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True to my word, here is the thread on George Custer's demerits at West Point:
West Point has a strict demerit policy, you reach a certain number and you're out. Not all demerits are the same, you could get one for unkempt hair but also get one for going to Benny Havens (the local joint)
Custer, in 4 years got 726 demerits, many were forgiven, many demerit-worthy incidents not recorded. Each cadet had 2 pages laid out for them, some only filled a quarter of one page. Custer had to get 2 more pages added into the back for his demerits. I will list some here:
He had a lot of "hair out of uniform" and "late" to various events. Also a lot of "Calling Colonel in a boisterous tone of voice" was a frequent feature.
My favorite is probably "Kitchen utensils in chimney" I don't know if they saw him doing it or just found the utensils one day and jumped to the conclusion that it couldn't have been anyone else.
BUT WAIT! There's more. For all of the demerits that he did get there are a ton of things that he didn't get demerits for such as stealing his teacher's rooster and cooking it. I have a whole page on the story. http://juliawall.sites.gettysburg.edu/westpoint61/your-friend-and-classmate/in-memorium
Custer got away with all of this. Nearly 10 years later, James Webster Smith, was the first black cadet admitted to West Point. Smith was assaulted by white classmates and court-martialled three times for it. He was dismissed for being "deficient" in class.
How many times do Civil War scholars look at West Point and say "boys will be boys" without acknowledging the deep harm that it does historically and presently to uphold West Point as a sacred ground where "heroes" are made. Look at your heroes. Look at your institutions.
