West Point:

John Bell Hood arrived at West Point during the summer of 1849, and graduated four years later in a class that included Civil War notables James B. McPherson, John M. Schofield and Philip H. Sheridan. It is at West Point that Hood acquired the nickname of "Sam," the origin of which is not known, but would accompany him the rest of his life.

Much is mentioned about Hood?s low academic standing and his high number of demerits during his senior year. Many cadets from the southern states would struggle academically, due to the generally lower quality primary education in agrarian areas. This may explain Hood?s poor academic performance since he was educated at a subscription school in rural Clark County, Kentucky. At West Point his weakest subjects were philosophy and French. His stronger classes were mathematics and drawing. He ultimately graduated 44th out of 55 members of the class of 1853. (Interestingly, other respected Civil War commanders such as Gen. James Longstreet, who graduated from West Point in 1842 ranked 54th out of 56, would be spared doubts of his intellect by future historians.)

Regarding his discipline performance, records show that during his first year he accumulated only 18 demerits, one of the best records in his class. In his second year he accumulated 66 demerits. However, in the discipline system of the academy at that time, the same infractions would count for more demerits as the cadet progressed to his second, third and fourth years. At the end of his second year, his conduct record was still in the upper half of his class. His third year showed little change as he accumulated 94 demerits, and his class conduct rank remained about the same.

Records indicate that none of his infractions during his first three years were for serious misconduct; rather they were more for carelessness or farcical behavior. Cadet Hood was cited for "laughing in ranks," "chewing tobacco," "smoking," "hair not cut," "trifling conduct in the philosophical academy," "making unnecessary noise and dancing on the piazza," "late at church," "laughing and inattentive in the ethical academy," and "clothes not neat." Other offenses included numerous instances of a disorderly room in the barracks. One infraction found Cadet Hood guilty of "lese majesty" for "visiting the commandant?s tent with a segar (cigar) in his hat."

However, in his senior year Col. Robert E. Lee became superintendent of the academy and a more strict discipline enforcement policy was implemented. On December 21, 1852 Hood and Cadet Lucius Rich of Missouri were cited for being absent without permission. It is presumed that Hood and Rich had visited nearby Benny Haven?s Tavern. Hood was reduced in rank and received numerous demerits that placed his total at 196, four short of expulsion. However, Hood would then spend the remaining five months at the academy accumulating, remarkably, no additional demerits.

Hood had shown leadership qualities at West Point, having been promoted to color sergeant in April 1852 and to cadet lieutenant in September 1852. If not for his pre-Christmas sojourn to the local tavern during his senior year, Hood?s conduct and discipline record for his four years would have been impressive.

(Hood?s accumulation of 196 demerits during his senior year, 4 short of expulsion, is frequently mentioned by modern authors and historians. Curiously, Hood?s classmate and future opponent at Franklin, John Schofield, also accumulated 196 demerits during that year. And fellow classmate, future Union cavalry hero Philip Sheridan, should have graduated in 1852 but had been expelled from the academy for one year due to misconduct.)