherwise I should subject myself to dismission” (L, 1:39-43; letter is postmarked 5 January).
Poe does neglect his duties throughout January; despite that Poe ranks 17th in mathematics from a class of 87 and third in French. He was eventually court-martialed for "gross neglect of duty" and "disobedience of orders."
Poe was court-martialed on January 28, 1831and on the 19th of February left West Point for New York.

While Poe's time at West Point was brief and unsuccessful, it did provide him with some inspiration for his writing. His experiences at the academy may have influenced his portrayal of the Military Academy in his story "The Gold Bug," which was published in 1843.