Hilarious History: That Time Cadets at West Point Rioted Over Eggnog

TL;DR

Cadets at West Point staged an elaborate plan to smuggle alcohol into their barracks and ended up rioting on Christmas Eve in 1826.

Transcript

From the beginning, heavy drinking was fairly commonplace among the cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point (founded in 1802). In an attempt to stem this in 1826, the academy’s strict superintendent and the “Father of West Point,” General Sylvanus Thayer, began a crackdown by prohibiting alcohol on campus. As Christmas approached... Read More

Key Insights

• ❗ Heavy drinking was prevalent among cadets at West Point in the early 19th century, leading to a ban on alcohol enforced by the superintendent.
• 🦻 The cadets devised a plan to smuggle alcohol into the barracks, aided by the availability of liquor in nearby taverns.
• 🦾 The riot occurred when intoxicated cadets armed themselves and confronted the officers in charge, causing significant damage to the barracks.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did the superintendent of West Point ban alcohol on campus?

The superintendent wanted to curb heavy drinking habits among the cadets at West Point.

Q: How did the cadets manage to smuggle the alcohol into the barracks?

Three cadets crossed the Hudson River, purchased whiskey from a tavern, and bribed a guard to allow them to bring the alcohol back to their rooms.

Q: Who were the officers in charge during the riot?

Lieutenant William A. Thorton and Captain Ethan Allen Hitchcock were assigned to monitor the North Barracks on Christmas Eve.

Q: What were the consequences for the participating cadets?

Nineteen cadets were court-martialed, with eleven of them being dismissed from the academy. Some chose to leave voluntarily.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In 1826, the United States Military Academy at West Point prohibited alcohol on campus, disrupting the cadets' traditional Christmas Eve eggnog festivities.

• A group of cadets decided to smuggle alcohol from a nearby tavern and successfully hid it until Christmas Eve.

• The festivities turned into a riot when intoxicated cadets armed themselves and attacked the officers in charge, causing damage to the barracks.